[Leica] Underexposing Leica M8

[images at comporium.net (Tina Manley)]

At 12:33 AM 10/9/2007, you wrote:
>confusion is result of not kowing what camera type Tina is referring 
>to in each bit of her sentences - I tried to construe some 
>explanation and posted my answer for Tina to confirm, or deny. Waiting then.
>Yours
>Phil...x

According to my experience and everything I've read, all other 
digital cameras benefit by overexposing slightly - histogram should 
be heavy on the right.  The Leica M8 is different because Leica 
changed the way shadows and highlights are compressed.  The 
highlights have less information and the shadows have more.  Leica 
has always been well-known for how well they handle shadows so this 
was a conscious decision on their part.  They had to compress 
something and they chose to compress the highlights.  So with the M8 
you want to underexpose slightly to keep from blowing out those 
shadows that have less detail than the shadows.  Histogram should be 
heavy on the left.  I usually accomplish this by exposing for the 
shadows, but sometimes I also underexpose.  I do always underexpose 
rather than using high ISOs with the M8.

Clear as mud?

Tina

Tina Manley
ASMP, NPPA, EP, PI
http://www.tinamanley.com