Yes, it's probably your PC monitor, but to check before doing any more adjustments, look at your material on external preview - connect your DV camcorder, deck or conversion device to a TV ( or to vcr > TV) and see if that looks dark.

I have a vcr &small tv setting a few feet away. I do not have an external preview monitor but wish i had one. Is it hard to hook up?. I am pretty dumb.
I can see through my camera when i send it back to tape but I don't think that is what you mean.
Thanks to all

I can see through my camera when i send it back to tape ...

You're almost there. Assuming your TV has audio/video input jacks, hook the audio/video outputs of your camcorder to your TV and you should be all set. If it's just a regular TV, hopefully your camcorder came with a box called an RF modulator (audio&video in to CH. 3/4 out). If not, places like Radio Shack sell them.

Mike

I will try that, but is their any other device or converter that you can use so you don't have to use your camera. I bought a vcr/dvd that has the fire wire. but it wouldn't work with computer only camera. I even call the company and they told me it would work for that.
Thanks again

A miniDV deck with a firewire port.

If you're saying that pictures you import to vegas, look okay on your computer otherwise, then you're being steered in the wrong direction. In vegas, it's very easy to accidently change some things. There is something called 'Opacity' that can accidently be lowered without realizing it and that will darken your pictures. If you left click the top of a picture or video, there is a line you can grab(opacity), that will darken the picture if you pull it down towards the bottom of the track. Try opening a new project and import a still or video and see if it looks okay. If it looks okay, then that's your problem. If your pictures look dark in any section of your computer then follow the advice above my post. If they only look dark in Vegas, then the problem has to be some setting in Vegas.