HELP! I am losing highlights and NEED advice!!

[sean_reid]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Some thoughts:

 

1) Using the lower contrast lenses you have will help, but, obviously, they won't eliminate the issue.

 

2) Walt's point about the filters is worth considering.

 

3) Keep pulling the exposure down until the highlights hold. Obviously low ISO levels will help to keep you further from the noise floor in the shadows.

 

4) The transitions in the upper highlights are more abrupt than I see in cameras such as the 1Ds, 5D, etc. As I've said in the past, I think this may be one price we pay for the bit-compression the M8 does with RAW files.

 

5) RAW conversion will of course affect this. Again, its worth experimenting with. Try C1 for comparison.

 

Several pros have reported this concern with M8 files and highlights, esp. those who use only high contrast lenses. I've certainly seen it myself.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[Jack_Flesher]

Thanks to all who have answered. I think there is a bit of a learning curve with any tool, and I am adjusting my shooting to better suit the M8. I'm sure it will get there! (Oh, and yes, I shoot raw, with filters, code my lenses and develop in LR and send to PS3 for finishing.) Thank you -rob

 

In ACR/LR there is a curve dialog that usually defaults to "moderate contrast". Try setting that to "linear" and saving it as a new default if you prefer the look. Better yet, you can build your own custom contrast curve and save that...

[pemayeux]

I had the same problem and found that going to -2/3 exposure compensation pretty much solves it for most lenses other than the 28 Elmarit ASPH.

[hankg]

I have heard this before but do not find it to be true (highlights being more problematic on the M8). I shoot with -2/3 EV as a norm also.

 

Here is a sample of a crop from a shot by window light. Very high contrast scene so I held the highlights and let the shadows plug up. Note that ACR gives smoother transitions from specular to quarter tone then C1. Although you might try linear (in C1) as someone suggested for tough situations.

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

Here we have polished aluminum no visible advantage in the Canon 1 Ds file

 

[Jamie Roberts]

Yes, Hank, for me it comes down to the metering system in the M8 and the post processing. In fact, going from the M8 to 5d I often blow the highlights on the 5d expecting them to hold as well as the M8s (but this is mostly a meter difference, NOT the cameras).

 

BTW--if you want a smoother upper quartertone from C1 just draw the curve a little differently, with film extra shadow or linear selected (lower contrast choices).

[rwchisholm]

Again, thanks for everyone for all the help. I'll try dropping to -2/3 and see if it works for me.

 

Does anyone see an advantage in RAW conversion between C1 vs Lightroom? -rob

[Jamie Roberts]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Again, thanks for everyone for all the help. I'll try dropping to -2/3 and see if it works for me.

 

Does anyone see an advantage in RAW conversion between C1 vs Lightroom? -rob

 

For me, colour and tonality in develops is better in C1.

[tom0511]

Again, thanks for everyone for all the help. I'll try dropping to -2/3 and see if it works for me.

 

Does anyone see an advantage in RAW conversion between C1 vs Lightroom? -rob

 

In my experience silky pix can do a nice job sometimes and deliever some smoother transitions (I am sure it could be done with a custom curves in c1 as well but its really eaqsy to achieve in silky pix).

cheers, tom