topic Re: DSC-HX20V images imported to pc look very underexposed in Cyber-shot compact cameras

DSC-HX20V images imported to pc look very underexposed

nrsnrs — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 17:09:21 GMT

DSC-HX20V images imported to pc look very underexposed and dull. Image on camera screen looks good.

Is this normal for this camera

Re: DSC-HX20V images imported to pc look very underexposed

Mick2011 — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 08:27:16 GMT

Hi there, welcome to the Sony Forums

I've read reviews that claim it can meter 1/3 stop underexposure, but that's not enough to make things excessively dull. If the image looks good on the LCD it's more than likely that your computer is displaying the image incorrectly.

Are you shooting raw or jpeg? Auto or manual exposure? If raw/manual, it's often necessary to make some adjustments once you upload the shots to PC. If you're using an auto-exposure mode, I'd suggest your PC is the source of the problem, either the monitor needs calibrating or the editing software you're using is somehow preset incorrectly.

If you like you could upload an example image to the forum and I'd be happy to check it out for you.

Cheers

Mick

Re: DSC-HX20V images imported to pc look very underexposed

Old_Taoist — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:37:58 GMT

Having only just purchased the HX-20v a day ago, initially impressed by the video quality for such a small sensor (1/2.3 = the smallest and cheapest) I am becoming rather disapointed after closer examination. Images do seem undeexposed. Not only that, the camera tends to make the less contrasted areas look really badly "fuzzy"; e.g. shoot a person or animal and look at the edges at 100% - it looks far worse than the 6 or so year old 10 Mp Lumix FX35 that I was replacing!

Mick: why do you ask if he's shooting RAW or JPG? This camera, although expensive (read as "overpriced!") will not shoot RAW files. You work for Sony?

BTW: Images always look better on the LCD because they are smaller and the LCD is bright. Images usually look brighter on a PC Monitor, especially LCD, but may look a lot darker or less sharp when printed!

Firmware needs serious update if this will fix the problem; also needs to fix lack of ability to turn off that annoying "image processing & preview" feature, plus allow more options over Sharpness Control - like 1 to 5 steps.

Re: DSC-HX20V images imported to pc look very underexposed

blaireau_photo — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:45:51 GMT

Hello Mike

If possible, would you be able to take a video where you notice this happening and then post it to YouTube? If you cut and paste the link into this forum I can take a look at the clip.

Thanks,

Simon

Re: DSC-HX20V images imported to pc look very underexposed

Old_Taoist — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:33:16 GMT

You are obsessed with "video" Simon! Sorry if my post made you confuse video with images. I meant images; as in photographs.

Links to review shots and comments: Read carefully!

No.1: The Seagull - "dappled". "chromatic aberration" further down the page.

http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/compact-digital-cameras/sony-cyber-shot-dsc-hx20v-review-50007951/

This is, unfortuynately, the only review & images I saw before purchase.:

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/sony_cybershot_dsc_hx20v_review/

Oh dear, another new review here:

http://www.techspot.com/products/cameras/sony-cybershot-dsc-hx20v.83913/

Expensive.
Exposure issues.
Lack of Raw capture.
Lots of detail smudging, even at ISO 100.
Tends to underexpose.
Highlight clipping can be an issue at times.
Only two apertures to choose from at any one time.

Plus, "expert Reviews" snap @ 125 sec ISO 800:

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/gallery/reviews/1292485/sony-cyber-shot-dsc-hx20v/168133

http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/cameras/Sony/HX20v/Sony%20HX20v%20six%20general%20images/DSC00674.JPG

another sony product again!

Re: DSC-HX20V images imported to pc look very underexposed

blaireau_photo — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 06:24:36 GMT

Hello again

I have replied to all three of your current threads on the main post (the ABC list).

Thanks,

Simon

Re: DSC-HX20V images imported to pc look very underexposed

ritasp — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 15:28:34 GMT

Hi,

I bought my camera yesterday after carefully studying test results for several weeks. I made the conclusion, the DSC-HX20V should be a very good camera....

BUT, today I spend some time taking 70-80 pics (intelligent auto adjustment), indoors but mostly outdoors, and I think the result is very poor; not one pic is of acceptable quality :smileyeh:

My 5(?) year old Nikon coolpix 7600 makes better pictures :

So what is my problem? Am I world's worst photographer, have I got a Monday specimens or what.

I tried to insert some images but the scaling will not show them the way they are, I suppose : -(

Grateful for some answer...

