Technical Question Regarding Exposure: Back in the film days, it was safer to error on the side of overexposeure. When digital came out, I was initially told it was safer to error on...

Dbez1 Loc: Ford City, PA

Back in the film days, it was safer to error on the side of overexposeure. When digital came out, I was initially told it was safer to error on the side of underexposure. I recently read some posts that seemed to suggest it is better to overexpose (as opposed to the correct exposure) since that will help eliminate digital noise. Is this true? Can someone help me understand this issue?

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

Yes, Its called ETTR or exposing to the right side of the histogram. You will get many points of view but the reading I have done suggest that ETTR is the way to go. Just don't blow out!

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

As I understand it the concept is to err on the side of underexposure, i.e. 'expose to the right' or ETTR. The notion is that you generate less noise by darkening the image in post to the correct level of brightness than you would by lightening the image. Very little noise is generated by darkening the bright areas in comparison to lightening the shadows. This has been discussed many times on UHH; the following link will lead you to many posts on the subject:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/search.jsp?q=ETTR&u=&s=0

wlgoode Loc: Globe, AZ

Actually there is a term ETTR (Expose to the right) that is kinda like overexposure. Using your histogram you make the exposure sort of crowd the right hand side of the histogram. This can easily be fixed in PP and results in less noise, more detail in the dark areas without blowing out highlights.

As for film depending on whether using negative or transparency film, you either overexpose or underexpose for optimal results.

LeeG Loc: Virginia

Can you get this result by
(1) adjusting EV, i.e. by setting the EV lower...
or (2) by setting exposure to a + setting?

Dbez1 Loc: Ford City, PA

mcveed wrote:

As I understand it the concept is to err on the si... (show quote)

Thank you for the link. The threads on this subject have explained it well. I had no idea it was such a controversial matter.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Dbez1 wrote:

Back in the film days, it was safer to error on the side of overexposeure. When digital came out, I was initially told it was safer to error on the side of underexposure. I recently read some posts that seemed to suggest it is better to overexpose (as opposed to the correct exposure) since that will help eliminate digital noise. Is this true? Can someone help me understand this issue?

Personally if you are going to do one or the other I think that an over exposure captures more detail that will remain as you make adjustments.

Correctly exposed trumps all.

wlgoode Loc: Globe, AZ

Blurryeyed wrote:

Personally if you are going to do one or I think that an over exposure captures more detail that will remain as you make adjustments.

Using the histogram will help prevent highlight blowouts, preserving detail throughout the dynamic range

BebuLamar

ETTR is not overexposure. Rather watch for overexposure. Give as much exposure as possible without overexposure. Watch the highlight and make sure it doesn't wash out.
Back in the negative film day you could exposure to the left that is make sure you have sufficient exposure for the shadow.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Dbez1 wrote:

Back in the film days, it was safer to error on the side of overexposeure. When digital came out, I was initially told it was safer to error on the side of underexposure. I recently read some posts that seemed to suggest it is better to overexpose (as opposed to the correct exposure) since that will help eliminate digital noise. Is this true? Can someone help me understand this issue?

If you shoot raw and use LR, it's almost magic what you can do with light and shadows. I wold suggest experimenting and seeing what works for you. Look into the graduated filter in LR.

wlgoode Loc: Globe, AZ

BebuLamar wrote:

ETTR is not overexposure. Rather watch for overexposure. Give as much exposure as possible without overexposure. Watch the highlight and make sure it doesn't wash out.
Back in the negative film day you could exposure to the left that is make sure you have sufficient exposure for the shadow.

That's why I said "Kinda like overexposure" and said watch the histogram to prevent blowouts. ETTR is usually "Overexpose"... a bit more exposure than your camera's meter reading.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Dbez1 wrote:

Thank you for the link. The threads on this subject have explained it well. I had no idea it was such a controversial matter.

What's controversial is when you start to confuse ettr with overexposure.
White, is white!! :lol:
SS

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

wlgoode wrote:

That's why I said "Kinda like overexposure" and said watch the histogram to prevent blowouts. ETTR is usually "Overexpose"... a bit more exposure than your camera's meter reading.

What needs to be carefully defined is overexposure vs more exposure! ;-)
SS

wlgoode Loc: Globe, AZ

SharpShooter wrote:

What's controversial is when you start to confuse ettr with overexposure.
White, is white!! :lol:
SS

But some ETTR advocates suggest setting the camera for a stop or two overexposure to do it automatically. Some others recommend setting up "Auto-bracket" in 1/2 stop increments for three over-exposures.

If we hearken back to film days, we knew to underexpose our transpeancy film a bit and overexpose our negative film a bit.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

wlgoode wrote:

But some ETTR advocates suggest setting the camera for a stop or two overexposure to do it automatically. Some others recommend setting up "Auto-bracket" in 1/2 stop increments for three over-exposures.

Photography, unlike Sumo Wrestling, it's pretty hard to tell a rank beginner from a seasoned pro, so the only real way to tell is to look at their pics.
Hence ideas and theories with and without foundation abound and flow freely!
So those that know will keep on doing what actually works and those that don't know will keep on reinventing the wheel!!
But in all fairness, not all can go to where they can be guided by experts, that one actually knows are experts and be properly trained by them, so they are left to the mercy of those that don't necessarily know, but can type the loudest!! :lol:
SS