dickparkans Loc: Arizona

Me and my coworker both use D7000 cameras and we both have the same problem. The blind leading the blind. When taking night time pictures, the image looks fine on the LCD but when we display the pictures on our computers or try and print them, they are really underexposed by at least one stop. I can't show the pictures because they are from crime scenes. The images can be adjusted in PS4. We shoot in medium JPG and use SB-900 flashes.

What page in the book will answer my question? HAHAHAHA

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

You are viewing photos on a dark setting.
That will trick you into thinking your photos are correctly exposed or even overexposed.
Learn to read histograms:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/understanding-histograms.shtml

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/read-cameras-histogram-perfectly-balanced-images/

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

Well first of all the LCD is the WORST gauge of exposure. The only decent indicator is the histogram and you have to learn how to read/interpret that.

The LCD is fine for checking overall framing and composition, but not for exposure.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I would suggest you reduce the brightness of your LCD, obviously its brighter than needed. As CaptainC stated, its still a lousy place to try and judge exposure.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Well, one view on the D7000 LCD includes the Histogram.

But that dosen't address the OP's question. Why are their pictures underexposed?

I suspect it is an issue in setting the flash. I have the SB700. I don't use it often. I have a new D7000. I was disappointed with what I produced yesterday. I clearly need to learn it.

OP: take some practice shots that you can share. Then some that know more can help you diagnose. Be sure to post using "Store original".

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

It Does address the issue - albeit indirectly. If he thinks his image is OK looking at the LCD, he makes no adjustments. If the image looked dark, he would address the issue, but since he thinks it is fine, he thinks he is good to go.

Now, you are correct that he has to DO something and he may know just what to do, but he has been thinking everything is OK 'cuz the LCD was lyin' to him.

krispix Loc: London - UK

Hi Dickparkans,
You are using a SB900 which is a full iTTL flash. Providing everything is set up correctly, you should get perfectly exposed shots right up to the limits of the flash.
Check your manual, but I would suggest a shutter speed no higher than 1/125. Set the mode on the SB900 to TTL and make sure the ISO range is the same on flash and camera. If you're shooting outdoors it may help to deploy the Bounce Card to direct some more light towards your subject.
Good luck

Carl A Loc: Homosassa FL

Try manual exposure and backeting . Use the light meter
in the camera . Adjust the intensity of the LED.
Use the exposure compensation button.

dds42000 Loc: New York

As a crime scene photographer for many years I had one camera for close up shots that did the same thing. I would set the my stop on manual one stop over this seam to help my problem. I would never like to judge my outcome with the LCD. I would process the sene on a laptop before it was released.

Spaaarky Loc: Norfolk/Cambs border UK

A lot of good points have been raised already.
There are variuos flash modes for the D7000 (page 144) these all vary dependant on the shooting mode (PASM) you are using.
A good starting point would be to look at this, it almost sounds like its in fill flash mode.

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

I have just bought a D7000 and the first lot of pictures I took had just that problem.Looked fine on the camera but whenI dowmloaded them they were all underexposed. I could fix it inmy PhotoPlus but I was surprised.

Cakey Loc: Herts ,England

my wife has found the same with her 7000 she gets over it by shooting night shots in RAW and in CS5 ,camera raw 6 hits the auto button and she gets perfect pictures every time

Paul L_S Loc: Lithia Springs GA USA

Changing LCD brightness is on page 237. Now for the real answer. Training. Take a public safety course in photography. I took one several years ago at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, we were using B/W film, digital was not being widely used for evidence photography at the time. Part of our exercises included taking photos of accident scenes, outside after dark with no street lights, photographing the inside of a mock courtroom with only our flash units, no lights. If AZ or other Departments in the state don't offer courses such as photography I have another suggestion.

Try and talk the Sgt, Loo, Capt, Major, Chief, Grand Imperial Poo-bah, whatever they call themselves into a training day. Set up crime scenes in typical lighting situations and try different settings, etc and find out what works the best for you. With a little luck you may be able to use this for some of your required training hours. You probably know more than I do about this but keep the rules of evidence in mind when doing PP work on your images. You may have to testify as to what you did to the image and why.

Hope this helps.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Very good point. I learned that a while ago. Exposure on the LCD does not match exposure in real life. I wonder why that is. I'll often take a quick look just to check composition and to make sure that my settings weren't way off, but I've learned to ignore the exposure. Sometimes, I disable to review-after-shooting feature, so there's nothing to see anyway.

coco1964 Loc: Winsted Mn

On the D7000 you can adjust the brightness of the LCD screen. I have bad eyes due to my diabetes so I adjusted the screen to be bright, not so I could see a exact reproduction of the shot but just so I could view the screen at all. As the guys said above adjust the screen so you can view it appropriately as a guide but learn how to find the histogram on the camera (it's not rocket science, it's the push of a button) and learn how to interpret it, all found on the Hog if you take the time to look..........