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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 |
#2
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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 |
#3
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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 |
#4
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"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 |
#5
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"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 |
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