Histogram - New Quick Poll

[Photo-John]

I just put up a new Quick Poll about histograms. Do you use the histogram display on your camera?


Histogram Quick Poll >>


And while I've got your attention, please tell us how and why you use the histogram display.

Don't know what I'm talking about? Here's a very good article by Sebastian Szyszka about using the histogram display on your camera:

Digital Camera Histogram Guide >>

Thanks for voting!

[armando_m]

I use it to fine tune the exposure, and I review it separated by each channel

While i answered sometimes, I'm almost sure every keeper I have had the histogram reviewed

very useful tool once I understood what it means

[Greg McCary]

I use it some but mostly after the shot, not before.

[Username2343]

I never use it on the camera, waste a lot of time making it happy. I'll just mess with it when importing raws into photoshop.

[Jimmy B]

I answered Sometimes, mostly after the shot. it is a very valuable tool.
Jimmy B

[jetrim]

I use it in the studio in conjunction with a digital target to fine tune exposure, especially midtones. Though I don't do it quite as often, it can also be helpful dialing in White Balance in tricky lighting situations. I don't check every single shot, but I do use extensively for test shots before a session or when the lighting has changed.

[WesternGuy]

I don't use it on the camera, because I shoot raw and the image diplayed on the camera is a jpeg and I have always assumed that the histogram on the camera was for the jpeg image and I am never sure how useful it will be in telling me something about the raw image that I will use in Lightroom. I do use it judiciously in my image processing.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

[Richard Hla]

I used it all the time after the shot,if the sun is not over my head.Bad weather conditions and low light condition is a must.

[Axle]

I don't use it on camera, because I've been known to shoot my digital like an analog camera. Hell I don't even look at the photos on the screen, and often shoot using Sunny-16 as a guide.

So my camera's analog baby!

[DJB]

Hi all. First post here.

I use my histograms constantly. Most useful tool ever invented.

Dave Brooks

[Photo-John]

Most useful tool ever invented.

I totally agree

Welcome to the site!

[Anbesol]

I said always, though I don't literally check it after each and every shot, but I constantly have it on and broken into the channels. So, as close to 'always' as you can get, really.

[OldClicker]

I seldom use it pre-shot as it just isn't that convenient (and, of course, if no LV, it isn't there at all). I'm a 'sometimes' user post-shot. I find I use it less and less as I get used to a certain lighting situation. – TF

[Photo-John]

I use it some but mostly after the shot, not before.

After the shot counts

I mostly use it for tests. I will shoot a test and check the histogram and then tune up my photo. It's especially useful for snow photos and photos where I want to keep the photos as bright as possible without clipping my highlights. Before I really understood how to use the histogram for snow photos I'd usually underexpose and then have to drastically brighten them up in post. That's not the case when I'm able to make a histogram check and fine-tune my exposure in-camera.

[SmartWombat]

On the micro four thirds, it's on the display all the time.
On the 1D I will check it after the first shot in a new environment, tweak, and then forget it.
I use it as a guide to tell me if the camera's meter plus my exposure compensation is near right.
Usually it is, but sometimes I get a surprise.

[megan]

I use it occasionally-to-often, it's helpful when I want to make sure that I'm getting the exposure that I want.

[Loupey]

I use manual exposure exclusively for all my nature/wildlife images so I use the histogram when I first set the exposure for a scene. I leave my display permanently to the "dual display" mode (small image playback and a small histogram display). I basically just make sure that the whites/lights aren't clipped in my subject and then leave it and start shooting.

[Sebastian]

Always. Has to be in my top 3 best aspects of digital photography. Expose using traditional methods, quickly confirm with histogram and shoot away.

[Photo-John]

Always. Has to be in my top 3 best aspects of digital photography. Expose using traditional methods, quickly confirm with histogram and shoot away.

Did you read the article, Sebastian? The writer did a pretty good job