Metering modes

cowasaki

cowasaki

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Darren
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Right, I've taken thousands of pictures and used the D200 and D700. I've read the manual but that just gives the theory of it all.

So my question: What metering mode (and options) for what subject/conditions? and why?

I have:

3D color matrix II
Center-weighted
Spot

then

I can set the size of the center-weightedness or the spot........
 
Manual, spot metering because I want to expose to place the tone I want where I want.
 
EdBray said:
Manual, spot metering because I want to expose to place the tone I want where I want.
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I have been using spot metering currently with the lock button to lock the metering when I want but just wanted to know if this is the best use of my camera and that I am not missing a trick so to speak :)

I just cannot understand which modes are best for what!
 
seventythree said:
does that mean that spot metering is always the focus point?
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No having had a mess with the options you can meter on a point and lock it then focus on a point. This is ok when you have as long as you want to take a shot but sometimes you just don't which is why I am asking about the available modes which I am sure will confuse others too.
 
It very much depends on what you are photographing. In general and for general photography the matrix metering on modern camera's is very good. That said it can still be fooled. Especially if there are large areas of Black or white in the image.

If you want a particular point of your image to be properly exposed then one of the spot metering modes is best.
 
Sorry to bump an old thread but this is something I've been thinking about a fair bit this week. All the info I've seen seems to suggest that in the old days it was always centre weighted that was used, but hardly anyone recommends that these days, it's always matrix or spot.

Manual mode would always be the best bet of course, but in certain situations such as street photography, this isn't necessarily going to be practical. Actually, I realised after the event that I'd shot all day on the street using centre weighted metering at the weekend, but couldn't see any problem in exposure in any of the images. As this is what I'll be doing a lot of this year, I guess matrix would be the best bet, then maybe spot metering when I'm shooting something where I've actually got time on my side.
 
I've always wondered this as well. I've been into photography properly for nearly 3 years now and I've never really learnt enough about metering.
 
I tend to use spot if dealing with a backlit subject. If you use matrix it will expose for the whole scene and underexpose the subject. Spot metering will sometimes blow the background but the subject will be properly exposed.

The other trick is to stick to matrix, zoom in to fill the frame with the subject, take the reading from there and shooting manually zoom back out and take the shot. It's actually a very good method to use because you are taking a meter reading from a larger area of your subject than if you use a spot meter.

Sorry if that one confuses the issue even more, it's just a neat trick :)
 
BouncyMelons said:
I tend to use spot if dealing with a backlit subject. If you use matrix it will expose for the whole scene and underexpose the subject. Spot metering will sometimes blow the background but the subject will be properly exposed.

The other trick is to stick to matrix, zoom in to fill the frame with the subject, take the reading from there and shooting manually zoom back out and take the shot. It's actually a very good method to use because you are taking a meter reading from a larger area of your subject than if you use a spot meter.

Sorry if that one confuses the issue even more, it's just a neat trick :)
Click to expand...

I completely see the benefit in spot metering when dealing with a backlit subject, or if you want to meter for the brightest part of a scene, ie a wedding dress. The bit I struggle to come to terms with is metering when you're shooting on the move but when the light could change at any given time, such as street photography as I mentioned. I tend to use AP mode as I haven't got time to shoot manually, so what's the best method then :shrug:

I guess on the street you should be looking at matrix, although as I mentioned the results weren't too shabby after I'd used CW all day.

Other than flash, it's probably the one part of photography that will probably confuse me forever :lol:
 
I assign one of the fuction buttons on the front of the camera to spot metering, makes flipping between modes very easy and you just need to let go of the button to switch back. For me it tends to be a mix of matrix and hand held meter with spot when I dont have the time to use the sekonic.
 
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