How can I judge exposure on my camera LCD in bright outdoor light?
Asked 3/17/2012
5 views
2 answers
0
When shooting outdoors in bright midday sun, my DSLR’s rear LCD looked fine, but later on a computer many images turned out overexposed. In bright conditions, what’s the best way to review test shots on-camera and confirm exposure is correct?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
9
Don't just look at the photo, but look at the histogram, too! Often when looking at just the photo on an LCD, you can't get a good feel for under- or over-exposure, or even color balance, but if you look at the histogram (especially the RGB histogram if your camera model supports it), it will be immediately obvious if something serious is off.
Originally by user5606. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user5606
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Don’t rely on the image preview alone. In bright sunlight, the LCD can be misleading for both brightness and color.
The most useful tools are:
- histogram: Check the exposure histogram after a test shot. If your camera offers an RGB histogram, that’s even better because it can reveal clipped color channels.
- highlight warning (“blinkies”): Turn on the playback mode that flashes blown highlights. This makes overexposure easy to spot even when the screen is hard to see.
In practice, many photographers review composition on the image, then use the histogram and highlight warning to judge exposure.
If glare is the main issue, an LCD hood/viewer can help shade the screen, but it’s generally secondary to using the histogram. If you try one, make sure it doesn’t slow you down too much.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI14y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
How can I judge exposure outdoors when the LCD is hard to see?
How can I judge exposure accurately on the camera LCD for night sky photos?
How can I get softer, flattering portraits in bright beach sunlight?
How can I reduce harsh sunlight and overexposure with a point-and-shoot camera?
Why do my Nikon D7000 photos look fine on the camera LCD but darker on my computer?