Expert: John Oliverio - 7/4/2004

Question
Hello  John
              I own a nikon f 5 plus bought a nikon D100  a few months ago.     Why is it the nikon D100 under exps the image ?   I have to run Auto fix on lots of the prints even after setting the exp  comp dial to + 05   I steped it up to +07 today  It seems at +05 the prints looked better but still some need Auto fix plus the whites are now over exp'ed  is it a good idea to step it up to 07.   I have read reports on line about that problem with the D100.
guess I have to put up with it.
I think film is still better then digital even with colors     how do I check it for white balance ?
                 Johnny

Answer
Johnny,

I've heard this same complaint from owners of many different cameras.  I think the problem is that people don't realize that digital cameras don't have the same exposure latitude (dynamic range) that film has.  Shooting with a digital camera is more like shooting with slide film than print film.  You should learn to expose for the hilights and if necessary correct shadow detail with a photo-editing program.  Also, I've found that many photographers that are going digital never entered the darkroom when they shot film and really don't understand how to make a good print.  Just because it is a digital image and a computer is involved doesn't mean that you won't have to so some manipulation of the picture.  Most photographers simply had someone else do it for them and didn't realize what happened to their images when they gave them to the lab.  Now the job is yours.


What do you mean when you ask "how do I check for white balance?"  How to set it?  How to correct an image?

John