Metering Question

I am trying to improve my metering skills, but I am not always sure when to use
the various metering options. Can anyone recommend a good article on when to
use spot metering, center weighted metering or matrix metering?

Nath Kaplan

Hey Nath,

Not much to it really...

Matrix metering measures light from around the whole frame, which is
good for most of the time. Camera manufacturers have sophisticated
methods to determine exposure so this is the setting you usually leave
it on.

Spot metering measures light from a small point in the middle of the
frame only. It is most useful when the most of the scene/background is
overly bright (could be dark too I guess) and greatly contrasts with
your subject. In this case, using matrix metering would probably
expose the background correctly, but not your subject. So flick spot
metering on, and perform a focus lock on your subject, then reframe if
necessary, and take your photo.

Centre weighted is a cross between the two, with priority being given
to the centre of the frame.

Just be careful when using spot and centre-weighted -- if your subject
is off centre, perform a focus lock (half press) first and then
reframe. I tend to forget which is why I leave it on matrix and only
change to spot if I have to.

Regards,
Julian
www.shuttertalk.com

Hey Nath,

Not much to it really...

Matrix metering measures light from around the whole frame, which is
good for most of the time. Camera manufacturers have sophisticated
methods to determine exposure so this is the setting you usually leave
it on.

Spot metering measures light from a small point in the middle of the
frame only. It is most useful when the most of the scene/background is
overly bright (could be dark too I guess) and greatly contrasts with
your subject. In this case, using matrix metering would probably
expose the background correctly, but not your subject. So flick spot
metering on, and perform a focus lock on your subject, then reframe if
necessary, and take your photo.

Centre weighted is a cross between the two, with priority being given
to the centre of the frame.

Just be careful when using spot and centre-weighted -- if your subject
is off centre, perform a focus lock (half press) first and then
reframe. I tend to forget which is why I leave it on matrix and only
change to spot if I have to.

Regards,
Julian
www.shuttertalk.com

"nk" wrote in message
et...

I am trying to improve my metering skills, but I am not always sure when
to use
the various metering options. Can anyone recommend a good article on when
to
use spot metering, center weighted metering or matrix metering?

Spot metering is a technique that requires understanding what you are doing.
With that understanding, it is, IMHO, the most useful/powerful metering
technique. It's really not that complicated. Of the three you mention, it's
the only one that gives you actual measurements of the actual exposure on
the sensors: the others are _estimates_. The on-camera spotmetering book
advertised at the following site is a good introduction.

http://www.spotmetering.com/

David J. Littleboy
Tokyo, Japan

"nk" wrote in message
et...

I am trying to improve my metering skills, but I am not always sure when
to use
the various metering options. Can anyone recommend a good article on when
to
use spot metering, center weighted metering or matrix metering?

Spot metering is a technique that requires understanding what you are doing.
With that understanding, it is, IMHO, the most useful/powerful metering
technique. It's really not that complicated. Of the three you mention, it's
the only one that gives you actual measurements of the actual exposure on
the sensors: the others are _estimates_. The on-camera spotmetering book
advertised at the following site is a good introduction.

http://www.spotmetering.com/

David J. Littleboy
Tokyo, Japan