[kenyee]

Anyone else find the K10D's metering a bit odd? These pics were taken w/ the FA50/1.4. I'm a new to the K10D, but am struggling to get the indoor results I want.

This is full auto/green mode (it stuck at ISO100 even though I had it set to autoiso 100-800). I also left the focus selector on auto, but changing it to manual and choosing the same point made no difference, nor did switching to spot metering instead of matrix metering:


This is after I set it to Tav mode and just fiddled w/ the shutter speed until the blinking blown highlight warnings stopped (1/160, f/1.4, ISO800):


For comparison, here's full auto on a Fuji F30 w/ the usual -2/3 ev setting that's recommended and set to autoiso 100-400 (1/26, f/2.8, iso400):


This is just one example of it. I've been having a hard time doing low-light pictures w/ the FA50/1.4 where the K10D seems to want to stick to ISO100 as much as possible, so shots are done at really low shutter speeds like 1/3sec, etc. and the only way to kick it out of it is to use one of the modes where I choose the shutter speed...

[Pants]

Maybe it's my monitor, but I prefer the first exposure (K10D full auto.)

I do find it odd that it stuck to ISO100 at the expense of depth of field. Can you post the shutter and aperature it picked?

[kenyee]

It was f/1.4 and 1/4sec and wanted to use the built-in flash. I hate how webshots trims off exif info in the resized images.

You can get the full-size one here: http://image64.webshots.com/464/0/14/86/2746014860030340207PyWLQz_fs.jpg?tra...tions/FullSize

I prefer the last image from the F30. The K10D full auto image has blown highlights on any part of the cat facing the window.

[Deni]

Set the camera to Av. Set the iso to 400. Check the exposure. If it's with - you're underexposing (decrease the aperture value) if it's with + you're overexposing, increase the aperture value.

With small aperture value your DOF is very shallow, so you have to carefully choose the focusing point.

[roscot]

I'm finding the K10D metering to be very precise, actually. I have found that a small change in position can effect how the camera meters. That being said, you need to be aware of the lighting you have and use the correct metering mode for each lighting situation.

In the example you posted, you have a back lit situation. The meter is trying to balance the extraneous light coming from the window, with the cat which is in shadow. Unfortunately, the scene has too much dynamic range to expose for both the cat and the window properly.

If you had set the camera to spot metering mode, and metered on the cat, the cat would be properly exposed at the expense of blowing the highlights from the back lighting, or you could alternately used fill flash.

Hope this helps.

[Edvinas]

This is full auto/green mode (it stuck at ISO100 even though I had it set to autoiso 100-800). I also left the focus selector on auto, but changing it to manual and choosing the same point made no difference, nor did switching to spot metering instead of matrix metering:

Well, AF point selection dial sets AF point selection, not exposure metering. Exposure metering method dial is on top left corner of your camera.

For comparison, here's full auto on a Fuji F30 w/ the usual -2/3 ev setting that's recommended and set to autoiso 100-400 (1/26, f/2.8, iso400):

So, why don't you underexpose K10D for 2/3EV for desired result?

This is just one example of it. I've been having a hard time doing low-light pictures w/ the FA50/1.4 where the K10D seems to want to stick to ISO100 as much as possible, so shots are done at really low shutter speeds like 1/3sec, etc. and the only way to kick it out of it is to use one of the modes where I choose the shutter speed...

In Auto ISO K10D + FA 50mm will start increasing ISO when shutter speed drops to 1/60. Are you sure in Auto ISO? For me it looks like you are not in Auto ISO but manually set ISO100.

[kenyee]

In Auto ISO K10D + FA 50mm will start increasing ISO when shutter speed drops to 1/60. Are you sure in Auto ISO? For me it looks like you are not in Auto ISO but manually set ISO100.

It came out of the box w/ green mode set to ISO100??

I feel like such a noob...thanks, Edvinas. The results are much better after I set green mode to autoiso100-800. It holds f/2.0 with the 50/1.4 as much as possible to keep sharpness high (I set it to MTF) and the results are much better than the F30's (less highlight blowout and I can bring the highlight blowout down by dropping ev to -2/3 to -1).

ken <hangs head in shame>