Rita

Re: DSC-HX20V images imported to pc look very underexposed

blaireau_photo — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 07:22:50 GMT

Hello Rita - Welcome to the Sony Forums

It would be good if you could insert a few photos into this forum thread. If you are having trouble with attaching pictures, you could always upload them to flickr and then just post the sharing links in a message. If you head over to http://www.flickr.com and sign up for a free account, you will be able to upload some example images and link to them here.

Thanks,

Simon

Re: DSC-HX20V images imported to pc look very underexposed

ritasp — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:18:09 GMT

Thank you for your quick answer

I have uploaded some of the pics to http://www.flickr.com/photos/93987777@N07/

They aren't very nice...I've used the "intelligent autoadjustment"....

But then I took some pictures indoors, using the flash and these pictures are of very nice quality :smileygrin:

Best regards

Rita

Re: DSC-HX20V images imported to pc look very underexposed

Mick2011 — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 07:46:01 GMT

Hi Rita

I had a look at your photos and I'm quite sure they are normal results for a small-sensor compact camera such as the HX20V.

The pictures you uploaded all have one thing in common: they are taken in very poor light.

This has several effects which are detrimental to a 'good' photo. First, the camera sets the lens to its widest setting. Most lenses produce the best results when they are closed down a little, as detail capture (especially at the edges of the frame) improves and overall sharpness increases. In compact cameras, this is even more important than more expensive gear. You can see the problems with this in the forest photos.

Secondly, the camera will use a slow shutter speed. This makes it difficult to avoid camera 'shake', which causes a photo to appear blurred. The pic of the full figure of the dog shows this problem quite clearly.

Third, as light levels fall below a certain point, the camera will start to use a higher ISO, which can also cause blurring of fine detail. You see this most in the cute pic of the dog facing the camera, taken at ISO640.

It's interesting to note you have good results using your flash indoors. You'll probably find the same sort of dramatic improvement shooting in good strong daylight, as the lens closes down, you have a faster shutter speed and the camera basically ceases to struggle with the lighting conditions.

Hopefully that will help you get photos you're happy with

Cheers

Mick

Re: DSC-HX20V images imported to pc look very underexposed

ritasp — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 19:22:44 GMT

Hi again

Thank you so much for your answer.

Today sun's been shining and I've made some new shots using the "intelligent autoadjustment"

http://www.flickr.com/photos/93987777@N07/

My question: are these pics, nr 001 - 003, as good as to be expected from this kind of camera, the HX20V?

Or have I had the misfortune to get a bad copy?

I'm quite happy with the middle of the pics but sides are blurry - are these pics as good as to be expected from this kind of camera?

(I've been using an old Canon EOS 20D the last few years - maybe that's why I got a bit disappointed with the Sony HX20V? I expected the pics to be "almost as good"...

Cheers

Rita

Re: DSC-HX20V images imported to pc look very underexposed

blaireau_photo — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 10:59:12 GMT

Hello Rita

Mick may or may not agree with me on this, but I think the slight blurring at the sides of the images is down to the fact that the camera is focusing on the subjects in the middle of the photos, meaning that others areas degrade slightly. In images 001-003, your furry friends are the centre of attention (and deservedly so :smileyhappy:) which means that while they appear in sharp focus, the other areas blur slightly to compensate. In this case, it is perfectly normal behaviour from the camera.

Thanks,

Simon

Re: DSC-HX20V images imported to pc look very underexposed

Mick2011 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 08:34:20 GMT

Yeah that sounds about right

Lenses are often developed to deliberately blur the background and this is most effective when the aperture is wide open. However image quality is not at its best at this setting; a smaller aperture will give better overall sharpness and less blurring, especially at the edges of the frame.

If you check your settings (on Flickr, they're listed under 'additional info' next to your photo) you'll see all of the shots are taken at f3.2 – this is the lens at its widest aperture setting. This is happening because you're using Intellligent Auto, which basically chooses the setting for you based on scene recognition software, and in this case it has – maybe correctly! – chosen a fast shutter speed and wide aperture for the shots of your dog.

You can probably get the camera to automatically close the lens down, assuming there's enough light, by using Program Auto instead. Better still, experiment with the Manual exposure settings; there's a good page on that in the online User Guide: http://esupport.sony.com/docs/dvimag/DSCHX20V_HX30_HX30V_guide/en/contents/02/03/05/05.html

The 20V will reward you with very respectable results if you practice shooting in different modes and learn how to get the best out of it. It's been designed with more than just the point-and-shoot photographer in mind and while it might not quite match a DSLR for image quality, you should be able to get pretty close.

Cheers

Mick