A better way to be sure you get it right is to learn how to expose properly in the first place. The DS and the D offer spot metering. You could try experimenting (and learning) with that. Shooting RAW may give you some additional latitude, but there is no substitute for proper exposure.
It sounds like you're relying too much on software to get good results. It may be difficult to return from working in that way. Learn the right exposure in the beginning. You will have better photos forever. By relying on software, you'll never learn how to expose. Shel > [Original Message] > From: Tim Øsleby > Whatever mode you used, my guess is that the camera went for the grey in the > sky behind the trees. It can be rather tricky to figure out what the meter > will think. Also in Av and Tv mode. So there is only one way to be sure to > get it right. Shooting raw. > > When I bought the camera (a DS), I had a lot of frustrations myself. After a > while I tried raw, but could not get on top of converting. Then I downloaded > Rawshooter Essential. This program has some auto correction features that > were just what I needed. All I had to do was using ALT + E, and the program > suggested a conversion. Often this is close to a good image, and it sure was > a good starting point, to play with the image. I have learned a lot in a > matter of little time using this. > > Most likely you will end up using raw sooner or later. So what I am saying > is that _now_ might be the time to take that step. The general quality is > better, and it does give you more headroom when shooting. > > Now I have upgraded to RSP, the pay version of RSE. There I have levels, > curves and cropping in the converter. So now I do most of the tweaking in > one program. The downside of this is that it makes me a bad photoshooper. > But for now, I can live with that.
