How to fix blown highlights on DSLR? (D80)

The one complaint I read about the D80 actually did show up. It is AMAZING in that it seems to CREATE light in low light situations, but the downside is that the highlights are completely blown. There is no detail at all, and there some areas where it looks like the subject is being blasted by a floodlight or something, and it wasn't there. I know the camera is trying to compensate, but it's over compensating. i think there is supposed to be a way to adjust for this. Does anyone know?

Re: How to fix blown highlights on DSLR? (D80)

I just got the D80 this weekend and haven't even had the chance to open it up to play with it yet so I don't know the answer to your question.

When deciding which camera to purchase I found DPreview forums very helpful. Maybe you can post there and somebody can help you.

DPReivew

If you find out the answer to your question let me know!

Re: How to fix blown highlights on DSLR? (D80)

Re: How to fix blown highlights on DSLR? (D80)

Did you play around with the shutter speed?

Re: How to fix blown highlights on DSLR? (D80)

Re: How to fix blown highlights on DSLR? (D80)

Re: How to fix blown highlights on DSLR? (D80)

That's part of getting to know your camera.

There's two ways to "fix" them:

1 - don't blow them in the first place

2 - shoot RAW

If you are shooting manual and you notice that this starts to happen to you alot, pay attention to your metering. Instead of putting your settings at the exact correct exposure for the shot you just metered, close up your aperture one stop or step up your ss. And play by that rule.

Also - this is where your histogram and highlights tools come into play. After the shot take a quick look at your highlights (press up 2x on the directional pad on the back of the camera - if it's the same as the D50). The blown spots will be blinking. Correct your exposure for the next shot.

I almost always have my display set to show the highlights after each shot as opposed to just the plain review. I know right away if I blew the highlights and can recompose and reshoot.

Now, if you shoot RAW, you have ALOT more options in post processing to recover blown highlights. If they aren't blown too bad, you can almost always recover all or most of them.

But of course there are alot of things that come along with shooting RAW...too many for me to get into now but suffice it to say that for the important shots I ONLY shoot raw now.

So if you know it's an important shot, shoot in raw and you can probably save the blown highlights later.

But I don't think you'll see this being a huge issue for you with this camera as soon as you get to know it and get comfortable with it.

Re: How to fix blown highlights on DSLR? (D80)

In some of these photos if I had stopped it down, I would have lost the rest of the photo.

It's not overall overexposed. It's just the highlights. Grrr and Grrr. I will have to play with the metering.

I have used the highlights thing (one of the few features I tried)

yes, I should shoot in raw..but they are such HUGE files.

I read online that some people either adjust the contrast of adjust the exposure under slightly. If I stop it down an entire stop, I'll have darkness.

I have another question. if you shoot in B&W mode is it a true B&W mode where I could use a red filter, etc for the sky?

Re: How to fix blown highlights on DSLR? (D80)

Ah...I see what the problem is. I'm assuming you are shooting manual but have you checked to see what kind of in camera processing is set (Sharper, Vibrant, Portrait, etc)? Those settings can affect the contrast also. Otherwise, yes, underexposing a drop would be what I would do.

Look around to see if there is a firmware update for your camera also.

Yes, raw files are huge (I've had to add tons of hdd space to my pc since I started shooting raw), and they can be noisy, and they require post processing.

I don't shoot in BW, I prefer to convert in pp; so I don't have an answer for you on that one.

Re: How to fix blown highlights on DSLR? (D80)

Re: How to fix blown highlights on DSLR? (D80)

I did a quick search - you might be in matrix metering mode. Switch to spot metering - that's what the dpreview forums are saying.

Linky

ETA: From reading that thread supposedly the D50 has the same issue. I can tell you that once I really got comfortable with the camera, blowing highlights has not been a major issue for me. But I tend to underexpose from a fear of blowing highlights that I've had since long before my DSLR. I normally spot meter on skin tones though.

Also you can still change some of the in camera processing setting while in AP mode. I don't remember the name of the setting but I will check and get back to you. It has nothing to do with scene modes or priority modes either...I just can't remember the name of it.

Message edited 5/12/2008 11:31:36 AM.

Re: How to fix blown highlights on DSLR? (D80)

Re: How to fix blown highlights on DSLR? (D80)

Aperture priority is my first choice for those situations too.