Shooting People results in underexposure

[HL99]

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Ok rookie question: I’ve found that most of the time when shooting people outdoors on my Q3 during the day (not backlit) they are underexposed and I have to go into LR to recover (which is works great) but I’m hoping to get some keepers SOOC without having to edit DNGs or blowing out the background. 
been shooting with “multi-field”but I’m thinking maybe spot or center-weighted is the way to go. Anyone have settings that work for them?

In-body HDR would be great 😄

[heckel]

Are you sure you haven’t got negative exposure compensation dialled in? With experience you’ll get to know how the camera will interpret different lighting scenarios. I generally keep an eye on the histogram so that I don’t blow out the highlights (but I let the specular highlights blow if they want to) and I find that the viewfinder is quite WYSIWYG (if it looks good, it is good). As a photographer you need to identify which exposure is the most important for the shot you’re taking. If it’s skin tones, then try and get that right in the viewfinder and let the rest fall where it’s going to fall. If it’s absolutely essential that the background or some other element has a certain exposure and that means your skin tones will be underexposed, then you need to light your subject. So in difficult lighting conditions there’s a decision to make. Having said all that, I don’t find that the camera underexposes in normal lighting conditions.  If it does for you, exposure compensation is your friend.

Edited August 22, 2023 by heckel

[Dr. G]

I don't know how it works on the Q3, but did you try turning iDR on to see if it helps on JPGs?  

Also, if anyone knows, does iDR get applied to DNGs and JPG files, or just JPG?

[Stephen_C]

8 minutes ago, Dr. G said:

Also, if anyone knows, does iDR get applied to DNGs and JPG files, or just JPG?

From page 78 of the downloadable user manual:

Quote

The iDR (Intelligent Dynamic Range) function allows an optimization of the darker areas. Object details become much clearer. This function will only affect images in JPG format.

Stephen

[thighslapper]

2 hours ago, HL99 said:

Ok rookie question: I’ve found that most of the time when shooting people outdoors on my Q3 during the day (not backlit) they are underexposed and I have to go into LR to recover (which is works great) but I’m hoping to get some keepers SOOC without having to edit DNGs or blowing out the background. 
been shooting with “multi-field”but I’m thinking maybe spot or center-weighted is the way to go. Anyone have settings that work for them?

In-body HDR would be great 😄

Never been a fan of multifield metering.

Stick to centre weighted /spot ...... meter/focus lock then recompose if necessary and shoot. 

[adrianh]

2 hours ago, HL99 said:

Ok rookie question: I’ve found that most of the time when shooting people outdoors on my Q3 during the day (not backlit) they are underexposed and I have to go into LR to recover (which is works great) but I’m hoping to get some keepers SOOC without having to edit DNGs or blowing out the background. 
been shooting with “multi-field”but I’m thinking maybe spot or center-weighted is the way to go. Anyone have settings that work for them?

In-body HDR would be great 😄

I can’t confirm that. However, as you are asking for a HDR option, it seems that you have a high contrast situation where other parts in the picture are way brighter than your subject. You can either spot meter on your subject (if possible on a grey clothing part  or skin ) or correct the exposure as you should see the subject being too dark in the EVF already. Matrix metering works well but it can’t do wonders 

[HL99]

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Appreciate all the help, I’ll try iDR. Also spot metering and locking exposure brings me back to my film days, maybe it’s time I go back to my roots

[LACANYONHIKER]

3 hours ago, Dr. G said:

I don't know how it works on the Q3, but did you try turning iDR on to see if it helps on JPGs?  

Also, if anyone knows, does iDR get applied to DNGs and JPG files, or just JPG?

iDR is just applied to JPGS, not DNG

[adrianh]

In the end, you might decide that leaving the main subject underexposed and lighting it up later in post still brings the best results. Recovering dark areas is way more easier than blown highlights…

[HL99]

5 hours ago, adrianh said:

In the end, you might decide that leaving the main subject underexposed and lighting it up later in post still brings the best results. Recovering dark areas is way more easier than blown highlights…

True…
Today I had luck w spot metering and over-exposing ~1/3 stop. It’ll probably take a bit more trial and error to dial it in

[FlowUK]

Shooting people in England usually results in a prison sentence 😁