Photos lightness looks great until down loaded to pc: then appear dark

[DeShaVu]

Hi
I wondering if you could help me?
I have been having a problem with a lot of photos I have been taking. They are always indoor shots;usually in community halls or functions of various types.

When I take a photo I check it on the LCD screen to check the lightness and quality and it nearly always looks perfect; however when I go home and down load the photos to my pc they are consistently far too dark and I have to lighten them and adjust the shadow etc.
I think it is something with the camera as I have looked at the finished photos on different pc's to see if it was the settings on my pc or monitor screen particularly, but it's not. After I have altered the photos they look great on any pc.

I am convinced it is something with the camera.

I have tried taking photos with a flash, with out a flash and they still come up too dark when I down load to my pc. It doesn't seem to make a difference; it still happens.

I have a Canon EOS400 with a Canon -S17-55mm f/2.8 US USM lens with stabilizer

and Cannon EF70-300mm F4-5.6 ISUSM with stabilizer.

My flash is a Canon Speedlite 430EX

Do you have a suggestion as to what I could do to make the picture appear lighter in the camera.

I don't understand why the photos look great on the screen in the camera and then look so dark later when downloaded to my pc?


Thanks in advance

[curmudgeon_01]

Could the brightness on your LCD be turned up?

[i speak in math]

The LCD is backlit and tiny. You cannot get a good feel for exposure based off of looking at it. You need to learn how to read the histogram. That will tell you everything about the exposure.

[DeShaVu]

Thanks for taking the time to answer my query.
I use the histogram when editing but didn't think to look at it when taking the photos..It makes perfect sense now you have mentioned it..I appreciate your help..

Thank you

[Quo Fan]

Same thing happened to me with my 30D. I thought I was taking well exposed photos, until I got them on my computer. I have since turned down the brightness of the LCD on my camera, and they are coming out more properly exposed.

[Murtasma]

1. Ensure your camera's LCD Brightness is set to it's default value, usually in the middle.
2. Visit the following page to help determine if your computer LCD needs adjustment as well.
Photo Friday: Monitor Calibration Tool