Question on colors/saturation (Canon 40d)

[Lachesis00]

Old member who forgets to check in here

I am using an external flash... and the colors look dark to me. Can someone tell me what the color temp is suppose to be?

I also have been using the largest/fine jpeg as the babies lost 2 of my cards (which I found, I just haven't changed my settings). I am on auto settings... but something seems off to me 'brightness' or too much saturation... something. And it is every photo, no matter how close (unless it is like less then 2' away with the flash) or far away.

Is Jann still on the photography boards?

Edited:

Any suggestions on settings would be appreciated. This is my new camera, same old flash as I used on my 20d. I don't mind editing, but I'm kind of lazy , and if I can get them right w/o editing...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 125 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: -1/3 EV
Flash: On, Fired

File Size: 3.1 MB
File Type: JPEG
MIME Type: image/jpeg
Image Width: 3888
Image Height: 2592
Encoding Process: Baseline DCT, Huffman coding
Bits Per Sample: 8
Color Components: 3
Orientation: Horizontal (normal)
X-Resolution: 72 dpi
Y-Resolution: 72 dpi
Date and Time (Modified): 2009:10:14 10:23:54
YCbCr Positioning: Co-sited
Exposure Program: Program AE
Date and Time (Original): 2009:10:14 10:23:54
Date and Time (Digitized): 2009:10:14 10:23:54
Metering Mode: Multi-segment
Sub Sec Time: 90
Sub Sec Time Original: 90
Sub Sec Time Digitized: 90
Color Space: sRGB
Focal Plane X-Resolution: 4438.356164 dpi
Focal Plane Y-Resolution: 4445.969125 dpi
Custom Rendered: Normal
Exposure Mode: Auto
White Balance: Auto
Scene Capture Type: Standard
Macro Mode: Normal
Self Timer: Off
Quality: Fine
Canon Flash Mode: External flash
Continuous Drive: Single
Focus Mode: AI Focus AF
Record Mode: JPEG
Canon Image Size: Large
Easy Mode: Manual
Digital Zoom: None
Contrast: Normal
Saturation: Normal
Metering Mode: Evaluative
Focus Range: Not Known
Canon Exposure Mode: Program AE
Lens Type: Canon EF 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 or Sigma or Tokina Lens
Long Focal: 125 mm
Short Focal: 18 mm
Focal Units: 1
Max Aperture: 5.7
Min Aperture: 36
Flash Activity: 139
Flash Bits: E-TTL, External
Zoom Source Width: 0
Zoom Target Width: 0
Manual Flash Output: n/a
Color Tone: Normal
Auto ISO: 100
Base ISO: 400
Measured EV: -0.75
Target Aperture: 5.7
Target Exposure Time: 1/64
White Balance: Auto
Slow Shutter: None
Sequence Number: 0
Optical Zoom Code: n/a
Flash Exposure Comp: 0
Auto Exposure Bracketing: Off
AEBBracket Value: 0
Control Mode: Camera Local Control
Bulb Duration: 0
Camera Type: EOS High-end
NDFilter: Unknown (-1)
Flash Output: 0
Canon Firmware Version: Firmware Version 1.0.8
Serial Number: 1220707772
Camera Temperature: 18 C
Camera Orientation: Horizontal (normal)
Focus Distance Upper: 0
Focus Distance Lower: 0
Color Temperature: 5200
Firmware Version: 1.0.8
File Index: 9836
Directory Index: 100
Lens Model: 18-125mm
Canon Model ID: EOS 40D
AFMode: Single-point AF
Num AFPoints: 9
Valid AFPoints: 9
AFArea Widths: 97 97 97 97 97 97 97 97 97
AFArea Heights: 98 98 98 98 98 98 98 98 98
AFPoints Selected: 4
Original Decision Data Offset: 0
Bracket Mode: Off
Bracket Value: 0
Bracket Shot Number: 0
Raw Jpg Size: Large
WBBracket Mode: Off
WBBracket Value AB: 0
WBBracket Value GM: 0
Live View Shooting: Off
Internal Serial Number: J0734896
Dust Removal Data: (Binary data 1024 bytes, use -b option to extract)
Tone Curve: Standard
Sharpness: 3
Sharpness Frequency: n/a
Sensor Red Level: 0
Sensor Blue Level: 0
White Balance Red: 0
White Balance Blue: 0
Picture Style: Faithful
Digital Gain: 0
WBShift AB: 0
WBShift GM: 0
Color Space: sRGB
VRDOffset: 0
Sensor Width: 3944 (40-3927 used)
Sensor Height: 2622 (23-2614 used)
Black Mask Left Border: 0
Black Mask Top Border: 0
Black Mask Right Border: 0
Black Mask Bottom Border: 0
White Balance RGGB Levels: 2491 1024 1024 1228
Color Temperature: 6568
WB_ RGGBLevels Measured: 2488 1023 1024 1227
Color Temp Measured: 6568
Exposure Level Increments: 1/3 Stop
ISOSpeed Increments: 1/3 Stop
ISOExpansion: Off
AEBAuto Cancel: On
AEBSequence: 0,-,+
Safety Shift: Disable
Flash Sync Speed Av: Auto
Long Exposure Noise Reduction: Off
High ISONoise Reduction: Off
Highlight Tone Priority: Disable
Lens Drive No AF: Focus search on
Lens AFStop Button: AF stop
AFPoint Selection Method: Normal
Superimposed Display: On
AFAssist Beam: Emits
AFDuring Live View: Disable
Mirror Lockup: Disable
Shutter Button AFOn Button: Metering + AF start
AFOn AELock Button Switch: Disable
Set Button When Shooting: Normal (disabled)
Dial Direction Tv Av: Normal
Focusing Screen: Ef-A
Add Original Decision Data: Off
Live View Exposure Simulation: Disable (LCD auto adjust)
Add Aspect Ratio Info: Off
GPSVersion ID: 2.2.0.0
Compression: JPEG (old-style)

