All K-5iis pictures a little underexposed? Is the S-type focusing screen the problem?

maxxxx · 04-07-2014, 09:10 AM

This weekend I was in death Valley and took a lot of pictures under different conditions with different lenses, with and without polarizer. I shoot RAW with aperture priority.

When I came back I noticed that almost all pictures were underexposed to some degree. Fixing this with Lightroom was no problem but obviously I would prefer to get correct metering from the start.

Could the S-type focusing screen I have from focusingscreens.com be the problem?

**jatrax** · 04-07-2014, 09:29 AM

Possible, but my k-5 and k-5IIs both underexposed by 1/3 to 2/3 stop. I always had EV comp at plus a bit. Pentax seems to be very conservative on the metering, but better a little under than over as you can pull up in post. Oddly, the k-3 seems to be nearly perfect, I don't use +EV comp on it at all.

Drake Avenue · 04-07-2014, 09:35 AM

My K5iis also slightly underexposes. I have my EV comp set to +2/3

tele_pathic · 04-07-2014, 09:37 AM

My K200D underexposed as well. After some research, it seemed that the general consensus was that Pentax generally/usually underexposes by a stop or two: Setting EV to +3 or +7 counters this tendency. So on my K200D I set EV to +3. On my K-5ii, EV set to +3 nearly always.

elliott · 04-07-2014, 10:26 AM

I didn't do thorough testing, but I didn't notice a change except when metering at apertures smaller than about f5.6 and that was a change for the better.

vonBaloney · 04-07-2014, 10:31 AM

Originally posted by tele_pathic

My K200D underexposed as well. After some research, it seemed that the general consensus was that Pentax generally/usually underexposes by a stop or two: Setting EV to +3 or +7 counters this tendency.

That's a *third of a stop* or two -- a full stop or two would be huge. And yes Pentax does seem to keep it on the conservative side. Not a terrible idea since their cameras have good dynamic range and when shooting digital blown highlights cannot be recovered and so overexposure is your enemy. (Unlike shooting negative film which is the reverse.)

maxxxx · 04-07-2014, 01:07 PM

Originally posted by vonBaloney

That's a *third of a stop* or two -- a full stop or two would be huge. And yes Pentax does seem to keep it on the conservative side. Not a terrible idea since their cameras have good dynamic range and when shooting digital blown highlights cannot be recovered and so overexposure is your enemy. (Unlike the shooting negative film which is the reverse.)

That makes sense. The histogram is always a little to the left side but never so much that it loses the dark elements. I guess I'll keep it that way and accept that you have to adjust in post processing.

tele_pathic · 04-08-2014, 11:51 AM

Yes, since moving to the K-5ii and using LR5 and shooting in RAW always, I have gone to setting my EV at +0, or no compensation. Occassionally, I might bump it to +3 but never over that. As you mention, I'd rather the shot was underexposed and compensate in LR5 then to overexpose, for which there is little fix.

kh1234567890 · 04-09-2014, 01:06 PM

Originally posted by maxxxx

Could the S-type focusing screen I have from focusingscreens.com be the problem?

On a K-7 I find that I need +0.7EV compensation with the EE-S screen.

maxxxx · 04-09-2014, 01:17 PM

Originally posted by kh1234567890

On a K-7 I find that I need +0.7EV compensation with the EE-S screen.

Good to know. I think I'll try that.

04-07-2014, 09:10 AM	#1
maxxxx Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 385	All K-5iis pictures a little underexposed? Is the S-type focusing screen the problem? This weekend I was in death Valley and took a lot of pictures under different conditions with different lenses, with and without polarizer. I shoot RAW with aperture priority. When I came back I noticed that almost all pictures were underexposed to some degree. Fixing this with Lightroom was no problem but obviously I would prefer to get correct metering from the start. Could the S-type focusing screen I have from focusingscreens.com be the problem?

04-07-2014, 10:31 AM	#6
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	Originally posted by tele_pathic My K200D underexposed as well. After some research, it seemed that the general consensus was that Pentax generally/usually underexposes by a stop or two: Setting EV to +3 or +7 counters this tendency. That's a third of a stop or two -- a full stop or two would be huge. And yes Pentax does seem to keep it on the conservative side. Not a terrible idea since their cameras have good dynamic range and when shooting digital blown highlights cannot be recovered and so overexposure is your enemy. (Unlike shooting negative film which is the reverse.) Last edited by vonBaloney; 04-07-2014 at 01:54 PM.

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04-07-2014, 09:29 AM	#2
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Possible, but my k-5 and k-5IIs both underexposed by 1/3 to 2/3 stop. I always had EV comp at plus a bit. Pentax seems to be very conservative on the metering, but better a little under than over as you can pull up in post. Oddly, the k-3 seems to be nearly perfect, I don't use +EV comp on it at all.

04-07-2014, 09:35 AM	#3
Drake Avenue Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 140	My K5iis also slightly underexposes. I have my EV comp set to +2/3

04-07-2014, 09:37 AM	#4
tele_pathic Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 292	My K200D underexposed as well. After some research, it seemed that the general consensus was that Pentax generally/usually underexposes by a stop or two: Setting EV to +3 or +7 counters this tendency. So on my K200D I set EV to +3. On my K-5ii, EV set to +3 nearly always.

04-07-2014, 10:26 AM	#5
elliott Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Carolina Photos: Albums Posts: 1,720	I didn't do thorough testing, but I didn't notice a change except when metering at apertures smaller than about f5.6 and that was a change for the better.

04-07-2014, 01:07 PM	#7
maxxxx Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 385 Original Poster	Originally posted by vonBaloney That's a third of a stop or two -- a full stop or two would be huge. And yes Pentax does seem to keep it on the conservative side. Not a terrible idea since their cameras have good dynamic range and when shooting digital blown highlights cannot be recovered and so overexposure is your enemy. (Unlike the shooting negative film which is the reverse.) That makes sense. The histogram is always a little to the left side but never so much that it loses the dark elements. I guess I'll keep it that way and accept that you have to adjust in post processing.

04-08-2014, 11:51 AM	#8
tele_pathic Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 292	Yes, since moving to the K-5ii and using LR5 and shooting in RAW always, I have gone to setting my EV at +0, or no compensation. Occassionally, I might bump it to +3 but never over that. As you mention, I'd rather the shot was underexposed and compensate in LR5 then to overexpose, for which there is little fix.

04-09-2014, 01:06 PM	#9
kh1234567890 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Manchester, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,653	Originally posted by maxxxx Could the S-type focusing screen I have from focusingscreens.com be the problem? On a K-7 I find that I need +0.7EV compensation with the EE-S screen.

04-09-2014, 01:17 PM	#10
maxxxx Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 385 Original Poster	Originally posted by kh1234567890 On a K-7 I find that I need +0.7EV compensation with the EE-S screen. Good to know. I think I'll try that.

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