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I posted some time back, I think it was here, about how I was getting badly under-exposed images occasionally. It appeared to be a random thing but I think, now, that it may not be and that I've nailed down some repro steps. The issue seems to be more obvious in scenes that are not of even brightness distribution; an interior, daylight, with window centre, for example or a landscape with a lot of bright sky.  Manual shutter, auto ISO, I turn the camera on with live view off and take a shot. I then turn on live view, frame as before and take another shot. Comparing the two shots the first is at least a stop underexposed. I can consistently repeat this.

second shot, ISO 200. First, ISO 500. I should probably do the same test on a tripod but I think this is close enough to illustrate the point.

 

Thoughts?

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Edited by kimaldis
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Just now, Chaemono said:

You must have a faulty camera.

Possibly, but it could also be a firmware issue. I'd be interested to hear if anyone can get the same results using these repro steps. If they can I'll take it up with Leica. If they can't then I guess the camera goes back to the shop.

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This can be expected depending on how you have Exposure Mode set in the menu. Using the optical finder exposure is always measured off the patterned shutter blades before the shutter opens. This is similar to Center Weighted metering. Using live view it uses the metering pattern selected in the menu, such as Multi-Field, which is by analyzing the live view sensor output.  There will be differences except for metering a uniform grey card.

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OK, that makes sense. I had Multi-field. There's still quite a difference even when set to centre weighted. The difference really is quite marked. I'd say, depending on the scene, it can underexpose by one to two stops when using the optical viewfinder. Not really great.

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As a coincidence,  I plan to do some exposure tests with three different cameras (Z7, α7R III, and M10) and the same lens to see how each camera meters. See post #27 here: https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/291766-z7-with-m-lenses-vs-m10-image-thread/?page=2 

It’s good that you started his thread. I’ll post the links to the Raw files here. BTW, I thought the guy’s reaction in #30 was a bit weird, almost as if this was going to spoil his Christmas holidays. 😀

 

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Your test took a strange example, a scene with bright light in one part surrounded by lotsa dark.  Of course, multi-field, centered, and spot using live view are all going to give different exposures as they pick something to turn into middle grey.  And they will differ from "classic" OVF exposure.  To see if there is anything strange going on, first do use a tripod, and take a boring picture of an evenly lit scene indoors, where the light range from floor to ceiling is only 2-3 stops at most.  Or if you want to get really scientific, shoot a nice bright colored wall.  Then compare those -- they should be quite close.  Then start to learn how the different modes handle scenes with light sources in them.  You'll be ready for Christmas lights in no time.

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2 minutes ago, scott kirkpatrick said:

Your test took a strange example

I don't see that as at all strange. Difficult, yes but scenes with widely varying luminance range aren't that uncommon. But if you like I can give you a better example. A landscape with 2/3 sky, 1/3 land will behave in much the same way. A quality camera should be able to deal with this.

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vor 7 Minuten schrieb kimaldis:

A quality camera should be able to deal with this.

Yes, yes, there’ll be lots of links to Raw files to see how the Z7, the α7R III, and the M10 deal with it in this thread. Don’t worry. Let’s just keep it going until then, so that we get lots of people to gather around here. 

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12 hours ago, kimaldis said:

A quality camera should be able to deal with this.

Different metering modes will give different results, that is why you are given the choice, that is what a photographer does, he has an opinion and makes a choice. Either try making your metering modes the same for both OVF and EVF or alternatively read a book on photography.

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Which is the correct exposure anyway? The one that takes account of the highlights, or the one that takes account of the whole scene?

FTAOD, These are rhetorical questions, because the only possible answer is: they are both correct, it depends on what shot the photographer wants to take.

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18 hours ago, kimaldis said:

OK, that makes sense. I had Multi-field. There's still quite a difference even when set to centre weighted. The difference really is quite marked. I'd say, depending on the scene, it can underexpose by one to two stops when using the optical viewfinder. Not really great.

Kimaldis, the centre weighted exposure with LiveView is different than the standard centre weighted exposure, while using only OVF (LV is completely off). The exposure modes in the menu are only available for LiveView or EVF, not with OVF.

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2 hours ago, fatihayoglu said:

Kimaldis, the centre weighted exposure with LiveView is different than the standard centre weighted exposure, while using only OVF (LV is completely off). The exposure modes in the menu are only available for LiveView or EVF, not with OVF.

Yes, I'd worked that out. But thanks all the same.

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