Need help with RAW processing.

[RBTSMPSN]

I’m shooting on a Sony A6500 RAW + JPEG. 

I can open the JPEG version of the file and see in the histogram that the image was correctly exposed. The image looks great on my iPad, and when I print it, the print looks great. This is with no editing, slight cropping only. 

When I open the RAW version of the same image it looks just slight darker on my iPad, but very close. But the histogram shows the image is extremely underexposed, not how the image actually looks. If I print the image with no editing, the print reflects what the histogram indicates. The print is extremely dark with only the highlights showing, everything else is black or near black. To get the RAW image to print to match the JPEG print I have to bump the exposure to blow out even the mid tones. The histogram shows it very overexposed, but the print looks good. So basically processing a RAW image is impossible. The histogram doesn’t reflect what the image actually looks like.

When looking at the metadata, both files show the exact camera settings. It’s the same picture, one JPEG and the other RAW. 

What do you suggest? Am I missing something in settings?

Thank you. 

[DM1]

Hi RBTSMPSN, check the setting for RawTone curve in the Assistant is set to Take No Action..

[RBTSMPSN]

DM1, thanks. I checked and it was set to Take No Action. 

[RBTSMPSN]

Here’s screen shots of the RAW and JPEGS opened. Same picture, different histograms. 

[RBTSMPSN]

Here’s another example. The file opened is RAW. I’ve attached a screenshot. There is clipping, indicated in red, on the whites of the waves. Notice the histogram, it’s weighted heavily to the left. I developed it and printed it. See the picture of my print. It’s extremely dark just like the histogram reflects.

But, when I open the JPEG of the same image, it’s only slightly lighter on my iPad, the histogram shows a more evenly balanced exposure and the print looks good (close to what I see on my iPad). 

Thanks for any help. 

[DM1]

The histogram is compressed because the raw colour output is set to 32bit and your image is 16bit, Change the setting to 16 bit. That will fix the histogram.

[RBTSMPSN]

Thank you!!!