D500 Underexposes? I'm about to pull the trigger on a D500. I've heard it has a tendency to underexpose. I'll find out eventually for myself, but in the meantime I'm curious about the...

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

I'm about to pull the trigger on a D500. I've heard it has a tendency to underexpose. I'll find out eventually for myself, but in the meantime I'm curious about the experiences of D500 owners here. Are you having to compensate for the camera's metering?

Thanks!

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I do not know about the D500 but with my D7000 and D610 I find myself compensating the exposure often. Interesting enough if I test the meter on a gray card the exposure is right on.

CO

I have a D500. The exposures don't seem any different than my other cameras. I don't apply any compensation.

JohnKlingel

All digital cameras under expose under certain lighting conditions. That's why we set the white and black points when we start post processing. The D500 doesn't under expose any more than any other camera. I own a D750, a D500 and a D4s and I'm extremely happy with all of them. I primarily use the D500 and D4s as wildlife cameras and the full frame D750 for landscape and art photography. I also use the D500 for street photography.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Rab-Eye wrote:

I'm about to pull the trigger on a D500. I've heard it has a tendency to underexpose. I'll find out eventually for myself, but in the meantime I'm curious about the experiences of D500 owners here. Are you having to compensate for the camera's metering?

Thanks!

What difference does it make? We each might be a bit subjective about what is "correct" for any given shot... and worse yet for each different type of metering too!

So Nikon has made all of that adjustable. When you get your D500 take a look at the B7 register settings. This is not "Exposure Compensation", which is a scene by scene bias added to get what you want from the scene being metered. The B7 fine tune adjustments calibrate each metering mode independently and are meant to be set one time only. Each of Matrix, Center Weighted, Spot, and Highlight metering modes can be set in 1/6 stop increments.

It very much is your customized camera.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

camerapapi wrote:

... Interesting enough if I test the meter on a gray card the exposure is right on.

And that is the case with most cameras.

We can't blame the camera for doing exactly what it is designed to do - trying to achieve an overall neutral gray based on a reflected reading.

Don't shoot the messenger. It's not the camera. It's being objective, we are being subjective. It can't read our minds.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

Apaflo wrote:

What difference does it make? We each might be a ... (show quote)

It makes no difference. I was curious about what users have experienced.

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

Rab-Eye wrote:

I'm about to pull the trigger on a D500. I've heard it has a tendency to underexpose. I'll find out eventually for myself, but in the meantime I'm curious about the experiences of D500 owners here. Are you having to compensate for the camera's metering?

Thanks!

You have to make up your own mind; but it seems a bit radical to me to pull the plug on a D500. I've had mine for almost 12 months and can't fault it. As far as I'm concerned it is a superlative camera. I have not noticed any underexposure but as I shoot RAW I would correct it in LR. I have to state that I would only ever consider swapping my D500 for an Olympus EM1 mark II: and as I already have one of those as well it's academic.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

Jerrin1 wrote:

You have to make up your own mind; but it seems a bit radical to me to pull the plug on a D500. I've had mine for almost 12 months and can't fault it. As far as I'm concerned it is a superlative camera. I have not noticed any underexposure but as I shoot RAW I would correct it in LR. I have to state that I would only ever consider swapping my D500 for an Olympus EM1 mark II: and as I already have one of those as well it's academic.

No, I'm not pulling the plug. When I said I was about to pull the trigger, I meant I plan to buy one soon.

tomcat

I own both the D500 and D750. Since I got the D500, the D750 is gathering dust. The exposure in the D500 is spot-on for subjects that fill the frame. For soccer, it's like any other camera and will leave you about ½ stop under. That's the nature of matrix-metering. It's not a problem and those that think it is, should quit griping and hire me to do their photography

cthahn

Don't go by what you have heard. Check all you camera settings. Experiment by taking many pictures and you might have to compensate.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Rab-Eye wrote:

I'm about to pull the trigger on a D500. I've heard it has a tendency to underexpose. I'll find out eventually for myself, but in the meantime I'm curious about the experiences of D500 owners here. Are you having to compensate for the camera's metering?

Thanks!

My D500 is spot on. That said I have always used exposure compensation for the majority of my photos, I like to do it in camera vs post production. So, with my equipment I use the following mantra "Trust but verify."

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I own a D5, D810 and D500 and am confident about the exposure system in each. I find the D500 to be an excellent camera and, at $ 2k, a steal for the included features. Proper exposures includes some personal knowledge of what compensation might be needed under certain conditions. Using Lr CC for post, combined with raw files, I have more latitude to make any needed adjustments. Best of luck.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

Thanks, folks.

home brewer Loc: Fort Wayne, Indiana

My d500 will under expose if I use matrix metering on a dark subject and bright background. I need to remember which exposure method works best. I use a spot or narrow meter most of the time. The camera needs a skilled operator. When my head is working right it is a great camera. I shoot manual more than 50% of the time. The rest of the time I shoot aperture or shutter priority. The right mix gives me good results.