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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> 350D owners - what Metering Mode do you use ?
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09/30/2006 10:04:21 PM · #1
Just curious to see what metering modes people use (for cameras without spot metering).
I am just starting to play around with this. I generally left mine on Evaluative Metering for everything but tend to think this is not the best for portraits or close up.

For the benefit of non-canon users - the 350D has three modes. Evaluative mode (according to manual can cover most situations): Partial mode (9% centre of viewfinder area) and Centre Weighted Average mode (weighted at centre and then averaged out). I assume the other brands would have something similiar.

The thing that amazes me is the lack of detail, explaination, information by canon regarding metering. The manual has one page on all three - very little more information than I've written above.

Has anyone played around with these modes ? Do you find one better than another ? In what situations ?
09/30/2006 10:06:25 PM · #2
I used partial and hunted for the hottest spot in the frame to meter off of. Now I use spot and do the same.
09/30/2006 10:21:16 PM · #3
My 300D is set to Partial, and I do like routerguy666 said - hunt for the hot spot, set the exposure, then compose and shoot.
09/30/2006 10:30:14 PM · #4
Originally posted by Tajhad:


The thing that amazes me is the lack of detail, explaination, information by canon regarding metering. The manual has one page on all three - very little more information than I've written above.


Yeah, I agree. I noticed that, too. I'm pretty bad when it comes to metering mode. To tell you the truth, I'm not totally sure what mode my camera is set to. I think it's set to evaluative. Hold on, let me check...

Yep, it's set to evaluative. Lately, though, I've been thinking that "Partial" mode might make a lot more sense for many situations...

09/30/2006 10:32:26 PM · #5
Partial and do my own averaging out for various spots in the picture. 99.9% of shots in manual mode.
09/30/2006 10:35:34 PM · #6
Similar: meter the scene, find the hot spots and set camera in manual.
Manual is the only way to go when the action is fast like a bird flying or sports. Set it and as long as the lighting doesn't change much, all your shots will stay the same, regardless if strongly backlit (like birds).
I have pretty much switched over to manual mode completely. I used to favor Av mode, where I set the aperature to control dof, as I still do in manual mode. One major exception: when driving or things happening too fast to set it up, and just select the green photos for dummies selection.
10/01/2006 10:55:43 AM · #7
I just wish for a bit more of a dynamic range - wonder if either the 30D or 5D would give much of a gain in that.
10/01/2006 10:28:21 PM · #8
I just ran across this thread and I'm glad I did. It is a subject that i'm not very clear on. I too, had to actually look at my camera to see which mode it was in. It was set to the "Evaluative mode". If you were to ask me why it was in that mode I wouldn't have an answere.
So, are there any pros who are familiar with the Rebel XT that would like to post a quick tutorial or something? Sounds like there are alot of us who need it!!
10/02/2006 09:23:52 AM · #9
Originally posted by renegade1966:

So, are there any pros who are familiar with the Rebel XT that would like to post a quick tutorial or something? Sounds like there are alot of us who need it!!
I beleive the rebel like the 30D are set to evaluative by default. This metering mode tries to take into account the light reflecting off the whole scene. It tries to determine the best exposure but scenes that have stark contrasts etc can cause the meter to incorectly read the scene.

In scenes that have detail beyond the scope of what a sensor can "see" you as the photog have to decide whats important (ie the shadows or highlights) and adjust your exposure accordingly since all of it can not be accuratly captured.

The rebel doesnt have the ability to spot meter, this is where the camera will use the center 3.5% of the frame to meter light. The next best thing to the spot meter on the rebel is partial metering where it uses the center 9% of the viewfinder. You can move the center around and press the button half way to get light readings from around the scene. Then they average the scene in their mind and chose an expsoure appropriatly.

If you shoot in RAW mode you can use the raw converter and do some adjustments after the fact if your off a bit.

There are a lot of good tutorials on it all over the net, here are a couple.

Exposure metering

Understanding exposure.

10/02/2006 09:36:32 AM · #10
Usualy my camera is set to "evaluative" but now and then, depending on the circumstances, I switch to "partial"...
10/03/2006 07:54:40 AM · #11
Thanks for the links Larry. Very informatative.
10/03/2006 08:18:09 AM · #12
My 20D (which has the same options) is normally set to evaluative, but I've been trying out partial lately, which is nice for capturing objects in front of windows and whatnot. Don't have the spot option, that's the 30Ds bag.
10/05/2006 03:09:44 PM · #13
definitely use spot (if you have it) or center weighted metering. youll get rid of alot underexposed areas like under the eyes/ears if you use the spot or center weighted metering. id only use evaluative metering when shooting landscapes where youll have a wider range meter levels.
10/05/2006 03:25:45 PM · #14
as long as you're watching the histogram and the blinking blow-outs (in canon's anyway) ... it doesn't really matter how you meter, at a glance you can see if you need to make an adjustment
10/06/2006 10:53:22 AM · #15
Tajhad,

See my post titled “What I want for dpcmas” under Forums\Website Suggestions. David C (very nice chap) posted some links to an exposure mentorship learning thread – I found it very useful.

Also, I guess you saw the “Semi-Advanced Metering Question” thread just below yours. There is some interesting info there about how your 350D meters.

Message edited by author 2006-10-06 10:53:55.
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