Does using Spot-Metering affect E-TTL Flash?

[markrichardson]

Slightly random question but I'm just going round in circles using google.

I've always assumed that E-TTL uses evaluative metering for the flash output regardless of what metering mode I'm using to set my aperture and shutterspeed (I almost always work in M mode)

Is this correct, or does the metering mode I use affect the E-TTL flash output?(e.g. if I'm in spot metering mode, will the flash exposure also be metered just using that spot?)

 

[markrichardson]

Lots of views but no answers...anyone know the answer to this definitively?

 

[inaneredstripe]

i would say yes.
if evaluative metering an area with dark centre and lighter outer, then spot metering in the centre would make the camera think the area was darker, thus more flash needed, specialy if your using fill in flash.

 

[Gofer]

Flash metering and ambient metering are two totally different systems. The flash menu will allow you to set the flash metering to either evaluative or average metering whereas the ambient metering can be set to either evaluative, centre weighted average, partial or spot. The ambient metering type will have no effect on flash metering.

 

[fezzr]

i havent finished reading this yet but im guessing this and a million other questions are answered within...
http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/

 

[HoppyUK]

Flash metering and ambient metering are two totally different systems. The flash menu will allow you to set the flash metering to either evaluative or average metering whereas the ambient metering can be set to either evaluative, centre weighted average, partial or spot. The ambient metering type will have no effect on flash metering.

^^^ Correct

i havent finished reading this yet but im guessing this and a million other questions are answered within...
http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/

That's a gargantuan read, but worth it if you want to know how Canon flash works. Pretty essential for strobist photographers