Suddenly washed out photos 2

[skysurfer]

Posted Today, 12:41 AM
Sorry this is a second posting because I couldn't attach files to the first after I'd posted.

I'm a newbie and non-techie with a Sony A5000 which has been working well.
But suddenly at an open air festival - lots of grass and sun - all the photos are coming out washed out and whitish.
I have to work very hard afterwards reducing the brightness to get any reasonable shots from the images.
I am using normal automatic settings but even the viewfinder image looks washed out and the movies come out exactly the same.
I'm unsure whether this is some fault or some setting I have inadvertently changed.
I will try to send a typical photo or two in case somebody can help explain what's going on

Really hope somebody can help because the camera is quite new

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[ethierbach]

The first thing I would check would be exposure compensation.  (The +/- icon)  Make sure it's set to 0 and not a positive or negative number.

[yali]

Yep, that definitely looks like you dialed in positive exposure compensation.

[skysurfer]

Thanks both - at least it sounds the problem is fixable.
Can somebody possibly take me through the menu procedure to check this - camera settings etc.
I was under the impression that if the camera is set to automatic, these settings are fixed to the suitable levels.

Many thanks

[LeButler]

Menu -> Camera Settings -> Exposure Comp [on submenu 3]: Change the +1.7 to 0.0

 

The photo data shows it's set to +1.7 exposure; Exposure Compensation is one of the few options that overrides even fully-automatic settings.

 

Good luck!

[SpaceManSpiff]

I didn't realize there were two threads for this, ^^ but getting the the exposure comp reset should do the trick.

[skysurfer]

Hi Le Butler and Space Man Spiff
I am obviously thick but I have my camera with the orange line set to Exposure Comp and at the end of that line it says + and - 0.0
Is that what it is set at?

If I hit ok with the centre button it says This operation or setting not available as follows and under that it has Shoot Mode with Intelligent auto under that.

I'm not clear how to find out if it is set to 1.7 and if it is how to change it
I can't find anything about this in the manual you kindly linked to Le Butler.

Sorry to be such a dumbo.....
 

[SpaceManSpiff]

Skysurfer,

 

On my NEX-6 I am unable to change exposure compensation in either of the intelligent auto modes.

 

Looking at the info from the skeleton pic (in the other thread) --that picture was taken in Aperture Priority (A on the mode dial).  In A, P, or S you can change the exposure compensation.

 

Perhaps go into Aperture Priority.  Change the exposure comp.  Take a test shot-- hopefully it will come out ok.  When in review mode (after hitting the playback button), toggle the DISP button until you get the screen with all the info.  There it should display all exposure information, including what the exposure comp was set at.  

 

 

Good luck!

[skysurfer]

I can't find an Aperture Priority.

I seem to be lost here without a paddle.

Just now when the sun was shining I went outside and took a couple of shots and all seemed to be well.

I noticed (for the first time) that if I partly press the shutter button before it register ISO Auto on the screen it gives an ISO reading which was 100 and then I gather it goes much higher when I take darker subjects.

So maybe whatever was the problem has righted itself.

I hope so - if not I'll be back to worry you more!

Thanks so much for trying to help me.
 

[LeButler]

That's frustrating and harder than it should be sorry. If it still doesn't look right on shots similar to those posted earlier:

 

First

Menu -> Camera Settings -> Shoot Mode [on submenu 1]: Change to Aperture Priority

Then do the

Menu -> Camera Settings -> Exposure Comp [on submenu 3]: Change to 0.0

And finally switch the mode back

Menu -> Camera Settings -> Shoot Mode [on submenu 1]: Change to one of the Auto modes (or your preference).

[skysurfer]

Thanks so much!

After a few tries and blunders I got there perfectly as you wrote.

So now let's hope it works.

Be sure I'll be back to nag again if it doesn't.

But I have a feeling I'll be OK - and I'll know what to do if it happens again.

[SpaceManSpiff]

Nice work!  

 

You can access the shooting modes this way instead of going through the menu

 

From Cameralabs review:

"Lacking a mode dial, the Sony A5000's shooting modes are selected from a menu activated by pressing the centre button on the control wheel. In addition to the PASM modes the virtual mode dial displays two fully auto modes, SCN for the Scene modes, Sweep panorama and Movie mode."

[Golem]

Per the OP, at the nooby stage of hardware

familiarity, it makes sense to find the thing

in the menus wilderness that sets the whole

camera back to factory defaults.

 

I wouldn't know where it might be in a Nex-5

or A5000, but find it and make sure you know

how to find it repeatedly and reliably.

 

I use more than one brand of camera, and one

brand uses the menu command "initialize" to

refer to the factory default resetting function.

Maybe thaz Sony jargon, maybe not. Myselves

I would never use it. To me, that would be the

"third rail" command [to touch it is to die].

 

Later on when the camera becomes familiar it

becomes a rather useless function, but at the

toadall noobster stage, it can be way useful.

 

P.S. Hopefully this thread's replies have also

shown that one ought to become familiar with

reading the exif files to diagnose problems if

they might be related to user control settings.

 

 

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