silent shutter - underexposure

[RobEW]

Hi. A tech question if I may.

I understand that when I select electronic / silent shutter mode, it won't expose for more than 1/8th of a second.

I find too often when I'm on my common settings of aperture priority and fixed (200) ASA, if I select silent shutter (so as not to scare off subjects) and it's dim lighting, it underexposes without any obvious warning.

Is there some menu setting to make it give a glaring warning? I have a whole series of indoor dragonfly photos (one got into our kitchen) which are woefully underexposed.

I'm using E-M1 classic and can replicate the issue with various lenses.

[Ricoh]

Re: silent shutter - underexposure

Rob,
Light is a tricky thing! It sounds like the situation is EV 4 or 5 at a guess. I would consider using an incident lightmeter and maybe comparing with a spot reading whilst exposing for shadows. In lieu of a handheld meter I'd refer you to the 'ultimate exposure meter' by Fred Parker: www.fredparker.com The tables will allow you to achieve an adequate exposure without a lightmeter, and with the camera on manual (forget aperture priority for a minute) do a comparative electronic and mechanical exposure.
Hope that helps.

[RobEW]

Re: silent shutter - underexposure

Light meter! That sounds very traditional; some might even say old school. :-)

[OM USer]

Re: silent shutter - underexposure

The camera must know about the available light (or EV) so why can't it display this or put it in the EXIF?

[Ricoh]

Re: silent shutter - underexposure

Light meter! That sounds very traditional; some might even say old school. :-)

New school can be very misleading and it's no place to learn.

[Ricoh]

Re: silent shutter - underexposure

The camera must know about the available light (or EV) so why can't it display this or put it in the EXIF?

It probably does. The camera interprets the light in a way only known to the authors of the algorithm(s) embedded in one or more pieces of silicon, suitably doped.

One of the best investments of our time, photographically speaking, is to learn the light. Arrival is being able to determine the light and the exposure without a lightmeter. I have found the incident lightmeter to be one of the best tutors I've had, again photographically speaking.

[RobEW]

Re: silent shutter - underexposure

I get the points that have been made, but when you're using aperture priority, isn't it reasonable to expect some kind of warning if it knows it will underexpose?

[Wee man]

Re: silent shutter - underexposure

Maybe it's because the authors were suitable doped?

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[Ricoh]

Re: silent shutter - underexposure

I get the points that have been made, but when you're using aperture priority, isn't it reasonable to expect some kind of warning if it knows it will underexpose?

The Oly experts talk about 'blinkies' for under and over exposure warning. It's described in the 'text book' supplied with the camera, in pdf form, as far as I remember.
I would say sod aperture priority in difficult light, the sort of situation you're operating with. You're just as likely to get a properly exposed shot going full-on in P mode. (P for professional, you understand.)

[Ian]

Re: silent shutter - underexposure

Silent shutter mode only works across a subset of the camera's full working EV range when the mechanical shutter is used. Therefore you may see underexposure happen for no apparent reason (apologies if already referred to - I only skimmed the thread).

Ian