Rattray head lighthouse.

[Joanna Carter]

Another reason for not relying on the histogram is that it only reflects the contents of the JPEG, which is embedded in the RAW file. It is only really in the RAW file that you find the full dynamic range and, thus, much more detail in the shadows.

Just as with film, I never get to see the final result of my digital images, which are RAW, until they have been processed. And I rarely, if ever, check the rear screen because I have learnt, just as I had to with film, to get it right at the time of shooting. It can be a challenge to start with but, in the end, I have found it to be worth the effort.

Just found this article on ETTR, which might explain our reticence to use it.

 

[Glenn]

@Helen Summers

Thank you Helen.

It clearly works for you and that's all that's needed.

Just as a sidenote, my digital camera (Nikon Z7) allows me to check the histogram in the viewfinder before I release the shutter. I use the exposure compensation buttons to bring the highlights into the histogram. I firstly reduce the exposure until I can see the brightest highlight with a gap between it and the extreme right hand side of the graph. I overdo this compensation so the gap is quite large in case there are hidden highlights I have missed. I then carefully increase it a quarter stop at a time until that brightest highlight has the smallest gap between it and the right hand edge of the graph. It is more difficult to explain than to do but only takes a few seconds. As such, I take just the one shot with no blown highlights and good dynamic range.

 

[Glenn]

@Steve

Thanks for your comment Steve.

As I understand it, ETTR aims to expose for the highlights and is commonly used for digital photography. I haven't come across ETTL but I assume this is simple extrapolation meaning to expose for the shadows, as you would for film.

 

[Glenn]

@Joanna Carter

OK, I hadn't considered that. Will read the article when I get a moment and revert.

 

[Joanna Carter]

Just as an example of the differences between a JPEG file, as shown on the rear screen of a camera, and the full range RAW file.

Exposed for the brightest highlights at +2EV, here is the untreated JPEG…



… and its histogram…


… and here is the untreated RAW…



… and its histogram…

.

Now, the unprocessed RAW looks a lot darker but, once it has been processed to reveal the shadows, things change rather drastically…