Nikon D60 - pics are way too dark in shaded areas

[pinkmotherofpearl]

I have the ISO set at 200...the F-stop set as low as it will go on my camera (5.3)
and unless I set the shutter speed to about 80....the pics very undexposed and yellowish . (and of course then if i shoot at shutter speed of 80...the pics are blurry)
I even have the white balance set at auto...or at "shade" and they are still very very dark.
(The meter always reads way below the center point)

Can somebody tell me how to get the right exposure (w/o making the iso really high and w/o using a flash?)

THANK you so much. This is driving me nuts.

[Franglais]

Can you post an example?

What mode are you using (P, A, S, M?). If you're not on Program mode then what are you trying to achieve by using some other mode? You've talked about setting the shutter speed, the aperture and having the exposure meter way off - I'm confused

[Frog]

Inside or outside?
Tripod or hand held?

As Franglais asked, what setting? manual, aperture, etc?

Post an example.

[SmartWombat]

If the aperture will only go as low as f/5.3 then that's a problem.
Because the meter reads below the middle you are underexposing, there's not enough light.

You need to get more light in !
- increase the ISO
- decrease the shutter speed
- use flash
- buy a new lens that will open up to f/2.8 or even wider

Or make the blur part of the image and work with it.

[PWhite214]

I wonder what shooting mode the camera is set for. I remember some camera that would not let me open the lens in certain modes, consequently, I have no idea what any of the modes on my DSLR do, never used them.

Phil

[gryphonslair99]

Buy and read this book. http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-.../dp/0817463003 Once you understand light and the exposure triangle you will have the knowledge to make corrections on the spot and you will know when you can't get the shot without other assistance such as added light.

[freygr]

I have the ISO set at 200...the F-stop set as low as it will go on my camera (5.3)
and unless I set the shutter speed to about 80....the pics very undexposed and yellowish . (and of course then if i shoot at shutter speed of 80...the pics are blurry)
I even have the white balance set at auto...or at "shade" and they are still very very dark.
(The meter always reads way below the center point)

Can somebody tell me how to get the right exposure (w/o making the iso really high and w/o using a flash?)

THANK you so much. This is driving me nuts.

Have you tried upping the ISO? The amount of light need to capture a image is constant. The amount of light need does not change unless you change the sensitivity setting which is the ISO, changing from ISO 200 to ISO 400 change the amount of light needed by 1/2, change from ISO 200 to ISO 800 the amount of light needed is 1/4 of what it was at ISO 200

The correct exposure is determined by the F stop and Shutter speed. If you stop down the lens on step you have to double the time of the shutter to keep the amount of light the same.

Try this link for an interactive demo of what I just tried to say:
http://dryreading.com/camera/index.html