Pentax LX; help, what happened here!

Snapper_UK · 01-28-2013, 03:10 AM

Hello everyone. I wonder if anyone can advise me? I took some shots yesteerday which I think are washed out. Please forgive the composition and other errors- I am a novice.

I was taking photos of a church with the sun behind me which was bright and lighting up the church. I think at some stage I have - in auto- set the exposure compensation dial to 2 which may be the problem. Should I have gone the other way- I think so, ie 1/2 or, should I just have just taken a reading from darkest and lightest parts of scene and set shutter speed in the middle= in manual?

I have posted a few of the photos in low res - I hope that is allowed and any advice on what I have done and what I should have done from the Pentax Community would be most welcome. Thanks.

John

Attached Images

Adam · 01-28-2013, 03:39 AM

If you set the dial to +2, then that would be overexposing the photo by two stops. However, these photos don't look like they're overexposed by that much. Given the scene I'd say that the dynamic range is pretty good, actually.

I've noticed that the sky is grainy in all of the photos. Is this because of JPEG compression? If so, then you can probably blame the compression for the washed out highlights as well. If not, then you need to get some lower ISO film

Snapper_UK · 01-28-2013, 03:48 AM

Thanks Adam. Intersting. It was hp5 at 400 ( I had thought and believed that this gave a "grainy effect"). Then Epson 500 scanner. I just think the church is too light but I am not sure. I used an orange filter.

**Chuckie** · 01-28-2013, 03:57 AM

If you had the exposure compensation set on 0, the church would definitely been darker, but going to -2 may not have been necessary. Is the church built from a light coloured stone? This may be part of the problem. It may have been good to go up to the church and meter on it, note the settings for correctly exposing the church and then trying a few shots of the rest on manual using those settings. Apart from the church, the rest of the exposure looks pretty good. It reminds me of an old washing powder advertisement here: "It makes the whites whiter and the brights brighter".

One thing to check is the two film advance caps on the bottom of the body. I doubt that would be causing any problems, but you can get some film fogging if they are off without a winder installed. That would also cause general fogging , not specific patches, unless the centre of the frame is above one of the holes before or after shooting another one .

Snapper_UK · 01-28-2013, 04:13 AM

Hi Chuckie. Lol at whites whiter. Yes I am missing a cap from the camera on the shutter button side. I will try to get one for it but suspect the main problem is the plus 2 compensation here although maybe it is not too bad as the film is allowing for things like this, I believe. The stone was light coloured.

When you say meter on the church I think that means go nearer until church fills frame and use that shutter reading?

Thanks for all the help by the way

John

John Poirier · 01-28-2013, 04:26 AM

Originally posted by Snapper_UK

Hello everyone. I wonder if anyone can advise me? I took some shots yesteerday which I think are washed out. Please forgive the composition and other errors- I am a novice.

I was taking photos of a church with the sun behind me which was bright and lighting up the church. I think at some stage I have - in auto- set the exposure compensation dial to 2 which may be the problem. Should I have gone the other way- I think so, ie 1/2 or, should I just have just taken a reading from darkest and lightest parts of scene and set shutter speed in the middle= in manual?

I have posted a few of the photos in low res - I hope that is allowed and any advice on what I have done and what I should have done from the Pentax Community would be most welcome. Thanks.

John

The exposures do not look that bad to me. HP5 tolerates overexposure quite well unless the film is overdeveloped as well as overexposed.

Have you tried correcting your scans? Are you acquainted with Professional Mode in Epson Scan? The Histogram Adjustment function should take care of most of the problem.

Snapper_UK · 01-28-2013, 04:26 AM

Another thought. In the first photo. The portrait mode shot. The trees by the church..conifers? really seem washed out where other stuff seems ok.

Snapper_UK · 01-28-2013, 04:29 AM

Hi. Yes I use pro mode and after weeks of tria and error find best results are if only leave sharpen mask ticked and then correct exposure etc in elements raw edit prior to bringing shot into main elements edit programe to get rid of dust and to crop.. I have tried all else but this has generally got the best results for me.

I have the darkroom kit in the garage.. one day...!!

MysteryOnion · 01-28-2013, 07:02 AM

Also make sure your LX isn't showing meter errors.

Test the meter by setting the following:
Indoors and low light.
Lens cap on.
Test at 1 sec, 1/15, 1/60, 1/125, 1/2000 with the ASA/ISO set to 6, 100, 400, 800, 1600, 3200
In each of these and as long as there is not an excessive amount of light leaking into the viewfinder, the bottom most red light should be the reading.
If you get flutters at a higher LED, then you may have anywhere from +1 to +4 error.

