topic Re: Overexposure in Automatic Mode (Canon Rebel t5i) in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Overexposure in Automatic Mode (Canon Rebel t5i)

zachgoll — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 02:38:49 GMT

I do not remember this happening in the past, but all of a sudden, the automatic mode on my Rebel t5i overexposes everything when I take a photo.

Here is what I have already done:

Factory reset all my settings
Compared a JPG vs. RAW photo - They were exactly the same, which means the image processor in my camera is fine

From what I understand, exposure compensation and metering settings do not impact the photos taken in auto mode, so I am looking for possible explanations that do not include these two subjects (assuming my understanding is correct).

Thanks!!

Re: Overexposure in Automatic Mode (Canon Rebel t5i)

Waddizzle — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 07:20:09 GMT

Your understanding may be slightly off the mark. If you can adjust exposure compensation then you will affect how RAW files are captured. Likewise, metering mode can affect how the camera adjusts the exposure, which will also affect how RAW files are captured.

The default settings for metering is Evaluative Metering. There are only a few reasons to change from that setting. The need to use AEC can be pretty rare, too. It is only needed under lighting conditions that stretch the limits of the camera's performance.

Re: Overexposure in Automatic Mode (Canon Rebel t5i)

jrhoffman75 — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 10:41:39 GMT

"From what I understand, exposure compensation and metering settings do not impact the photos taken in auto mode"

The end result is the same, but your understanding is incorrect.

If you are in A+ Green Square mode then Exposure Compensation cannot be selected and metering mode cannot be changed from Evaluative.

If you are in Program AE mode ("P" mode) correct exposure is automatically calculated but metering mode can be chnaged and exposure compensation can be applied, so that can affect your end photo result.

However, resetting settings should cancel EC and restore metering to Evaluative (page 214 of your manual).

Can you provide more information about the conditions you are shooting in?

Re: Overexposure in Automatic Mode (Canon Rebel t5i)

zachgoll — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 12:28:01 GMT

Okay, so you are saying that even though I'm only shooting in Auto mode, my exposure compensation will still affect the RAW photos that I take in that mode? Would I be correct in saying that SINCE IM SHOOTING IN AUTO, my metering setting and exposure compensation setting will have NO EFFECT on the end result regardless of whether I'm shooting RAW or JPG?

If it helps, my manual settings are set to:

- Evaluative metering

- 0 exposure compensation

Thanks!!

Re: Overexposure in Automatic Mode (Canon Rebel t5i)

zachgoll — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 12:30:44 GMT

In AUTO MODE, I have shot in various settings whether it be artificial light, a bright sunny day, or even a cloudy day. All of the images come out overexposed.

The only way I can take a good picture is by putting the camera in manual mode and adjusting aperture,shutter speed, iso for each scene.

I would like to be able to shoot in auto so I do not have to adjust these settings so frequently.

Thanks!

Re: Overexposure in Automatic Mode (Canon Rebel t5i)

jrhoffman75 — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 13:04:01 GMT

@zachgoll wrote:
Okay, so you are saying that even though I'm only shooting in Auto mode, my exposure compensation will still affect the RAW photos that I take in that mode? Would I be correct in saying that SINCE IM SHOOTING IN AUTO, my metering setting and exposure compensation setting will have NO EFFECT on the end result regardless of whether I'm shooting RAW or JPG?

If it helps, my manual settings are set to:

- Evaluative metering
- 0 exposure compensation

Thanks!!

If you are in Green Square A+ mode you cannot set EC or metering. So yes, even if you have made selections in another mode when you shift to Green Square the other settings are ignored and are set to the default of "0" and Evaluative.

Re: Overexposure in Automatic Mode (Canon Rebel t5i)

jrhoffman75 — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 13:07:13 GMT

@zachgoll wrote:
In AUTO MODE, I have shot in various settings whether it be artificial light, a bright sunny day, or even a cloudy day. All of the images come out overexposed.

The only way I can take a good picture is by putting the camera in manual mode and adjusting aperture,shutter speed, iso for each scene.

I would like to be able to shoot in auto so I do not have to adjust these settings so frequently.

Thanks!

This is confusing to me; I cannot explain.

What you could try is removing the camera battery, switch the camera on and operate the shutter button.

Reinstall battery and turn camera on.

Re: Overexposure in Automatic Mode (Canon Rebel t5i)

zachgoll — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 13:20:10 GMT

@jrhoffman75 wrote:
@zachgoll wrote:
In AUTO MODE, I have shot in various settings whether it be artificial light, a bright sunny day, or even a cloudy day. All of the images come out overexposed.

The only way I can take a good picture is by putting the camera in manual mode and adjusting aperture,shutter speed, iso for each scene.

I would like to be able to shoot in auto so I do not have to adjust these settings so frequently.

Thanks!
This is confusing to me; I cannot explain.

What you could try is removing the camera battery, switch the camera on and operate the shutter button.

Reinstall battery and turn camera on.

By doing that with the battery, is it resetting the shutter in some way? Given there is no obvious solution to this one, would you say that there is a chance that either my shutter is stuck and/or my sensor is damaged?

Thanks again for the help.

Re: Overexposure in Automatic Mode (Canon Rebel t5i)

jrhoffman75 — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 13:24:49 GMT

Since camera functions properly in M mode I would say there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the camera.

I do know from various web postings that when folks have had strange behaviors the reboot process I described has sometimes resolved - I don't know what the success rate.

It's a simple thing to try. If it doesn't work then I guess a trip to a service center would be reuquired, unless another poster can identify the probelma nd suggest a fix.

Re: Overexposure in Automatic Mode (Canon Rebel t5i)

ebiggs1 — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 15:43:37 GMT

The best standard test to see if the camera is working as it should, after a clear all settings and all custom settings is;

On a nice sunny go outside with the camera set to P mode. Lens set to AF, middle FL. ISO to 200 and WB set to auto.

Take a few shots of several different things. AF working as it should. If you photos are good there isn't anything wrong with the camera. The problem lies elsewhere.

Re: Overexposure in Automatic Mode (Canon Rebel t5i)

ebiggs1 — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 15:46:16 GMT

"Since camera functions properly in M mode I would say there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the camera."

I tend to not agree with that. It eliminates too much of the guts of the camera.

Re: Overexposure in Automatic Mode (Canon Rebel t5i)

zachgoll — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 17:21:50 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
The best standard test to see if the camera is working as it should, after a clear all settings and all custom settings is;
On a nice sunny go outside with the camera set to P mode. Lens set to AF, middle FL. ISO to 200 and WB set to auto.

Take a few shots of several different things. AF working as it should. If you photos are good there isn't anything wrong with the camera. The problem lies elsewhere.

That makes sense. I'll have to go try that. Sounds like there is not really a straightforward answer to this problem which I had suspected, but wanted to confirm here. Thanks!