Lightroom imports images with low exposure.

[phixem92157254]

I just recently came across an issue where Lightroom started importing my images with the exposure lower than the image should be. The exposure slider is at it's default 0 value, but for some reason the real value is lowered by -1. (All images are RAW files.)

When looking at the metadata in Lightroom, all values are exactly the same to what the camera says (i.e shutter speed, aperture & ISO), but the histogram shifts a lot after import.

I even took two photos at the exact same position with the same exposure, yet when they are imported to lightroom, they no longer have the same exposure. (Ignore the bad cropping)

Both Images taken with ISO 400 f/3,6 and 1/4000sec

top image lowered by exactly -1

[GoldingD]

1. RAW or JPEG?

[GoldingD]

2. What Camera?

[GoldingD]

3. What version of Lightroom? Be exact. In fact see next reply.

[GoldingD]

4. Please post your System Information as Lightroom Classic (LRC)  reports it. In LRC click on Help, then System Info, then Copy. Paste into a reply. Include all info from first line down to and including plug-in info.

[phixem92157254]

As stated in the initial post, all images are in RAW format.

Camera: Fuji X-T2

Have tried importing images on a MacOS machine, same issue.

System information: (if there is anything missing from here just tell me and I'll add it in a reply)

Lightroom Classic version: 8.4 [ 201908011719-03751b60 ]
License: Creative Cloud
Language setting: en
Operating system: Windows 10 - Home Premium Edition
Version: 10.0.18362
Application architecture: x64
System architecture: x64
Logical processor count: 8
Processor speed: 3,4 GHz
Built-in memory: 8077,8 MB
Real memory available to Lightroom: 8077,8 MB
Real memory used by Lightroom: 2197,9 MB (27,2%)
Virtual memory used by Lightroom: 6134,9 MB
GDI objects count: 670
USER objects count: 2179
Process handles count: 1905
Memory cache size: 28,1MB
Internal Camera Raw version: 11.4 [ 273 ]
Maximum thread count used by Camera Raw: 5
Camera Raw SIMD optimization: SSE2,AVX,AVX2
Camera Raw virtual memory: 1229MB / 4038MB (30%)
Camera Raw real memory: 1241MB / 8077MB (15%)
System DPI setting: 96 DPI
Desktop composition enabled: Yes
Displays: 1) 1920x1080, 2) 1280x1024
Input types: Multitouch: No, Integrated touch: No, Integrated pen: No, External touch: No, External pen: No, Keyboard: No

Graphics Processor Info:
DirectX: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (26.21.14.4587)

Application folder: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Lightroom Classic
Library Path: C:\Users\REDACTED\Pictures\Lightroom\Lightroom Catalog.lrcat
Settings Folder: C:\Users\REDACTED\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Lightroom

Installed Plugins:
1) AdobeStock
2) Facebook
3) Flickr
4) Nikon Tether Plugin

Config.lua flags: None

Adapter #1: Vendor : 10de
Device : 1b81
Subsystem : 33011462
Revision : a1
Video Memory : 8088
Adapter #2: Vendor : 8086
Device : 1912
Subsystem : 86941043
Revision : 6
Video Memory : 80
Adapter #3: Vendor : 1414
Device : 8c
Subsystem : 0
Revision : 0
Video Memory : 0
AudioDeviceIOBlockSize: 1024
AudioDeviceName: Högtalare (HyperX Cloud Revolver S)
AudioDeviceNumberOfChannels: 2
AudioDeviceSampleRate: 48000
Build: 12.1x4
Direct2DEnabled: false

[GoldingD]

For the rig you posted sys info on

Lightroom Classic version: 8.4 

Why have you not updated to v9.2.1?

Nothing else in sys info sticks out.

If you update to v9.2.1, be aware of:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic/lightroom-classic-set-defaults-for-raw-file-import/...

and

https://lightroomkillertips.com/customizing-camera-raw-defaults-in-lightroom-classic/

[GoldingD]

For an experiment/diagnostic, one new photograph, import it, nothing else, no change of profile, no presets, no edits, take scrrenshot o develop module including history panel.

[phixem92157254]

Something like this?

Just to compare. This is what the proper exposure looks like:

[dj_paige · Accepted solution]

Some cameras ... maybe even yours ... have an option set in the camera to turn down the exposure in the highlights for JPG photos, and then the RAWs look underexposed, because this option does not affect the RAWs, only the JPGs. In Nikon cameras, it's called D-Lighting. It will be called something else in your camera, if it exists. You might want to search for such a thing in the manual, and make sure it is turned off in your camera.

[phixem92157254]

Can't seem to find anything in the camera settings, and seeing how the issue is seemingly random, I sadly don't think that's the issue 😕

[dj_paige · Accepted solution]

I don't know if this applies to your Fuji camera, but it was relatively easy to find on the internet https://www.jmpeltier.com/fujifilm-dynamic-range-settings/

[phixem92157254]

Hmmm... interesting. Seems like this might actually be the issue. Seems to be the exact same effect as the one I am getting. Camera is set to have that option off but this still might be it. Thanks a lot!