Snapper_UK · 01-28-2013, 07:31 AM

Hi Onion. Its just back from Harrow Technical. I am sure it is metering ok but thanks

John

01-28-2013, 03:10 AM	#1
Snapper_UK Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 42	Pentax LX; help, what happened here! Hello everyone. I wonder if anyone can advise me? I took some shots yesteerday which I think are washed out. Please forgive the composition and other errors- I am a novice. I was taking photos of a church with the sun behind me which was bright and lighting up the church. I think at some stage I have - in auto- set the exposure compensation dial to 2 which may be the problem. Should I have gone the other way- I think so, ie 1/2 or, should I just have just taken a reading from darkest and lightest parts of scene and set shutter speed in the middle= in manual? I have posted a few of the photos in low res - I hope that is allowed and any advice on what I have done and what I should have done from the Pentax Community would be most welcome. Thanks. John Attached Images

01-28-2013, 03:39 AM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	If you set the dial to +2, then that would be overexposing the photo by two stops. However, these photos don't look like they're overexposed by that much. Given the scene I'd say that the dynamic range is pretty good, actually. I've noticed that the sky is grainy in all of the photos. Is this because of JPEG compression? If so, then you can probably blame the compression for the washed out highlights as well. If not, then you need to get some lower ISO film Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

01-28-2013, 04:13 AM	#5
Snapper_UK Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 42 Original Poster	Hi Chuckie. Lol at whites whiter. Yes I am missing a cap from the camera on the shutter button side. I will try to get one for it but suspect the main problem is the plus 2 compensation here although maybe it is not too bad as the film is allowing for things like this, I believe. The stone was light coloured. When you say meter on the church I think that means go nearer until church fills frame and use that shutter reading? Thanks for all the help by the way John Last edited by Snapper_UK; 01-28-2013 at 04:21 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
What happened to youtube here ?	jogiba	General Talk	4	04-16-2011 05:31 PM
Misc What happened here?	Workingdog	Post Your Photos!	10	02-04-2011 08:56 AM
what happened here?	WMBP	Pentax DSLR Discussion	16	09-27-2009 10:18 AM
What Happened Here / What Did I Do?	jocko_nc	Photo Critique	9	01-01-2009 08:16 AM
What happened here?	Damn Brit	Pentax DSLR Discussion	9	09-20-2008 08:48 AM

01-28-2013, 03:48 AM	#3
Snapper_UK Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 42 Original Poster	Thanks Adam. Intersting. It was hp5 at 400 ( I had thought and believed that this gave a "grainy effect"). Then Epson 500 scanner. I just think the church is too light but I am not sure. I used an orange filter.

01-28-2013, 03:57 AM	#4
Chuckie Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Douglas Photos: Albums Posts: 168	If you had the exposure compensation set on 0, the church would definitely been darker, but going to -2 may not have been necessary. Is the church built from a light coloured stone? This may be part of the problem. It may have been good to go up to the church and meter on it, note the settings for correctly exposing the church and then trying a few shots of the rest on manual using those settings. Apart from the church, the rest of the exposure looks pretty good. It reminds me of an old washing powder advertisement here: "It makes the whites whiter and the brights brighter". One thing to check is the two film advance caps on the bottom of the body. I doubt that would be causing any problems, but you can get some film fogging if they are off without a winder installed. That would also cause general fogging , not specific patches, unless the centre of the frame is above one of the holes before or after shooting another one .

01-28-2013, 04:26 AM	#6
John Poirier Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Gabriola Island Posts: 619	Originally posted by Snapper_UK Hello everyone. I wonder if anyone can advise me? I took some shots yesteerday which I think are washed out. Please forgive the composition and other errors- I am a novice. I was taking photos of a church with the sun behind me which was bright and lighting up the church. I think at some stage I have - in auto- set the exposure compensation dial to 2 which may be the problem. Should I have gone the other way- I think so, ie 1/2 or, should I just have just taken a reading from darkest and lightest parts of scene and set shutter speed in the middle= in manual? I have posted a few of the photos in low res - I hope that is allowed and any advice on what I have done and what I should have done from the Pentax Community would be most welcome. Thanks. John The exposures do not look that bad to me. HP5 tolerates overexposure quite well unless the film is overdeveloped as well as overexposed. Have you tried correcting your scans? Are you acquainted with Professional Mode in Epson Scan? The Histogram Adjustment function should take care of most of the problem.

01-28-2013, 04:29 AM	#8
Snapper_UK Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 42 Original Poster	Hi. Yes I use pro mode and after weeks of tria and error find best results are if only leave sharpen mask ticked and then correct exposure etc in elements raw edit prior to bringing shot into main elements edit programe to get rid of dust and to crop.. I have tried all else but this has generally got the best results for me. I have the darkroom kit in the garage.. one day...!!

01-28-2013, 07:02 AM	#9
MysteryOnion Giveaway winner! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: beantown Photos: Albums Posts: 944	Also make sure your LX isn't showing meter errors. Test the meter by setting the following: Indoors and low light. Lens cap on. Test at 1 sec, 1/15, 1/60, 1/125, 1/2000 with the ASA/ISO set to 6, 100, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 In each of these and as long as there is not an excessive amount of light leaking into the viewfinder, the bottom most red light should be the reading. If you get flutters at a higher LED, then you may have anywhere from +1 to +4 error.

01-28-2013, 07:31 AM	#10
Snapper_UK Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 42 Original Poster	Hi Onion. Its just back from Harrow Technical. I am sure it is metering ok but thanks John