Shooting techniques

Normally, the camera automatically adjusts the exposure. If the image is too dark or too bright as shown below, we recommend that you adjust the exposure manually. When shooting a back-lit subject or a subject against a white (e.g. snowy) background, adjust the exposure toward the + side. When shooting a black subject that fills the screen, adjust the exposure toward the – side.

Underexposed

tAdjust toward +

Appropriate exposure

Overexposed

tAdjust toward –

Displaying a histogram

A histogram is a graph showing the brightness of an image. The horizontal axis shows the brightness, and the vertical axis shows the number of pixels. The graph display indicates a bright image when skewed to the right side, a dark image when skewed to the left side, and a medium brightness image when centered.

Using a histogram lets you record images while checking the brightness level. You can also display a histogram during playback.

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VGA FINE 101

4

S AF

0EV

Dark Bright

aSet the mode dial to or SCN.

bPress to display the histogram.

cAdjust the exposure based on the histogram.

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VGA FINE 101

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S AF

0EV

Adjusting the exposure to the + side shifts the histogram to the right side.

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VGA

101

S AF

0EV

Adjusting the exposure to the – side shifts the histogram to the left side.

•The histogram also appears when the mode dial

is set to , but you cannot adjust the exposure.

•The histogram also appears when you press

while playing back a single image (page 30) or during Quick Review (page 23).

•The histogram does not appear in the following cases:

–When the mode dial is set to SET UP or

–When the menu is displayed

–During Quick Review of an image recorded in Exposure Bracket mode (DSC-P10/P12 only)

–When using playback zoom

–When playing back an image recorded with the mode dial set to

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