Metering Modes

[Sonny]

What is your personal preference? And Why?

Do you change modes for differnt types of events?

[Hogleg 44]

I have my MkII set on center weighted and never think about changing it. I probably should under certain circumstances but don't think of it. I shoot RAW though, so I can correct things in the conversion if I should have changed it.

[dlbdata]

I use all modes depending on the lighting and scene. Spot-Cnter Weighted, and matrix.

[Patti Edens]

Sonny, Great idea for a thread. I'd be very interested in learning more about which shooting conditions would call for which metering modes.

I shoot in Evaluative 99% of the time for the same reason as Paul. I just don't think about changing it.

I went to a photography class and the instructor (Kathy Adams Clark at Leisure Learning in Houston) showed some examples of when to use spot. One was a white swan on dark water. So, whenever I shoot white birds (egrets or white ibis) on a dark background, I use spot (or as good as spot gets with the 20D which isn't very good = 9% of the frame.)

I never use center weighted average. I'm not sure of when it would be appropriate.

Patti

[venchka]

Originally Posted by Patti Edens

...One was a white swan on dark water. So, whenever I shoot white birds (egrets or white ibis) on a dark background, I use spot (or as good as spot gets with the 20D which isn't very good = 9% of the frame.)

I never use center weighted average. I'm not sure of when it would be appropriate.

Patti

That could lead to a lot of grey swans. Just like most meters will render snow as 18% grey.

One body is spot only. Another body has the usual assortment & I tend to favor spot with it. Bottom weighted center average is my least favorite. That's the pattern my most used body has. I have learned how to adjust on the fly and use the auto-exposure lock. I use a hand meter and incident readings a lot. I also use the hand meter to meter my hand. Works well.

[AlexMorse]

I switch this fairly frequently, usually using evaluative, or the 20D fat spot, depending on the scene. I think I've only used the other mode a couple of times.

I also use EC so that if the white swan is in the centre of my frame. I can EC +2 stops and continue to meter on the swan instead of switching into manual, or metering off a more neutral subject then exposure locking, recomposing and shooting. Same thing if the centre of my frame has a near black subject, I'll EC -2 stops and meter there.

I am often tempted by the 30D just for it's spot meter. But I think I'll wait until my 20D dies and then replace it with whatever the equivalent is at that point.

[TXhummer2]

Spot mostly, I still think like I did with my Canon F-1 film camera, where, I don't trust the metering to tell me exactly what to set. I'd rather spot into the highlights and then into the shadows, then I make the decision on the settings.

[venchka]

Originally Posted by TXhummer2

... I'd rather spot into the highlights and then into the shadows, then I make the decision on the settings.

There you go. Doing the same with the Leica, Canons and Weston Master V.

[Daniel Bates]

This is the kind of thread I've been looking for (but never thought to post about). I leave my 1D on whatever the most commonly useful mode is, mainly because I don't know enough about metering to mess with it. Most of my shooting experience is with that DiMAGE A2, which used an EVF, so I didn't have to worry about metering at all!

[Gordon]

I change modes quite often. In 'generic' light I'll use evaluative. For back lit subjects that I want exposed in a 'generic' way I'll use center weighted. If I'm wanting to place specific values/tones I'll use spot and then compensate appropriately.

Usually when I use spot metering, I'll be using it for a check of manual settings. Though in those cases I actually more often use the histogram for 'metering' and tonal evaluation and then adjust/ reshoot.

So spot metering/ manual exposures.

Evaluative or center weighted, typically Av (or Tv for sports)

[wapiti]

I have found that the Nikon matrix meter is very accurate and I use it about 90% of the time. Like Gordon, I will often check accuracy with spot. Manual metering exclusively. Now that I've gone digital, I do not hessitate to take the shot and review the histogram for accuracy.

[evil4blue]

Matrix Metering most of the time now. I was a disciple of the zone system and still use spot metering fairly often to check myself (this is a hard habit to break). I used center weighted the least, but it works well when shooting indoors with the flash.