DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Metering Situations
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 12 of 12, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 06/08/2005 09:18:58 PM · #1
I was wondering what type of metering most people use. I rarely hear it discussed, and it's the one setting on my camera that I am unsure about for different situations. I have a choice of:

- Evaluative (35 zone)
- Partial
- Center wrighted average

I understand the technical differences of these settings, but not when to use them.
 06/08/2005 09:20:31 PM · #2
Depends on the situation and the effect I'm after. For general shooting I use evaluative. For difficult conditions I use Spot metering.
 06/08/2005 09:23:52 PM · #3
I use spot metering, always. The camera I have has a 1% spot meter. I find that this allows me to visualize every area of the image as to the lights/darks that I will achieve with the selected exposure settings. You can accomplish everything with spot metering that you can with the other ones (evaluative, etc.). I find spot metering gives me more control over the final product, whereas the other metering options give control to the camera.

-Nick

Message edited by author 2005-06-08 21:24:40.
 06/08/2005 09:26:49 PM · #4
my camera has some esp metering, i think it's like evaluative, and i also like to use spot when i want to clear out backgrounds to white
 06/08/2005 09:27:47 PM · #5
usually i use the evaluative (matrix in nikonish) but ive been meaning to buy a flash meter as soon as i can. If you use a flash thats a good idea, I find ttl's results just kinda boring i guess. I'll use spot if there's something in the frame that must be exposed properly regardless if other elements are over/under.
 06/08/2005 09:45:19 PM · #6
All depends, shooting an Airshow or Birds against the sky I go with partial metering.

Then there is the one I have trouble with is the subject is in a shadow and the background is bright...now exposure compensation and metering is critical. I would think Partial Metering and kick the Exp Comp < to keep from frying the background...still haven't had much success here... Easier to Bracket and Layer shots so far.

Here's a good read in simple terms (and examples) on metering with a digital: Understanding Metering

Message edited by author 2005-06-08 21:46:09.
 06/08/2005 09:53:49 PM · #7
Originally posted by awpollard:
All depends, shooting an Airshow or Birds against the sky I go with partial metering.

Then there is the one I have trouble with is the subject is in a shadow and the background is bright...now exposure compensation and metering is critical. I would think Partial Metering and kick the Exp Comp < to keep from frying the background...still haven't had much success here... Easier to Bracket and Layer shots so far.

Here's a good read in simple terms (and examples) on metering with a digital: Understanding Metering


That Understanding Metering link isn't the greatest discussion about metering. The info about spot metering is especially dismal. The tutorial says "Spot metering mode trys to calculates exposure based only on what is in the selected spot area. Rest of the frame can be over or under exposed." That is true, however, this is not the proper use for a spot meter. You can take more than one spot reading in different areas of the image and then calculate an exposure that will give you the (relatively) desired exposure for both areas. In this way, the frame won't be over- or under-exposed. Kind of a weak tutorial in my opinion. Spot metering is much more powerful than suggested by this tutorial.

This is completely untrue as well: "The only time you are NOT using Camera's metering is when you go in full "Manual" mode, when you have to select both aperture and shutter speed. This makes it very important that you understand metering modes properly.". Manual allows you to adjust both the aperture and the shutter speed and you still need to use some sort of metering to get the image. :) I suppose you could use a guesstimate or the sunny 16 rule, but I don't know if that's what the author was saying.

Message edited by author 2005-06-08 22:05:21.
 06/08/2005 11:08:31 PM · #8
Hello,

What I meant to say is in manual mode, you are not really using camera's metering algorithms to select any of the parameters. In all other modes, you are using it to select at least one parameter.

I did not mean you are not using "any metering" in manual mode. You **have** to use some technique to come out with some values for parameters for sure, but on your own. You are not telling the camera to select any parameters using its "metering algorithms". Although the camera will show you how you are doing with respect to its own calculations using some indicators, it won't make the decision for you unlike in other modes.

I have updated the article with the clearification.

Also please note that the article is targetted towards beginners. The goals is to explain the basic concepts of **in-camera metering modes**, not advanced metering techniques!

Regards,

-Saanga

Photospot : a blog about learning photography using digital camera
//photospot2004.blogspot.com

Message edited by author 2005-06-08 23:29:28.
 06/08/2005 11:33:32 PM · #9
I would use evaluative/matrix when shooting fast action or quickly changing light where I won't have time to think about exposure settings. Centerweighted I would use most of the time when light is consistent, unchanging and there are no difficult reflections present in the scene. Spot metering would be used when I need to obtain a measure of a given tone in the scene and not take other tones/colors in to account. Or when I want to measure the dynamic range or use the information to manipulate the tones with the zone system.

Evaluative measures different sections of yours frame and then compares them with stored data in your camera to pick the right exposure. The photographer has the least input with this method. Centerweighted takes account for all of the tones that fit in the frame, but give more emphasis to the area that falls in the center. And spot measures just a small area (1%-2%). Partial (around 9%). The actual measurements on all three are the same, that is, to average to an 18% tone.
 06/08/2005 11:34:17 PM · #10
I just use the sunny/f16 and shoot in M. Meters are for wimps!
06/08/2005 11:38:17 PM · #11
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
I just use the sunny/f16 and shoot in M. Meters are for wimps!


What is the sunny/f16?
 06/08/2005 11:47:29 PM · #12
Originally posted by Minutia:
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
I just use the sunny/f16 and shoot in M. Meters are for wimps!


What is the sunny/f16?


In full sun, the correct exposure will be 1/ISO at f16.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 07/19/2025 09:21:11 AM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 07/19/2025 09:21:11 AM EDT.