I'm torn between two DSLR models, I already have the bucks but can't seem to make up my mind w/c to buy...

The main issue? SPOT Metering... how important is it?

Is there a way to mimic the effect somehow when Spot-metering is needed like taking a beautiful sunset(to emphasize the light coming from the sun), taking photos with the subject against a bright background among other situations?

thanks Guys!

Hmm, don't most cameras have spot metering? My 1999 P&S has spot metering...

Different metering modes dictates how the camera calculates for the correct exposure of a particular scene. SPOT metering uses 9% of the area around the center to get the right exposure. This is particularly useful when the subject you want to correctly exposed covers that same amount of area. You can mimic the effect of SPOT metering by using the matrix metering mode then zoom your subject to fill the whole frame.

:)

I miss it sometimes but it is by no means critical, at least for my needs. In the absence of spot metering I switch to partial metering and chimp using EV compensation or manual settings to get the desired exposure. :)

Never really understood this metering. Keep them coming guys, I want to learn this by the heart. Thanks in advance.

Spot Metering Good Read (http://spotmetering.com/)

your Camera's Spot Meter enables Correct Exposures by Choice not Chance!
(Based on Farzad's 5-stop Film / Digital Zone System ©1987-2005)

here's a few more about Spot Metering

http://www.photozone.de/4Technique/metering.htm

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/camera-metering.htm

i only began to grasp the concept of metering a month ago. i have to admit im learning the more i shoot but spot metering is a very nifty camera feature that i cannot do without.

@ Willy Palacios - Nice link share Bro.! :) Keep up the good work!

Spot Metering Good Read (http://spotmetering.com/)



here's a few more about Spot Metering

http://www.photozone.de/4Technique/metering.htm

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/camera-metering.htm

Thanks for the link bro especially the first one! A very enlightening read! :)

Spot Metering Good Read (http://spotmetering.com/)



here's a few more about Spot Metering

http://www.photozone.de/4Technique/metering.htm

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/camera-metering.htm

Thanks willie ....:)

I used to do a lot of spot metering while I had my T90. But now that I use a 20D and an EOS 30 which doesn't have it, I just switched to partial metering and incident metering for tricky lighting situations. Jim Zuckerman's Perfect Exposure is an excellent book if you want to delve deeper into getting the right exposure.

Still very useful for those really tricky lighting situations... :)

@ Willy Palacios - Nice link share Bro.! :) Keep up the good work!

No problen Earl Gonzalez, just here to learn & share & enliven the passion....

BTW do we have to say our whole names here hehehe :D

I like this thread, very informative. now that im serious about metering and exposure.


@willy
familiar ang learn, share and enliven the passion hehe

i think spot metering is essential to a DSLR since its a pro camera. a majority of P&S do have spot metering why not make it as a standard for SLR's. i see a lot of photographers still use the "sekonic flash meter" equipped with spot metering even though their camera has it.hehehe.

"better to have it and need it. than to need it and not have it."

Thanks guys for ur inputs.... very much appreciated!
I came across Spot-metering during the recent power-outage caused by "Milenyo". I was shooting on a candle and was amazed what Spot-metering can do to alter effects using my S3IS...(I still love my "recalled" A80, CCD just recently replaced by Canon service-cntr w/ no charged at all. no questions asked just pure service..)
Now I'm getting ready for their 'big-brother", either the eos400D or the 30D (with Partial and Spot metering respectively).... I'm not happy to think that my S3IS have the "Spot" while the eos400D doesn't have it.... hhhhmmm, Time is ticking and I wan't a DSLR soon.

Again, Thanks for ur informative inputs.

"better to have it and need it. than to need it and not have it."

right you are Aris :)

all shots in this Cantonese Opera was in Spot Metering, thanks to the short cut botton on the D5D

http://www.digitalphotographer.com.ph/forum/showthread.php?t=2041&highlight=spot+metering

hmmm.. he's probably torn between an eos400d and another cam..

One of the must-have features on my list. I use it a lot when doing available light portraiture or when shooting tricky landscape scenes. If I wasn't a lazy bum, I'd probably carry one of those legendary Sekonics as well.

When I was shooting film, I almost exclusively used spot-metering. It helped me adjust the exposure almost at will.

Now I shoot with a DSLR, which has a very reliable Matrix Metering. If I want an exposure lighter or darker than I normally would want, I just compensate with a + or - button. I think any decent DSLR have this feature.

But Matric Metering is "cheating" -- you have no idea what the camera is doing at all. If you want total control, like if you really want to learn how to expose a scene properly, spot-metering is the way to go.

Sport meter is an indispensable gear if you need to know what you are going to get in your final shoot.

For traditional film, you want to measure the important scenes to make sure that those are within the film latitude. Otherwise you have to make a decision whether to overexpose or underexposed a particular scene. Or adjust development time. For color slide, you meter for the highlight to avoid washing it out.

For digital, the same as above. You want to make sure that the scene is within the dynamic range of your dslr.

Dan T

restoring this thread, very useful information...

theoretically, i already know Spot Metering but it will be helpful to see actual pics shot using this technique so please post your spot metered photos and indicate where in the picture you actually "spot-metered" thank you guys! :)

thanks for bringing this up pjay