 

[VVFF]

It's just a bit underexposed. You had the camera set to -1/3 exposure compensation so just move this back to 0 and your shots should be a bit brighter. Also check that you don't have flash exposure compensation turned down.

 

[Lachesis00]

Thanks. I had my old camera (20d) underexposed by 1/3rd and didn't seem to have such dark photos especially with the flash I will bump it back up and try again. I will have to check the flash exposure. I am pretty sure it was set at zero. My battery is almost dead... so I need to recharge.

 

[VVFF]

Thanks. I had my old camera (20d) underexposed by 1/3rd and didn't seem to have such dark photos especially with the flash I will bump it back up and try again. I will have to check the flash exposure. I am pretty sure it was set at zero. My battery is almost dead... so I need to recharge.

You can also try FE lock. I believe that should be available on your model. It pre-flashes(I'm making this a word) the flash and meters the center focus point. It will adjust the flash output to properly expose the subject at the center point. This is good for set up portrait shots as you tend to get better flash exposure.

 

[Lachesis00]

Thanks! I just never had this issue with my 20d and my outside photos come out nice (w/o a flash) with little or no editing. I still haven't checked the camera. But once I do, I will let you know if I fixed it. Even shooting manual I can't quiet get them like I want them but I don't want them too bright, as it is harder to edit the photo vs too dark. (more grain).
It use to be even a worse issue when my husband messed with the monitor settings. They were dark and red. I fixed it.

You can also try FE lock. I believe that should be available on your model. It pre-flashes(I'm making this a word) the flash and meters the center focus point. It will adjust the flash output to properly expose the subject at the center point. This is good for set up portrait shots as you tend to get better flash exposure.

 

[ukcatfan]

Old member who forgets to check in here

Is Jann still on the photography boards?

I about fell out of my seat seeing your name there! It seems like forever. Jann is still a regular.

 

[Lachesis00]

Awesome! I hope she pops her head in

((((wave)))) It's been a while. I have the community board bookmarked and check in now and again and by the time I get through those, I forget to check this board. I should have this one bookmarked and do it the other way! LOL

I subbed to the new Canon picture thread. I thought I had already, it but apparently I didn't. I like to read, I don't comment much. I get tired easily (besides chasing 2 little ones!) due to an iron issue.

I about fell out of my seat seeing your name there! It seems like forever. Jann is still a regular.

 

[jann1033]

Hi Rachel ,I'm still here but more like you, just popping in when the mood hits love your little girl's "eye" close up in your sig. can't help with the flash since that is next on my list of things to acquire but i do have a question for you....

last summer i got a 40d as well and the first one I sent back as the focus wasn't focusing. now this second model seems to be doing something similar .

first body i thought was the lens but after sending the lens in ( contacting the manufacturer etc), and the lens was fine, it turned out the body wasn't focusing.. (after they went through all this trouble testing it, the one woman in CS even took it home and used it for a week

so then last week i went to use body number 2 and the thing would not focus . so i played around for a bit, turning it off and on, taking out the battery, changing lenses etc. finally i reset the custom settings to default( i hadn't set any to begin with so i thought they were still at default) and it worked. then a few days ago, a pileated woodpecker was at our bird feeder and i wanted to take a photo, it wouldn't focus again. played around with it again and it took a nice photo of my fridge as the bird was long gone by then

the shutter will depress and it will take a photo, it just isn't in focus. so i can tell it isn't in focus when i take the photo as it doesn't look focused ( IE it's not like i think it's focused, take it, then the photo is blurry). i don't know if the af isn't kicking in or what. it doesn't hunt for focus, it just doesn't do anything in the way of focusing. so far it has happened with low light lenses( f2.8-4 ) so wonder if it has something to do with that

I thought i remembered a while back you had a focus problem with your 40d and wondered if you ever figured out what was up( think you were at WDW maybe, i think they were photos of your kids on a bus you posted here????)
i'm going to try to go use it this weekend with all my lenses and see if it's doing it again or just with some lenses or what. it's still under warranty so i can ship it back just would rather not have to if it is just some button i am inadvertently pushing ( in other words, the "airhead syndrome" i seem to suffer from ) or if as usual, i got another lemon, i'll be returning this one as well

 

[Lachesis00]

Hiya Jann!!


I am finding some of my photos still OOF which I am not sure if it is operator error or the camera. The photos (I took a group of photos) I took along with this one, some of the originals looks a bit OOF to me. Not bad, but the focal point was on his eye and he wasn't moving. I thought the one I posted above was OFF a bit, but it looks ok today.