diff --git a/skimage/io/_io.py b/skimage/io/_io.py
index 06da7adb..646369bd 100644
--- a/skimage/io/_io.py
+++ b/skimage/io/_io.py
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ def show():
     >>> import skimage.io as io
 
     >>> for i in range(4):
-    ...     io.imshow(np.random.rand(50, 50))
+    ...     ax = io.imshow(np.random.rand(50, 50))
     >>> io.show() # doctest: +SKIP
 
     '''
diff --git a/skimage/io/_plugins/matplotlib_plugin.py b/skimage/io/_plugins/matplotlib_plugin.py
index 4aa0b7f1..a65f8cf0 100644
--- a/skimage/io/_plugins/matplotlib_plugin.py
+++ b/skimage/io/_plugins/matplotlib_plugin.py
@@ -1,9 +1,21 @@
+import numpy as np
+import warnings
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+from skimage.util import dtype as dtypes
 
 
 def imshow(im, *args, **kwargs):
     """Show the input image and return the current axes.
 
+    Images are assumed to have standard range for their type. For
+    example, if a floating point image has values in [0, 0.5], the
+    most intense color will be gray50, not white, as would be the
+    default in matplotlib.
+
+    In contrast, if the image exceeds the standard range, this
+    function defaults back to displaying exactly the range of the
+    input image.
+
     Parameters
     ----------
     im : array, shape (M, N[, 3])
@@ -19,9 +31,36 @@ def imshow(im, *args, **kwargs):
     """
     if plt.gca().has_data():
         plt.figure()
+    immin, immax = np.min(im), np.max(im)
+    supported_dtype = im.dtype in dtypes._supported_types
+    if supported_dtype:
+        lo, hi = dtypes.dtype_range[im.dtype.type]
+        if immin >= 0:
+            # display range starts at 0 for nonnegative images
+            lo = 0
+    else:
+        warnings.warn("Non-standard image type; displaying image with "
+                      "stretched contrast.")
+    out_of_range_float = (np.issubdtype(im.dtype, np.float) and
+                          (immin < lo or immax > hi))
+    if out_of_range_float:
+        warnings.warn("Float image out of standard range; displaying image "
+                      "with stretched contrast.")
+    low_dynamic_range = (immin != immax and
+                         (float(immax - immin) / (hi - lo)) < (1. / 255))
+    if low_dynamic_range:
+        warnings.warn("Low image dynamic range; displaying image with "
+                      "stretched contrast.")
+    if not supported_dtype or out_of_range_float or low_dynamic_range:
+        lo, hi = immin, immax
     kwargs.setdefault('interpolation', 'nearest')
     kwargs.setdefault('cmap', 'gray')
-    return plt.imshow(im, *args, **kwargs)
+    kwargs.setdefault('vmin', lo)
+    kwargs.setdefault('vmax', hi)
+    ax = plt.imshow(im, *args, **kwargs)
+    if not supported_dtype or out_of_range_float or low_dynamic_range:
+        ax.colorbar()
+    return ax
 
 imread = plt.imread
 show = plt.show