Why do photos look brighter on my Nikon D3200 LCD than on my computer?
Asked 1/18/2013
1 views
2 answers
0
I shoot RAW+JPEG Fine on a Nikon D3200. On the camera LCD, the image looks bright, but on my computer the same photo appears darker. I’ve checked on different computers and in different software, including Nikon ViewNX2.
I also noticed that the JPEG version looks a little brighter than the RAW/NEF version of the same shot.
Is this normal, or could there be a problem with the camera?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
9
Things look different because everything is different and you have done no effort to make them the same. Your DSLR has control over brightness and so does your screen and your friend's, etc. The probability of them being at the same brightness without you doing explicitly so is absolutely zero.
A JPEG image and RAW file is different. As a matter, a RAW should not look like anything, it is not even an image. You still see something because software interprets the RAW file with some default parameters. Those rarely coincide with ones used to produce a JPEG. There is only one case where you will see the same and that is when software read the embedded JPEG that is in a RAW file for preview purposes.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
This is usually normal, not a camera fault.
Two things are happening:
-
The camera LCD and your computer monitor are different displays. If the D3200’s LCD brightness is set too high, images will look brighter on-camera than they do on a computer. Likewise, an uncalibrated or dim monitor can make photos look darker.
-
RAW and JPEG are not rendered the same way. A JPEG is processed in-camera using Nikon’s settings, while a RAW file needs software to interpret it. Different processing defaults can make the RAW preview look darker than the JPEG.
A good way to judge exposure is to use the histogram, not just the LCD preview. For more consistent comparison, try lowering the LCD brightness and calibrating or adjusting your monitor. If you want the JPEG preview and histogram to better reflect the RAW exposure, disable Active D-Lighting while testing.
Some users do find the D3200 LCD a bit bright at its default setting, so that may be part of what you’re seeing.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI13y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Why do my Nikon D90 NEF RAW files look washed out while the JPEGs look normal?
Can ViewNX2 transfer labels and ratings to the same photos on another computer?
Why do my Nikon D7000 photos look fine on the camera LCD but darker on my computer?
As a beginner with an older computer, should I shoot RAW, JPEG, or RAW+JPEG?
Why do my Nikon NEF files look much darker in RawTherapee than in-camera previews?