Problem with light metering TTL

BigT · 10-06-2008, 07:44 PM

I have a K10D. I've noticed that the light metering in the camera is way off. It completely overexposes the pictures, eventhough the camera believes the settings are correct.

I usually shoot in the manual mode. I've played with the different metering settings and it doesn't change anything. The pictures are still overexposed.

Any suggestions? Does anyone else have this issue?

NicholasN · 10-06-2008, 08:11 PM

I have the same issue with the K20D and Sigma 500. P-TTL metering has a habit of overexposting. If you throw the blown photo in Photoshop, CTRL + RGB and then do a Curves adjustment layer you can get the blown highlights out.

*Ole* · 10-06-2008, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by BigT

I have a K10D. I've noticed that the light metering in the camera is way off. It completely overexposes the pictures, eventhough the camera believes the settings are correct.

I usually shoot in the manual mode. I've played with the different metering settings and it doesn't change anything. The pictures are still overexposed.

Any suggestions? Does anyone else have this issue?

If you could provide some details such as lens used and also post an example with the EXIF intact?

HGMonaro · 10-07-2008, 01:08 AM

yep, more details required... I find my K10D to expose pretty good

axl · 10-07-2008, 01:53 AM

it's not that common for pentax dslr to overexpose. usually people have oposite problem. Anyway, if you could provide example wold be great

BR Peter

Marc Sabatella · 10-07-2008, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by BigT

I usually shoot in the manual mode. I've played with the different metering settings and it doesn't change anything. The pictures are still overexposed.

Sorry to ask a dumb question, but you didn't provide much info: you *are* hitting the green button, right or otherwise turning the dails until the meter reads 0.0, right? You aren't expecting the camera to make appropriate settings for you without doing that, are you?

With multi-segment metering, it's very rare - to the point of being practically unheard of - to get any form of overexpose. Usually the attempt to preserve highlights results in a picture most consider underexposed. But center-weighted and spot metering can certianly produce overexposed images if you happen to be metering off a dark objec. So in addition to posting pictures with EXIF intact, it would be helpful to know how you actually did the metering - what was in the center of the frame when you hit the green button or spun the dials to achieve 0.0.

AVANT · 10-14-2008, 11:12 AM

I don't want to sound mean in this post, so don't take it personal. I just want to confirm that you understand how metering works.

Getting the light meter to the center spot everytime is NOT how you're supposed to meter. That light meter combined with your knowledge of the color & brightness are used to achive proper metering.