Light meter?

[glenafton]

I use the Panasonic DMC FZ50 and have been advised by a very helpful man (Frog) to find out if the inbuilt meter of my camera is sufficient or do I need to buy a light meter
Glenafton

[CaraRose]

Just looking at the specs for that camera, I'd say it'd be sufficient. You have three metering modes - multi-segment, center weighted, and spot. Spot metering is one of the most useful things, since you can chose a specific area to meter on.

[glenafton]

CaraRose,
Thank you for taking the time to help me. I have been using the multi segment metering setting in the belief that this setting would automatically give me a correct exposure. However I will try using the spot metering.
Glenafton

[CaraRose]

When you spot meter you need to remember that it's ONLY metering from a small segment around the center point in the viewfinder. If you want to meter to a specific area or lighting, that's the one to use. But remember it's basically a point where you want to meter, adjust the settings, then re-frame the shot. It's not always a good idea to use this one all the time, it's more for specific situations.

The multi segment metering takes an averaging of several different points to get the whole metering. It's is normally pretty good, but it is an average, so it can't always get it right in all lighting conditions.

Center weighted is also creating an averaging, but puts a higher percentage on the central part of the viewfinder, and less as it goes out towards the edges.

The best thing to do is to play with the different modes and find out what you like to use. Try taking the same shot with different modes and see what you like to use.