Metering Types

[tayl0124]

Okay I took some pictures outdoors the other morning where the snow and ice seemed to overpower some of the shots. My question is what does each of my 3 metering modes actually do, and how do I use them so the snow doesn't completely wash out the rest of the picture?? I wish I would have remembered to bracket. :mad2:

[AgingEyes]

My question is what does each of my 3 metering modes actually do, and how do I use them so the snow doesn't completely wash out the rest of the picture??

What three metering modes do you have?

[another view]

I don't know Canon, but chances are it's pretty similar to Nikon's spot, centerweighted and matrix metering. I think Canon's evaluative is a lot like Nikon's matrix, and the other two types have been around forever (well, basically).

Spot - Measures just one small "spot" of the scene. I use this only with manual exposure mode and usually only with tricky scenes - one being what you describe. Pick the most important area of the scene, meter it and base your exposure on it. If your subject is a mid-tone (gray, grass-green, bright red, etc) then you're all set. If it's lighter than that you'll have to add exposure and darker you'll have to subtract exposure.

Center Weighted - Only time I ever use this is in low light if I'm not using spot. Matrix doesn't always give me what I want at night, but for some reason CW is closer. It's "old school" and in most situations inferior to Matrix (or evaluative).

Matrix/Evaluative - Most applications, probably 80-90% of what I shoot.

It all comes down to experimenting and knowing how any of these metering modes handle a situation. One school of thought is to use spot meter and manual in a situation like that and another is to use matrix with compensation based on your experience with that camera. I don't think one is necessarily better than the other, but I choose spot/manual because I know what I'll get with it. Lots of experimenting and a bit of a learning curve with this method, but I'm glad I did it (back in the expensive slide film days, no less!). Try searching this forum on spot metering; I've posted a few times about it.

[Don Kondra]

Okay I took some pictures outdoors the other morning where the snow and ice seemed to overpower some of the shots. My question is what does each of my 3 metering modes actually do, and how do I use them so the snow doesn't completely wash out the rest of the picture?? I wish I would have remembered to bracket. :mad2:

The short answer is read your manual

Basically it determins where and how many points the camera chooses to determin a setting.

One trick I use is to set the AF to center, metering to focus point, set half press to lock meter and focus. Half press with the center point on an object with contrast, in this example I focused on the squirrel. Then recompose and shoot.

I should mention the light sucked for this picture, in a quick PP of the brightness, I turned the snow slightly blue. An easy fix in hindsight and too lazy to fix for this examples sake, sigh...



HTH.

Cheers, Don

[Anbesol]

I personally find that center weighted and spot are more functional in a priority mode, used also with the AEL function, but it changes shooting technique a bit to focus/meter then frame, rather then framing first. Using the evaluative mode can help you avoid this more lengthy technique, but you should be more mindful with proper exposure compensation, for example: in the bright snow you may even want to compensate 1-1.3 stops.

[Franglais]

I don't know Canon, but chances are it's pretty similar to Nikon's spot, centerweighted and matrix metering. I think Canon's evaluative is a lot like Nikon's matrix, and the other two types have been around forever (well, basically).

....

Nikon's Matrix Metering looks at the scene in 1005 colour segments (450 for the lower end models) and tries to match it against a database of 30,000 typical scenes, with some extra data like subject distance provided by the lens. Theoretically it would identify your snowfield as such and expose the scene correctly. I haven't tried it but I find Matrix Metering on my D300 is within 1/3 stop most of the time.

I have never seen a description of how Canon's evaluative metering system works, but I don't think it's the same as Matrix Metering.

[another view]

I was thinking that it was more similar in concept than anything else, actually. The matrix cameras I've owned have been very good in most situations, even snow. The one that really seems to consistently underexpose is highlights on water and crashing waves. With more highlights or "white" in the water, the worse it gets and with surprisingly bad results.

In low light with a lot of ambient light (light trails, lots of street lighting, etc) it's pretty good. Trying to capture a mood by making a shot without much lighting in it dark is probably more personal preference and exactly why manual (or at least compensation) is still valid. With matrix, these shots are overexposed - again, at least for my taste.

[mn shutterbug]

I use evaluative with my Canon all the time. With enough experience, you can pretty much determine how much exposure compensation to give it. It does take practice and a lot of shooting in different situations, but eventually it becomes almost automatic. Also, have your histo active, so as soon as you take the first shot, you can see if any parts are blown, as long as you have your highlight watchamacallit activated.

[Anbesol]

Also, have your histo active, so as soon as you take the first shot, you can see if any parts are blown, as long as you have your highlight watchamacallit activated.

I believe its called 'gamut warning'... ;)

[mn shutterbug]

I believe its called 'gamut warning'... ;)

Naw, more like blinkie alert.