Photos ALWAYS too dark!

[DarkShadow]

I ment A for full auto I didn't mean A for aperture my bad.Thats why I mentioned the P mode but I overlooked the A for aperture priority. Correction stay out of AUTO Mode.

 

[robbins.photo]

Ok, well there is no right or wrong way to do this of course, you just need to find what works best for you. For me I've found that center weighted average is the best overall metering mode for the kind of pictures I shoot. Matrix metering tries to average the light of the entire scene which doesn't always produce the best results when your shooting into a shady area. Spot I've found can lead to some unpredictable results depending on which spot is being metered, so for me at least center weighted average produces the best overall results in most of the situations I find myself shooting in.

For critter/action shots a lot of folks really like A - Aperture priority mode. Me I prefer S - Shutter priority mode. I have the camera setup by default to choose the ISO automatically, I set my shutter speed and the camera selects the aperture and ISO for correct exposure. I can see both the aperture and ISO settings in the viewfinder, if I think my aperture setting is a bit to high and I want to open the lens up a bit for more background separation I can just dial up a faster shutter speed until I get my aperture where I want it to be and I'm ready to shoot. If I think my aperture number is too low and I want to increase it I can increase my ISO or lower my shutter speed, or a combination of both until I get what I'm looking for as far as aperture.

Since my D5200 has only one command dial I find this the quickest and easiest way to have control over my settings without having to access any menus or mess with anything other than the command dial and the function button if needed.

 

[KmH]

Maybe I'm expecting too much and the lighting just isn't conducive to good shots??

Yep, you're expecting to much.
The camera cannot record the light the way your eye sees it.

Human eyes work non-linearly. Digital cameras 'see' linearly.
Human eyes also have more dynamic range than digital cameras do.

Cameras vs. The Human Eye

 

[glun]

If you are taking pictures of bird you can try using shutter priority mode instead. Other adjust the exposure compensation or shoot in P or aperture priority to see if the same thing happens.

 

[chuasam]

That picture is not that dark. If your trying to expose the branches with the bird in the shade you have to add exposure and You can't do that in the A mode. Put the Dial On the P and look at this video that may help you.

Why can't you do it in "A"? In "A" the camera will adjust the shutter speed and iso...

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk

Set to B for Bird mode.
*LOL* it's because the bird was backlit.

 

[JustJazzie]

I have a Nikon D7100. And I guess I
will need to read about Metering Modes...I don't know what that is! I'm clearly in over my head here! :cry:

I briefly was lucky enough to test the d7100! When shooting birds, I set it to spot meter and then turned on auto Iso. Perfect exposure every time! Spot metering will take the meter reading off your focus point. Evaluative meter reading takes a scene avarage, which didn't work very well for me when shooting wildlife. Definitely read your manual!!