Dynax Digital Forums

why does the brightness shown on my camera LCD, when i preview the pictures, its brighter then when it shown on my PC screen.
when i open the files on my PC, it goes darker then the preview on my camera?

anyone had the same problem?

thanks.

The LCD screen brightness is adjustable - have a look in the instruction booklet.

OK - RAW mode only.  Have you got DRO set to off.  While DRO obviously does not affect the RAW file, if you have DRO on it will be used to process the JPEG that is shown on the preview.

I assume that the histogram in camera is showing the exposure is correct?

Only other thing I can think of right now (but it is early morning here) is that you may need to calibrate your monitor. If the histogram is correct and it is showing darker on the monitor then calibrating the monitor may help.

Dominic

OK - that would explain it.

If you're shooting JPEG (or RAW + JPEG) then the DRO does some processing in-camera so that more dynamic range is captured. For JPG shooting it is a great tool and can make a real difference to the results. The level you've suggested (Lvl3+) is a good option - although have a play with the different settings.

However, when you're shooting RAW only then you should turn DRO off. DRO has no effect on the RAW image that is stored (since DRO is only applied to in-camera JPEGs) but, and this is an important but, DRO will be applied to the image you see on preview.

The most likely visual effect is that what you see as being very dark in the RAW file as being dark/under-exposed (i.e. shadow areas) looks much brighter on the in-camera preview.

The DRO itself also has an affect on how the camera calculates the correct exposure. What you see as a correct exposure in-camera is likely to be under-exposed - which is how you described your problem - brighter on preview than on your monitor.

The best way to see it is to have a play yourself. Find a scene with quite high dynamic range (perhaps outdoors with bright skies, strong sunlight and an area in deep shadow).  Set your camera up on a tripod and loop through a set of exposures as follows:

RAW only - DRO off
RAW only - Standard
RAW only - DRO Advanced Auto
etc.... (i.e. through all the DRO options)

You'll see the differences in the previews in-camera but no difference on your computer as all you will be looking at is the RAW files.

Then shoot some JPEGs with the same settings. This time when you look at them on your computer you'll begin to see the effect that DRO has.

I wouldn't for a minute criticise DRO as it's a great tool when shooting JPEG.  However, for RAW shooting you should turn it off. Then you will see on your computer what you see as preview in-camera.

Hope that makes sense and helps.

Dominic

Quote from: dominicall on January 30, 2010, 06:58:37 AM

... However, when you're shooting RAW only then you should turn DRO off. DRO has no effect on the RAW image

I've always believed that if one uses the Sony supplied raw converter then the effects of DRO can be used. Am I wrong?

That I'm not sure of as I use ACR/Lightroom. I'm sure someone here will be able to answer that though.

Dominic

Just to chirp in- Dominic has done a great job in explaining it all. What you see at the back of your camera is a jpeg version of your raw image. This jpeg version will reflect all the settings of  your camera but will only give you an indication what the image could look like would you convert the raw image in Sony's raw converter with these camera settings to a jpeg. If you open your raw image in any other raw converter these dro settings will be completely ignored and you will be in for a surprise as raw files differ from jpeg files. As a rule of thumb- as Dominic has said: if you shoot raw only than turn dro off. If you work with Sony's raw converter than yes these dro settings can be applied but don't have to.
Stef.