Fuji 2650, dark images on computer monitor, fine when printed

I am using a Fuji 2650 with the Fuji Finepix viewer/USB driver
(v3.2)on a W98SE system. The Viewer and automatic USB download work
fine. But all the images as seen in the Finepix Viewer, or in any
other photo program I have(e.g. Kodak imaging, Microsoft Picture-It
etc) are dark, as if they are underexposed, whereas the LCD of the
same shots indicates a good exposure. If I print the pictures (to a
colour inkjet) either as index prints or photo size, the pictures are
pretty well as bright as the LCD. It's only when viewing the images
on the computer that the pictures are relatively dark.

I can use photo programs to brighten the images, but if I do that,
when I go to print, the photos look overexposed. Yet, if I want to do
any touch up etc, I pretty well have to brighten the image on the
computer monitor to see the corrections.

The computer monitor brightness is at a comfortable level for
everything else -- I don't think this is the source of the symptom.

I don't have any experience with other digital cameras, so have no
comparison. Is this a common symptom?

 

Hi...

I betcha a nickel (giving away my age, eh?) that your monitor
contrast/brightness is poorly set up.

Put a pencil mark or something on the brightness and contrast
controls so you can get back there if you're unhappy; then
play around. Try more brightness with less contrast.

Then send me my nickel

Take care.

Ken

 

Thanks Ken. Yes, by turning up the brightness and contrast I can
improve the situation for viewing these photos, but for other use I
think the CRT is too bright. When I look at other picture-containing
pages on the web, I don't need to turn up the controls. And, when I
scan a printed photo and save it I can look at it using any one of my
viewers without any similar symptoms. If the monitor brightness and
contrast are set too low, I would expect all similar data, i.e.
photos, to be too dark, but that's not the case. So, while you're
right -- I can turn up the brightness and contrast to get around the
problem -- I'm still puzzled as to whether this is a monitor problem.
Could it be something in the way the computer/monitor "reads" the
Fujifilm type of jpeg?

 

It has to do with whether or not the monitor is
"CALIBRATED" FOR "WYSIWYG"
(what/you/see/is/what/you/get)

If you are going to seriously persue digital
photography/printing, you need a calibration (of some
type) done for the monitor.

Simplest (cheapest) method is to print one of your
pictures, hold it up next to the screen and adjust
contrast/brightness to match the print.

In a perfect world that would be enough, but for serious
digital imaging, you need to run some calibration
software to get it right.

The software you need is dependant on the operating
system and photo editing software you are using.

 

Thanks Larry:

I just want to be able to see all the details that the camera
obviously has recorded. I'm not worried, at least at this point, about
absolute color match. As it is now, anything in the slightest shadow
is not seen on the monitor unless the brightness/contrast is cranked
up to max. While this does work, it also means that the rest of the
screen is overly bright.

From what you and Ken said it sounds as if it is the monitor. I'll
check with a friend who is a monitor repair specialist.