Frustrated with camera: I'm new and have a Nikon Coolpix P90 the pics are often under or over exposed even on the auto setting. My photographer daughter in law says it's the camera.

jmoore8002

I'm new and have a Nikon Coolpix P90 the pics are often under or over exposed even on the auto setting. My photographer daughter in law says it's the camera. Has anyone had experience with this type camera?

TJBNovember Loc: Long Island, New York

I'd start by going through the cameras menu and see if you inadvertently changed any settings. There should be a selection to restore factory settings also in the menus. I have earlier Coolpix and the menus while not as extensive as DSLR's do have a bit to them. Also check out Nikon support to see if there are any soft or firmware updates for the camera.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Welcome to the forum today. Your camera is an older Nikon Bridge camera that was released in 2009. Many older cameras still take very good photos. Since your daughter in law is a photographer, perhaps you should loan her the camera, and she if her results are the same as yours. As an amateur/hobbyist myself. I can tell you, that all photographers are not equal in skill. Shooting in Automatic sometimes has drawbacks.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

It's a pretty cool little superzoom, and one that I often suggest for newbies. I have not heard of any exposure problems with the software.

You could post some photos here, showing examples you think are under or over exposed. If you're a newbie, it's more likely to be something you're doing that's "not quite right". I'm sure the hive mind here can take a look at example photos and give you suggestions, but I've not heard of consistent problems with this particular model.

Andy

jdub82 Loc: Northern California

jmoore8002 wrote:

I'm new and have a Nikon Coolpix P90 the pics are often under or over exposed even on the auto setting. My photographer daughter in law says it's the camera. Has anyone had experience with this type camera?

Is your camera a Nikon P90 (older camera, from around 2009) or the current Nikon P900? If it is the older P90, it could certainly be a camera malfunction.

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

Don't let it get you down. You might also find in the menus a place that will restore all factory settings. My guess is you have, at some time, set the Exposure Compensation, then forgot. I've done that.

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

jmoore8002 wrote:

I'm new and have a Nikon Coolpix P90 the pics are often under or over exposed even on the auto setting. My photographer daughter in law says it's the camera. Has anyone had experience with this type camera?

If your exposures are not consistent as you stated, (over and under exposed) you may be in spot metering mode. I would reset the camera to the default settings. You can find out how to do this in your manual. If this does not fix the problem, call nikon at i-800-nikonus.

Idaho

Since your camera is old and outdated, you should replace it. It's not worth fixing. It's not worth paying someone to tell you it's broken and then have them tell you it will cost more to fix then it's worth. It's the digital age, and these complex devices don't last forever. Move on. Let it go. You'll be happy with a new, or newer, camera. Trust me.

Festus Loc: North Dakota

jmoore8002 wrote:

I'm new and have a Nikon Coolpix P90 the pics are often under or over exposed even on the auto setting. My photographer daughter in law says it's the camera. Has anyone had experience with this type camera?

I would do a rest to original settings, if possible. then go from there.

BebuLamar

If it over and under exposes both then I think the meter is in spot metering mode.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

BebuLamar wrote:

If it over and under exposes both then I think the meter is in spot metering mode.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

BebuLamar wrote:

If it over and under exposes both then I think the meter is in spot metering mode.

Agreed. Spot metering works well, if you know how to use it. Otherwise, try resetting your metering to matrix and see if that helps any.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Well, sometimes we become thoroughly attached and in love with things - have you ever been directed to replace your long time and best friend pajamas. Yes, he can get over discarding it but the pain over the time. Of course, he could put it up on the old coffee cup shelf.

Idaho wrote:

Since your camera is old and outdated, you should replace it. It's not worth fixing. It's not worth paying someone to tell you it's broken and then have them tell you it will cost more to fix then it's worth. It's the digital age, and these complex devices don't last forever. Move on. Let it go. You'll be happy with a new, or newer, camera. Trust me.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

jmoore8002 wrote:

I'm new and have a Nikon Coolpix P90 the pics are often under or over exposed even on the auto setting. My photographer daughter in law says it's the camera. Has anyone had experience with this type camera?

I would not word it that way, ............are often under- or overexposed, even on the auto setting, is more like, because its on the auto setting. Auto settings can be fine in a lot, or most situations, but are easily fooled. This is easily corrected, shooting in manual, or with exposure compensation! No, its certainly not the camera!

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

I think your daughter is right. Whatever settings you have it set on in the manual modes shouldn't matter once you use "auto", the camera uses it's own settings and you shouldn't get under and over exposed shots.