flash TTL meter and underexposure

[Chan Tran]

When I got the F5 my flash pictures are always underexpsoed. I sent the camera back to Nikon twice to have it calibrated but same problem. I had to do a 1 stop + compensation and this is very inconvienient because I have to remove the compensation when shoot without flash.
I recently read a book about Nikon flash (forgot the tittle) and in most example the author had to use + compensation. On the everage about 2/3 stop. So I am confident that Nikon intentionally made the TTL system underexpose.

[markbarendt]

Chan,

This is the "joy" :rolleyes: of letting the camera set your exposure.

[Alessandro Serrao]

When I got the F5 my flash pictures are always underexpsoed. I sent the camera back to Nikon twice to have it calibrated but same problem. I had to do a 1 stop + compensation and this is very inconvienient because I have to remove the compensation when shoot without flash.
I recently read a book about Nikon flash (forgot the tittle) and in most example the author had to use + compensation. On the everage about 2/3 stop. So I am confident that Nikon intentionally made the TTL system underexpose.

I've got a F90X and an Sb-26 and, with TTL metering, I've got the same problem too, especially with b&w materials...

[TSSPro]

I usse the F5 w/sb-26 combo a lot, too. I havent run into too many instances where I have consistant underexposure. An example of the TTL being fooled woudl be if you were trying to photograph a lare open reception hall. I wouldnt rely on TTL metering to get it right for me. The tables, chairs, floor and ceiling in tghe foreground would be closer to being exposed properly, if not over exposed, and the BG would be entirely underexposed by several stops depending on film and other variables.

As a rule of thumb I general overexpose my c41 to add density to the neg and prevent that under exposed haze you get with color neg; that may be whats compensating for the built-in underexposure you mentioned.