Metering Modes Explained

[Glendower]

Originally Posted by Desmond

I also use exposure compensation most of the time - if you're getting the results you want who cares how you got them as long as you know what you're doing

I couldn't agree more.

All of us know people who have a good dslr, but shoot everything on AUTO. They're simply not interested in learning how to use the advanced features of their camera. I can understand that.

But you occasionally run into pros or advanced or at least very knowledgeable photographers who make a point of telling you that they shoot everything on manual. They could make use of the camera's advanced features, but won't. That, I have trouble understanding. Is it a sin to use shutter priority, or something?

I wonder how they handle changing-light situations like you describe. Are they trying to change settings every 2 seconds, as you say? If so, I doubt that they come back from the concert with as many good, properly-exposed photos as you do.

I certainly shoot some stuff on manual, but I'm with you. In difficult situations, if you can set up the camera to give the proper exposure and concentrate on the subject, why not do it? Results count.

[e-k]

Originally Posted by Glendower

But you occasionally run into pros or advanced or at least very knowledgeable photographers who make a point of telling you that they shoot everything on manual. They could make use of the camera's advanced features, but won't. That, I have trouble understanding. Is it a sin to use shutter priority, or something?

Yes it's a sin

Originally Posted by Glendower

I wonder how they handle changing-light situations like you describe. Are they trying to change settings every 2 seconds, as you say? If so, I doubt that they come back from the concert with as many good, properly-exposed photos as you do.

I would imagine they take a few baseline readings and then adjust as necessary. If you are shooting a wider angle shot with -3EV dialled in to compensate and then zoom in for a close-up, you're going to need to adjust that back or the image will be severely underexposed. Similarly, if they are spot lighting a dancer/actor/musician with the background lights dimmed requiring a -3EV EC and then bring up the background lights, you are going to need to adjust. With manual, you potentially wouldn't need to.

Some people may choose to spot off of a known reference (face) and then lock the exposure in with an appropriate exposure bias.

In other words, use what works for you and master it; keep an open mind though and see if different methods may be more appropriate .

e-k

[Tiocheo]

Thanks Jason for taking the time to write this tutorial. I enjoy it pretty much. Simple, easy to read and informative. Nice work man.

[Desmond]

Originally Posted by e-k

I would imagine they take a few baseline readings and then adjust as necessary. If you are shooting a wider angle shot with -3EV dialled in to compensate and then zoom in for a close-up, you're going to need to adjust that back or the image will be severely underexposed.

It depends what lens and camera you are using . My 70-200 F2.8 is the largest zoom range I would use at a dance and -2 Ev with matrix metering works fine with that range , a change to -4 is necessary when the lighting turns red because that fools the metering system , even in spot metering mode .
Someone using a wider zoom range with smaller apertures at a dance event is unlikely to get many decent shots or be a professional photographer .
The image won't necessarily be under-exposed anyway , depending what camera you are using and how well you know your system . With the camera and lens I use , any black areas falling under a focus point will work with the metering mode I use .
When they dim the lights and then crank them up again there is no way I could keep up with the adjustments needed .
I can definitely see the the advantage of shooting manual in some situations but I have had a few dance photographers change the way they shoot after reading my blog on dance photography - I won't post any samples because it's easy for anyone to pick out some pictures and say 'this is why you should use my method' but I'll just say that out of 960 pictures I had 950 keepers using my method .[ 10 bad focus shots ]

I'll add some samples of my ugly model with the tests I did to determine what method to use for dance photography .....







That's a consistent result until I go much wider which means that if I were using such a wide zoom range I would need to remember to dial in -3 if
I go to really wide angle and that's not a lot to have to remember , but the main point is that matrix metering is not easily fooled by a change in subject size because it can map out its subject and make its calculations from that .
Spot metering has its uses until the subjects come out dressed as ninjas or something and there are no faces to meter off .





.

[e-k]

Originally Posted by Desmond

It depends what lens and camera you are using .

True, plus the nature of the show you are shooting.

That's a consistent result until I go much wider which means that if I were using such a wide zoom range I would need to remember to dial in -3 if
I go to really wide angle and that's not a lot to have to remember , but the main point is that matrix metering is not easily fooled by a change in subject size because it can map out its subject and make its calculations from that .

The test shots you picked are almost a best case for matrix since the subject is under the focus point and the background is a constant luminousity. As to the zoom, I meant something a little tighter where there wasn't much background left. However, if none of that is relevant to the way you shoot then it doesn't make any difference.

Spot metering has its uses until the subjects come out dressed as ninjas or something and there are no faces to meter off .

Which is why I said to use an appropriate exposure bias .

e-k

[Desmond]

Originally Posted by e-k

The test shots you picked are almost a best case for matrix since the subject is under the focus point and the background is a constant luminousity.
e-k

With matrix metering on my D90 the subject could be under one of the side focus points and it will expose the same . Matrix metering and TTL-BL flash use the 'focus point diamond' and can select where they meter off .



"3D colour matrix metering '' means that the distance info can be taken into account [with lenses that supply distance info] , the colour of the subject can be mapped out , and the metering system can decide which is the subject regardless of which focus point it is under .
With the dances I've photographed there has always been some darkness in the background and there only has to be one dark patch under a focus point for the equation to stay the same .
In any case the subject will be under the centre focus point 99% of the time anyway .

.

[e-k]

Originally Posted by Desmond

With the dances I've photographed there has always been some darkness in the background and there only has to be one dark patch under a focus point for the equation to stay the same .

In any case the subject will be under the centre focus point 99% of the time anyway .

Right. For what you shoot (and how you shoot), these settings work. In other situations you haven't encountered yet, maybe not so much.

e-k

[debashis_A_ghosh]

Thanks for sharing. This had stuff I did not know.

[Jason Hermann]

Thanks everybody for your comments and incite on the metering modes and how you all like to use them. Everybody finds what works best for them, and the beauty of these modern cameras is, you can do that! You can shoot so many different ways, and still yield the same result if you know what your doing and you can read the environments lighting correctly

I also use Exposure comp most of the time on average metering mode for point and shoot type stuff. Anything where the lighting is changing, or my camera is moving fast like sports I use manual mode to get consistent exposure's.

Originally Posted by Tiocheo

Thanks Jason for taking the time to write this tutorial. I enjoy it pretty much. Simple, easy to read and informative. Nice work man.

No problem, I'm really glad it was informative for you!

Originally Posted by debashis_A_ghosh

Thanks for sharing. This had stuff I did not know.

Awesome, Thanks!!!

Best,
Jay