A question about black exposures?

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

06/24/2006 09:02:05 PM · #1

Today a friend of mine, Henry - Photoart, and I went to some places to shoot pics and nothing else. When we were at the natural stone bridge in Clarksburg, we came across a wierd thing. He shoots with a 350XT and me with a 20D. Anyway, there was this one location that no matter what his camera was set to it would not get an exposure of anything except black while mine would get exposure at any setting. Maybe not the best exposure, but the 20D got something. We had the same lenses - EF-S 17-85 mounted. When I finally got the exposure I wanted I told him the settings, he duplicated and got a good exposure. However, while my meter indicated a 1/3 stop to the right, his said he was all the way to the right (we were also using the same metering mode and ISO at this point).

So, after all that, to my question: why was his XT so off on the metering and also getting black exposures when mine was not in the exact same place? Is there some difference between the two cameras that I am not aware of? In other places we tried identical exposures and all came out the same. But in this one location his just got black shots.

Message edited by author 2006-06-24 21:34:54.

Tygerr

Nikon D7000

06/24/2006 09:06:05 PM · #2

Did you check the lenscap setting? Sometimes when you leave that set to "on", all you get is a black exposure... ;-)

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

06/24/2006 09:09:17 PM · #3

Originally posted by Tygerr:

Did you check the lenscap setting? Sometimes when you leave that set to "on", all you get is a black exposure... ;-)

ROFL

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

06/24/2006 09:10:47 PM · #4

First question I asked and it was set properly...as in off the lens.

Canon EOS-20D

06/24/2006 09:12:37 PM · #5

Glad to hear you didn't get rid of all your equipment. :)

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

06/24/2006 09:18:04 PM · #6

believe me I tried. I had it on eBay for over two weeks. Couldn't believe I got no bids at the prices I was asking. As a matter of fact, after today I feel more enthusiastic than I ever have and actually just got finished renewing my membership.

I just hated that 'registered user' status.

Prof_Fate

06/24/2006 09:24:29 PM · #7

metering mode.
exposure compensation.
user error.
the 20D is a better camera.

Not sure if any of those are it, but the first two seem most likely.

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

06/24/2006 09:26:07 PM · #8

What was the situation? Low light? Harsh/bright light?

And yeah, I missed you around here. Glad you're still shooting.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

06/24/2006 09:32:14 PM · #9

Prof: All was the same between the cameras and there was no user error as I checked everything he was doing. It baffled both of us. Especially since in every other location we went subsequently we checked shots using identical criteria and they were all ok. As far as the 20D being a better camera, by functions yes, but same sensor, metering modes, and lens mounted at the time of shots. In OP I stated that his was showing tthat his shot was ALL the way to the right while mine waas 1/3 stop to the right and he still got a black exposure. didn't make sense - he should have been way over exposed if going by that alone.

idnic: it was shooting down into a rock 'canyon' underneath the natural stone bridge. Average light, a little on the dark side but not dark enough to cause black exposures - 2 sec exposure at f/16 with, as stated above, the same lens mounted. It was only in this one location that this happened. Since I renewed my membership now I will get a shot of the location we were at and post it tomorrow. Haven't had enough time to process any shots yet.

Thanks Cindi!

Message edited by author 2006-06-24 21:38:25.

Prof_Fate

06/24/2006 09:44:46 PM · #10

assuming both cameras were set to the same exposure, you should get teh same pic on both, exposure wise.

Are you sure both have the same metering modes? I had a 300D and it was evaluative (by default, and you could not change it) in all modes except manual, and there it was center weighted). On a 20D you have 3 modes to choose from (i think three..my 30D adds spot to the mix).

what about WB? Not that i think it would make a diff.

Dust on the light meter inside the 350? specular reflection of some kind?

The only times i've had such issues is because i've set the exp comp and forgot to change it back.

Were you using flash?

Message edited by author 2006-06-24 21:45:30.

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

06/24/2006 09:46:53 PM · #11

sounds - at first glance like ISO was vastly diff between cameras. Otherwise, nothing comes immediately to mind that would cause that considering identical situations/lenses/etc.

Canon EOS-20D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

06/24/2006 09:48:06 PM · #12

Maybe if you posted EXIFs from both of your shots, we could pick something out?