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Metering; Spot, Center Weighted, Matrix, etc.
Topic Started: Feb 7 2009, 04:57 AM (527 Views)
cmontoya
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While I have read and experimented with the different metering methods, I don't think I have internalized them yet. I use Spot metering when I shoot my toys against a single colored background. I tried the others too but I don't see any substantial difference.

Is it because I'm shooting manual, i.e., does metering only work when using non-manual modes such as AV or TV modes?

How about you Fafas and Mamas? What metering mode do you use most often and when do use them?
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abortretryfail
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I shoot people for a living
Quote:
 
...I tried the others too but I don't see any substantial difference.

Is it because I'm shooting manual...


yes

Quote:
 
does metering only work when using non-manual modes such as AV or TV modes?


no Posted Image
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cmontoya
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@Fafa abortretryfail: Thanks for the first answer. The second requires more explanation, he he he.

I tried the different metering methods last night and Canon's evaluative meter is actually pretty good. I used a photo of a flamingo in front of dark water. I metered either the flamingo or the dark water and the two exposures were no different. I used the Spot and there was a difference. Metering the dark water overexposed the lighter flamingo while metering the flamingo underexposed the dark water. The latter is preferred of course since the subject's the flamingo. I tried Partial or was it Center Weighted and it was so-so. I read that Center Weighted is best for portraits.
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abortretryfail
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I shoot people for a living
I actually wound up partially answering this in another thread of yours.

all reflective meters in cameras are calibrated to 50% gray
especially when you meter something using spot the camera
will then set the exposure to bring tonal value that was in the
spot to 50% gray... so metering dark objects become overexposed
and light objects would be underexposed. that's why when using spot
you have to intentionally, based on your meter, underexpose for
dark objects and overexpose for light objects.

center weight and multi-segment/matrix meters several sections
of the frame so giving out a more overall exposure to cover the
different readings of the shot. so they are more or less accurate.

but people who want to be really... really accurate and have more
control over their exposures use spot... knowledge of the "zone system"
helps out in this.

and this is not just for auto exposure modes... you can even shoot
manually and know whether you are using the right settings based
on the meter.

for portraits it's either spot of center weight.... what some photographers
would do is either walk up to the subject or zoom in to fill the frame with
the face... take a meter reading and then lock the exposure (AE Lock) then
go back/zoom out... compose... and shoot

asian skin is around 50% grey in black and white so being asian kinda helps out.
Edited by abortretryfail, Feb 7 2009, 04:40 PM.
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cmontoya
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Salamat Fafa abortretryfail. Now, I know. He he he, I just found the partial answer in the LF: Neutral Gray Card thread.
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p-chan
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noob pa man ko so mo ad2 ko sa A (Amature mode).. hehehe.. matrix, auto white...
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parts
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abortretryfail
Feb 7 2009, 04:34 PM
I actually wound up partially answering this in another thread of yours.

all reflective meters in cameras are calibrated to 50% gray
especially when you meter something using spot the camera
will then set the exposure to bring tonal value that was in the
spot to 50% gray... so metering dark objects become overexposed
and light objects would be underexposed. that's why when using spot
you have to intentionally, based on your meter, underexpose for
dark objects and overexpose for light objects.

center weight and multi-segment/matrix meters several sections
of the frame so giving out a more overall exposure to cover the
different readings of the shot. so they are more or less accurate.

but people who want to be really... really accurate and have more
control over their exposures use spot... knowledge of the "zone system"
helps out in this.

and this is not just for auto exposure modes... you can even shoot
manually and know whether you are using the right settings based
on the meter.

for portraits it's either spot of center weight.... what some photographers
would do is either walk up to the subject or zoom in to fill the frame with
the face... take a meter reading and then lock the exposure (AE Lock) then
go back/zoom out... compose... and shoot

asian skin is around 50% grey in black and white so being asian kinda helps out.
hehehe...naa nkoi nasabtan gamay pero naglibog japon ko...hehe..i mean, wala pjud nko fully ma sabti ang metering modes....nya kung mag basa pd ko about sa zone system, mag lisod sad kog sabot ky grabe na au ang mga terminologies...hehe..
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cmontoya
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@parts: I found out that the best way to understand the metering modes is to set up a dark subject against a white background and shoot in A (Nikon) or AV (Canon) priority. In my 450D, I have Evaluative, Partial, Spot, Center Weighted. I set each one and shoot two photos (making sure I lock the exposure by pressing the * thingie).

First photo - I meter the white background (although mag hunt ang AF so i-duol gamay sa subject para naa contrast)

Second photo - I meter the subject

I found out that Evaluative does a pretty good job. I'll post some sample shots of a dark action figure against my computer monitor. :)
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cmontoya
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@parts: As promised... 1st photo: Metered the white background near the figure's right shoulder (camera right), 2nd photo: Metered the figure's helmet. No post-processing except to resize; light sources - ambient light, monitor and ceiling light.

Evaluative

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As you can see, not much difference in Evaluative so maybe for most shots, this is the way to go.

Partial

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Here, the Partial metering mode does a better job as long as the subject is the one exposed.

Spot

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Spot does it better if the subject is the one exposed.

Center Weighted

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I hope this helps :) Again, the best way is to try out the different metering modes in different situations and meter off dark versus bright versus neutral gray or mid-tone colored objects.
Edited by cmontoya, Feb 9 2009, 03:29 PM.
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choui168
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The Non-Photographer
@cmontoya: what mode did you use to shoot these? AV, TV or manual?
Edited by choui168, Feb 9 2009, 07:10 PM.
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cmontoya
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@Fafa choui168: AV. I think metering doesn't apply to Manual mode since we have full control over shutter speed and aperture :) I may find myself using Evaluative for landscapes and Spot for other subjects. I'm not confident of the results of Center Weighted or Partial. I'm sure they have their uses but I still have to find out exactly what they are.

Sama ka Mountain View Fafa?
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szichri
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PORNSTAR!
here's a good explanation about metering... and a lot more... have to dig this up sa akong mga bookmark pages...

planetneil
Edited by szichri, Feb 10 2009, 04:41 AM.
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