A stupid question...

Lukey · 6 Dec 2007

Hey everyone,
I'm afraid I'm going to ask you all a very stupid question.

When people say "metering a shot" what do they mean by this? Why does metering a shot do and how would I go about doing it!

Sorry if this is an insanely obvious question!

Cheers, lukey.

R8JimBob88 · 6 Dec 2007

Hi Lukey, again i'm not a pro, far from it :lol:

But i think the term metering a shot basically refers to the exposure. For example metering the sky in a landscape would mean a faster shutter speed the get the exposure correct in the sky. I'm sure someone else has a better explanation than I have

DiddyDave · 6 Dec 2007

Lukey said:
Hey everyone,
I'm afraid I'm going to ask you all a very stupid question.

When people say "metering a shot" what do they mean by this? Why does metering a shot do and how would I go about doing it!

Sorry if this is an insanely obvious question!

Cheers, lukey.

It's only insanely obvious if you know the answer m8

Metering the shot would normally mean you've spotted something to photograph;
you've looked through the camera and framed the shot;
you've pressed your shutter release half-way, so it takes a meter reading (i.e. the camera is working out what aperture & shutter speed to use);
and you're then reviewing those settings before taking the shot, perhaps as you want to try a higher/slower shutter speed or similar with the aperture - so you can decide if it's right or rights for the effect you're wanting to achieve

So 'metering the shot' really only means seeing what exposure the camera is suggesting before you take the shot. If you're happy with the readings, you'd recompose and fire away

HTH

R8JimBob88 · 6 Dec 2007

As Dave said really

Also center weighted and spot metering refers to how much, what part of the scene that the camera meters

KIPAX · 6 Dec 2007

Theres only one stupid question in the world. and thats an un-asked question.

Metering is finding the best setting based on the available light. by using the cameras various metering modes or a light meter or whatever

In P, AV,TV and set modes like sport landscape if your camera has them.. then your camera will do the metering for you.

When you read people are doing the metering then they will be shooting manual and therefore getting the information themselves.

Example. I 99% shoot manual. I will find a nutural colour.. grey if I can or when shooting football I use the grass... I point my camera at it and note the setting the camera uses for exposure.. I then dial these in manual mode.. then when I am shooting the players in black kits and white kits and all manner of colours and have white seast in background or dark blue... it doesnt fool the camera into different settings.. I get a good exposure no matter what because I metered off the grass..

While using manual the exposure will show over and under exposed... I ignore that because I know thats the camera being fooled wiht all the different lighting... every now and then I point at the grass and see the exposure meter is bob on...

Lukey · 6 Dec 2007

Cheers everyone, you've been most helpful! I think I've got the general idea of it now, I hope!

I felt like a bit of a plonker making this thread, as I study photography at college:bonk: but my teacher has never told us about metering etc or really anything technical, it's mostly about the art side of it!

DiddyDave · 6 Dec 2007

KIPAX said:
Theres only one stupid question in the world. and thats an un-asked question.

Metering is finding the best setting based on the available light. by using the cameras various metering modes or a light meter or whatever

In P, AV,TV and set modes like sport landscape if your camera has them.. then your camera will do the metering for you.

When you read people are doing the metering then they will be shooting manual and therefore getting the information themselves.

Example. I 99% shoot manual. I will find a nutural colour.. grey if I can or when shooting football I use the grass... I point my camera at it and note the setting the camera uses for exposure.. I then dial these in manual mode.. then when I am shooting the players in black kits and white kits and all manner of colours and have white seast in background or dark blue... it doesnt fool the camera into different settings.. I get a good exposure no matter what because I metered off the grass..

While using manual the exposure will show over and under exposed... I ignore that because I know thats the camera being fooled wiht all the different lighting... every now and then I point at the grass and see the exposure meter is bob on...

Metering is the process of taking a meter reading - it has nothing to do with shooting manual or auto, nor does it mean you're finding the best exposure - is is simply measuring what's there

As a result of metering, and often various parts in a complex scene, you may then decide on the best exposure and this may involve shooting in manual, using a compensation setting on an auto function or just keeping with full auto

KIPAX · 6 Dec 2007

DiddyDave said:
Metering is the process of taking a meter reading - it has nothing to do with shooting manual or auto, nor does it mean you're finding the best exposure - is is simply measuring what's there

As a result of metering, and often various parts in a complex scene, you may then decide on the best exposure and this may involve shooting in manual, using a compensation setting on an auto function or just keeping with full auto

The OP asked.. when people say metering a shot... I doubt many people in auto modes are heard to say they are metering a shot.. you would mostly hear that in manual.. I was trying to answer the OPs question

Gofer · 6 Dec 2007

If my aging memory serves me right this is a saying (meter the shot) that goes back to the days when film cameras didn't have an in built light meter and the photographer had to use a separate light meter to read either the light being reflected from the subject or the light falling on it. Still holds good today of course it's just that most of use now use the camera's in built light meter to gain an exposure value.

DiddyDave · 6 Dec 2007

Not worth arguing about m8 - but metering a shot I do all the time in auto, it's just taking a reading, what you described is setting the camera up as a result of metering - i.e. 'setting exposure'

As I said, it has nothing to do with manual or auto settings so soz m8 - but you're wrong :lol:

Or at least not answering the question asked totally accurately

Had the question been...

When people say setting the exposure...? - your answer would have been more appropriate

Either way, I think he's got it now so that's all that matters

DiddyDave · 6 Dec 2007

Gofer said:
If my aging memory serves me right this is a saying (meter the shot) that goes back to the days when film cameras didn't have an in built light meter and the photographer had to use a separate light meter to read either the light being reflected from the subject or the light falling on it. Still holds good today of course it's just that most of use now use the camera's in built light meter to gain an exposure value.

Nothing wrong with that memory Gofer, nail on t'head...

"gain an exposure value" as opposed to setting one

Plugus Maximus · 7 Dec 2007

KIPAX said:
Theres only one stupid question in the world. and thats an un-asked question.

Metering is finding the best setting based on the available light. by using the cameras various metering modes or a light meter or whatever

In P, AV,TV and set modes like sport landscape if your camera has them.. then your camera will do the metering for you.

When you read people are doing the metering then they will be shooting manual and therefore getting the information themselves.

Example. I 99% shoot manual. I will find a nutural colour.. grey if I can or when shooting football I use the grass... I point my camera at it and note the setting the camera uses for exposure.. I then dial these in manual mode.. then when I am shooting the players in black kits and white kits and all manner of colours and have white seast in background or dark blue... it doesnt fool the camera into different settings.. I get a good exposure no matter what because I metered off the grass..

While using manual the exposure will show over and under exposed... I ignore that because I know thats the camera being fooled wiht all the different lighting... every now and then I point at the grass and see the exposure meter is bob on...

I'm new to this camera malarky and that is the best explanation/tip I've read and I now feel so englighted and can't wait to try out your metering tip for settnig up the camera!