Metering Modes

[numptette]

Hi

What would you say is the best metering mode in Canons 450d for architecture photography.

I have been looking at spot metering, does this mean that the spot is in the middle of the frame, but what do you point it at to get a perfect reading?

[camrajoky]

The metering mode you use should be selected by both your type of situation and what you want to achieve. Spot metering is just that...it limits the meter to about a 3* area in the center of the viewfinder. you can use it to selectively meter on points in the frame. Though this will not provide you with metering of external flash, for that a hand meter would be best so you can meter through out the area for the image and be able to set each flash needed individually.

[blumesan]

Originally Posted by numptette

Hi

What would you say is the best metering mode in Canons 450d for architecture photography.

To give you a good answer we need more specifics. Are you asking about photographing building exteriors in daylight, or interiors lit mostly by artificial light?

[numptette]

hi bluemesan

I was thinking more of photographing exteriors of buildings.

[blumesan]

I will suggest a method that works well for me when shooting raw. I'm sure others will come along with other suggestion.

I note the 450d has a 4 degree spot metering capability. I would spot meter from the very brightest feature in the frame where you want to preserve detail. Then reduce the exposure by 1.5 stops from the metered value.

[Brooks]

Originally Posted by blumesan

I will suggest a method that works well for me when shooting raw. I'm sure others will come along with other suggestion.

I note the 450d has a 4 degree spot metering capability. I would spot meter from the very brightest feature in the frame where you want to preserve detail. Then reduce the exposure by 1.5 stops from the metered value.

Wouldn't you want to INCREASE (rather than reduce) the exposure by 1.5 to 2 stops to place the value of that brightest feature higher on the exposure scale so that it records as a highlight area?

[blumesan]

Originally Posted by Brooks

Wouldn't you want to INCREASE (rather than reduce) the exposure by 1.5 to 2 stops to place the value of that brightest feature higher on the exposure scale so that it records as a highlight area?

Yes, of course. I mis-typed. Increase exposure by 1.5 - 1 2/3 stops. By 2 stops (with my D200) you may risk blowing out the highlights.

Thanks Brooks.

[Brooks]

There was a very long thread here Understanding Exposure about exposure control and spot meter use. For that thread I made a Zone Ruler to illustrate the dynamic range of the camera I was using at the time. As you can see That camera held detail well into N+2 ( 2 stops over reflected spot meter reading), even to N+2.5

Learning the dynamic range of your medium, some simple spot metering techniques, and the placement of tonal exposure values in the scene gives the photographer the creative freedom to control the camera rather than having the camera control them.