Problem with EOS 7D...

[raamakants]

6 months back I bought EOS 7D. From the beginning I am having a problem with it.

In portraits, skin doesn't expose properly. Yesterday I did an experiment. I took two shots at the same time with two different cameras.

Take a look at this photo.



Left side photo is taken from my 6 year old 6 MP SONY camera which was switched on after 3 years.
Right side photo is taken from my 7D with 70-200 f/2.8 L II lenses.

If we think in term of skin exposure, left one is far better than right one. Both photographs are taken at same time and on same location. No post production has been done except resizing.

The problems I am facing with my camera are:

1. All photos are .5 - 1 stop under exposed. Even with strobes and exposure meter.
2. Sharpness is not like SLR camera. In natural light as well as strobe lights.
3. In portraits, skin is not exposing properly. In same image some part is burn out and some is in shadow.

All these problem are in portrait photography. In landscape or flowers etc, it's OK.

I am not being able to understand what to do. Can anyone help me?

If you want you can see hi-resolution image here: http://www.clickmanic.com/images/dps/problem.jpg

[BigVinnie]

I think part of what you are seeing is contrast. The white in the shirt is almost the same level but the reds are more saturated. Pretty much what I would expect from the 70-200 lens.

Are you shooting in jpg mode? If this was shot in raw you would just move the clarity slider when you convert to bring up the mid tones. I suspect that would bring her skin tone to about the right level. Bringing up the clarity value boosts the mid tones a bit.

I'm still learning this stuff myself. We will see what real experts have to say.

[lputman]

This is probably along the lines of what I would expect in auto mode. The camera is trying to meter to 18% gray. You can increase the EC (not certain if it can be done on full auto or not) by 1 stop. Are you usually shooting in auto mode? Switch to AV and spot meter off of her face and see if you get better exposure.

[wulf]

Arguably, the one on the right is a better overall exposure; on the left, there are significant areas that are completely blown out. However, if you prefer brighter images, it should be possible to set a default exposure compensation in the camera.

Wulf

[raamakants]

Originally Posted by lputman

This is probably along the lines of what I would expect in auto mode. The camera is trying to meter to 18% gray. You can increase the EC (not certain if it can be done on full auto or not) by 1 stop. Are you usually shooting in auto mode? Switch to AV and spot meter off of her face and see if you get better exposure.

Thanks Lori. I'll try your suggestion and let see what's come up. I don't shoot in auto mode. I usually shoot in Av or Tv (Manual mode with strobes).

[Henry Wilt]

Originally Posted by raamakants

In portraits, skin doesn't expose properly. Yesterday I did an experiment. I took two shots at the same time with two different cameras.


All these problem are in portrait photography. In landscape or flowers etc, it's OK.

When you say "In portraits, " or "in portrait photography" are you talking about the picture style rather than the mode?
If so, you can go into the style and edit the settings yourself to your personal taste. The portrait style is set at factory to soften skin tones etc. to give a more pleasing portrait whereas lanndscape style, for instance, is set to enhance the greens and blues.

[raamakants]

Originally Posted by Henry Wilt

When you say "In portraits, " or "in portrait photography" are you talking about the picture style rather than the mode?
If so, you can go into the style and edit the settings yourself to your personal taste. The portrait style is set at factory to soften skin tones etc. to give a more pleasing portrait whereas lanndscape style, for instance, is set to enhance the greens and blues.

Here I am not talking about camera setting. I mean when I shoot portraits, I got very dark skin tones.

[GadgetRick]

Originally Posted by raamakants

Thanks Lori. I'll try your suggestion and let see what's come up. I don't shoot in auto mode. I usually shoot in Av or Tv (Manual mode with strobes).

Then your examples aren't going to help you. Post examples of what you are experiencing with photos as you'd shoot them.