Why can't I photograph Bright Red Flowers?

[pixie-pink]

I am a newcomer to dslr's and am having fun learning all I can. But one thing I simply cannot get to grips with is photographing bright red things, like flowers, they always seem too vivid - to the point of distortion

I am using a D90 and have the same problem with any lenses that I try.....

Can anybody offer me any advice?

[Michael_2010]

Could you provide some examples, including your EXIF data. Make sure the data shows the White Balance setting plus flash firing, etc.

[kirbinster]

I have found that is one weakness in the sensor in Nikon bodies, don't know if it impacts other brands as well. What I have found works best is to under expose slightly - guess this is one exception to the shooting to the right "rule". There is also a custom menu in some Nikon bodies, not sure if the D90 has it, where you can change the color tones slightly.

[dlambert]

@kirbinster - I'm not a Nikon guy, but what's the benefit of making that color change in-body vs. in PP? Do you know if it's doing anything to the RAW file, or is this just like WB where you're free to change it in PP (if you're working from RAW)?

[pixie-pink]

Originally Posted by Michael_2010

Could you provide some examples, including your EXIF data. Make sure the data shows the White Balance setting plus flash firing, etc.

Nikon D90 VR105.
1/80s - F/3.2 OEV - Auto 0.0
How do I show you the image?

[Thunder_o_b]

I am a Canon user, but you could try knocking the exposure setting down a stop or so, I do that on my 50D as it likes to over expose the shot.

[pixie-pink]

Originally Posted by kirbinster

I have found that is one weakness in the sensor in Nikon bodies, don't know if it impacts other brands as well. What I have found works best is to under expose slightly - guess this is one exception to the shooting to the right "rule". There is also a custom menu in some Nikon bodies, not sure if the D90 has it, where you can change the color tones slightly.

Thanks, I did try adjusting the wb - but it didn't correctly show the red, at best it looked orange I will try underexposing a little next time.......

[pixie-pink]

Originally Posted by Thunder_o_b

I am a Canon user, but you could try knocking the exposure setting down a stop or so, I do that on my 50D as it likes to over expose the shot.

Thanks, I will give that a try

[OsmosisStudios]

It's not so much the sensor as it is any sensor. All digital CCD and CMOS sensors clip the red channel very easily. Pentax is notorious for it, actually: Reds and yellows. It's a technical limitation of the digital sensors.

[Michael_2010]

Originally Posted by pixie-pink

Nikon D90 VR105.
1/80s - F/3.2 OEV - Auto 0.0
How do I show you the image?

If you don't already have a Flickr account, open one up. It's free and you will soon want to share your photos with family and friends anyway, plus in the future you might want to share some at DPS in the "Critique" and "Share your Shots" sections. Then it is simply a matter of cutting & pasting the HTML code in your message here.

I can't get to Flickr from my present location, but there is an option to share the file. Within that popup there are 2-3 choices and you want to use the one that mentions the html code.