focusing and metering help please?

shopaholic

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I seem to be confusing myself about focusing and metering settings and wondered if someone can tell me the best settings please!

I have a Sony A200 and have read the manual but I am still confused.

There is a choice of focusing areas in the function settings –wide, spot and local-and I am using wide I think for all of mine. Am I right in saying that for instance if I wanted to take a photo of say the rim of a cup I would use spot focus? Maybe not!

Then in the metering mode there are 3 settings- multi segment, centre weighted and spot again and here I think I am using multi segment

And to confuse me further within autofocus mode there is af-s –single shot, af-a- automatic (it says for when things are in motion) and af-c-continuous.

To be honest I am confused with all these different ones to know when I should be using them and for which type of photos so if any one could be help I would be grateful!
 
hi I'm not familiar with your camera but I hope the following helps

focusing - spot and wide should be simple depending on your subject, not sure about local. Yes I would use spot on the tea cup.

Metering looks at the light available. Most people would recommend multi segment(matix) for most situations.

Focusing

automatic detects if subject is stationary or moving

single for stationary

continuous for moving object camera will adjust focus when shutter release presses halfway as you track subject.

I would suggest getting a good book that explains exposure this will help under stand your camera and inprove your technique.

I have just orded this book it comes highly recommended
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780817463007/

I'm sure you will get some more detailed advice from an A200 owner soon.
 
Focusing Areas - Your camera has 9 areas where it can focus. If you select wide the camera will decide which of these should be used, if you select spot then the centre area will be used, if you select local then you decide which area should be used. If you want the rim of a cup in focus and in the centre of the picture then use spot. If however you want the rim to be elsewhere in the shot, say centre top then use local and choose the centre top focus area.
To start you may wish to use spot, lock focus with the shutter button and then recompose.
Metering - Multi segment will look at the whole picture and select an average exposure to suit. Some things may be slightly over or underexposed but overall the result will be OK. Centre weighted will give more attention to the centre of the picture, if this is where the main subject is and you are not too worried about the rest of the picture then use this (I never use it personally). Spot will meter just for the very centre of the picture, use it when the subject is quite lighter or darker than the rest of the image, a portrait with the sky as background for example, where you want the face perfectly exposed but are not too worried if the sky is too light or even becomes white.
Focusing Modes - When the shutter is half pressed:
AF-S will lock the focus, use for things that are not moving
AF-C will vary the focus as the subject moves, useful for young children, animals etc. May not always be quick enough so don't expect it to be perfect everytime.
AF-A changes between the other 2 modes as required. So it will lock focus when the shutter is half pressed but will vary if the subject does move.
Have a look on the internet for reviews of your camera, they may explain things in adifferent way which will be clearer.
 
there is just so much to learn! thanks for the explanation. I still had to read it a couple of times though for it to start sinking in.

until i get used to fiddling about with these settings is it best as a beginner to start on certain settings and progress from there as and when the shot dictates ? or should i start using different setings for each shot from the start? thanks for the help by the way!
 
For starters you may want to choose:

Spot Focus - This will use the centre focus area, line that up with the subject, half press the shutter to lock focus, keep it half pressed and then re-compose the shot if you need to.

Multi Segment metering - This will give an exposure based on the average for the whole scene.

AF-S focusing mode - The focus will not change if the subject moves after you have locked focus with the shutter button. You would have to take your finger off the shutter button and refocus.

The above is only my opinion, others may disagree.
Once you are happy with these try studying one of them, say metering,
and learn how to change that.

The book suggested by Leaky may explain your camera more clearly than the manual and help you to know how to change the settings depending on the shot. To get the best from the camera you need to know how flexible it is.

Manuals only seem to be clear after you have worked out how to use the camera :D

Good Luck
 
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