RAW files and exposure in Aperture

Question

I'm using a Nikon D90 and I shoot RAW/Fine JPG.  Using Aperture 3.4 and OS X 10.8.3, I import my photos into Aperture as RAW/JPG pairs with the RAW file as the master.  I know Aperture quickly imports the imbedded jpg to show the thumbnails and then processes the RAW the file to create a new thumbnail.  I've noticed in most cases, the original imported jpg before processing looks fine, but when the RAW is processed, the image turns considerablly darker so that each picture now needs a boost in exposure.  I try to get the exposure right in the camera, but even when the picture and histogram look fine in the camera, the RAW-processed file in Aperture is always darker.  Is there a way to avoid this and get RAW processed files closer to the jpg's I see in the camera and on the initial import?  Thanks

Answer 1

I've just found a fix, or at least a temporary one until Apple sort Aperture out.
When loading the RAW or NEF file in Aperture, wait for it to over expose the file. Then try this,
1 - click the Adjustments tab on the left of the screen
2 - click Effects
3 - hover over Quick Fixes
4 - select either Exposure -1 or Exposure -2
-1 or -2 tends to fix my image depending on how much Aperture blew it out by when I loaded the image. Loading the image in full screen after doing that shows a very minor difference, only just detectable to the eye after a lot of pixel peeping, compared to the file loaded in Preview or iPhoto.
So it seems for whatever reason Aperture is applying too much exposure by default to RAW / NEF files. Not sure how to change this or stop it but it could be a setting hidden somewhere. Obviously you could set up a routine to automatically apply either -1 or -2 to all RAW / NEF files on import if you wished or you can do it manually.
This should help until Apple fix Aperture.
I've also raised an issue with Apple about this to see if they can advise a proper fix.