Im curious... Spot metering

[CdTSnap]

Im curious just for myself how many people use Spot metering as opposed to Matrix?

Ive started always using spot metering, and im liking it, I know the D7100 has a great Matrix metering system but it just allows me to have more control over my subjects.

Also on a side note, does anyone use AE lock on the shutter ever?

Is anyone else the same?

 

[SpikeyJohnson]

I have never used AE lock because I generally spot meter, adjust my exposure then compose and focus. This is my typical landscape method where I can take the time to do everything manually to get the results I want. In sports I get a lot less complicated and set up my exposure to the general area then change shutter speed unless I'm focused on a high speed object (baseball bat, car, etc). Most the time my AE lock button is set to AF lock instead so I can shoot a couple shots as the ball comes to the bat or something.

 

[pgriz]

It's part of the toolkit. I use it to check that I have enough dynamic range to capture most, if not all of the important stuff from the highlights to the shadows. My camera has an effective range of about 7 stops of dynamic range (3 above the mid-point, and 4 below), and I usually meter the highlights to be about 2-2 1/2 stops above the "correct exposure" for the scene. That puts my highlights in the 240-ish range (255 being pure white), and thereby retaining the highlight detail. If the shadow detail is within 7 stops of the highlight exposure, I know the camera will get all the shadow detail without significant blocking up. If it's more, then I either increase the exposure a bit (at a risk of now pushing the highlights into the "blown" range), or I use a bracketed shot (if the subject motion allows that), and then use HDR technique to combine the shots. One of these days, I'll shell out for a more modern camera and then will enjoy dynamic ranges of 11 stops or more. However, I can't claim that my camera has been holding me back, so the "need" to play with shiny new toys just isn't there (yet).

 

[SpikeyJohnson]

One of these days, I'll shell out for a more modern camera and then will enjoy dynamic ranges of 11 stops or more. However, I can't claim that my camera has been holding me back, so the "need" to play with shiny new toys just isn't there (yet).

You are lucky that you don't have GAS I can't stop getting new stuff........ I'm addicted.......

 

[pgriz]

One of these days, I'll shell out for a more modern camera and then will enjoy dynamic ranges of 11 stops or more. However, I can't claim that my camera has been holding me back, so the "need" to play with shiny new toys just isn't there (yet).

You are lucky that you don't have GAS I can't stop getting new stuff........ I'm addicted.......

Yeah, shiny is hard to resist. And yet, I personally get a lot of satisfaction in mastering a technique or learning a new skill. As in "what can I do with this, and how far can I push it?" However, after a certain point, you get to rapidly diminishing returns, and then it makes sense to upgrade the equipment. I'm just not there yet.

 

[bribrius]

Im curious just for myself how many people use Spot metering as opposed to Matrix?

Ive started always using spot metering, and im liking it, I know the D7100 has a great Matrix metering system but it just allows me to have more control over my subjects.

Also on a side note, does anyone use AE lock on the shutter ever?

Is anyone else the same?

usually matrix once in a while spot and hardly ever ae lock. Normally i keep the af on the ael button.

 

[vimwiz]

I dont have matrix so use CWA, meaning I use AE lock often. [multi]spot/partial ocassionally.

 

[gsgary]

I only use spot metering when shooting slide film

 

[weepete]

I'll spot meter for landscapes and still scenes in the same way Pgirz does. A LOT of the time I'm in CWA mode but I'll also use evaluative when I don't need to be too precise about the exposure too. I used to use partial a lot but not so much nowadays.

 

[Braineack]

If I'm shooting in M, then I'm almost always in Spot.

If I'm shooting in S or A, then I'm almost always in center/matrix and will often use the AE lock button. (I have mine setup for AE lock only)

 

[Dao]

I also do spot meter on where I believe will give me the best exposure and then lock it. There are chance the spot where I spot meter at may not even within the scene/frame where I am going to capture.

 

[astroNikon]

Same here as most .. Spot metering most of the time.
I use my AE-L/AF-L button now as AF-L - I used to use it for AE & AF lock .. I'm trying to see any difference in kids sports.

 

[runnah]

I almost always use spot when taking photos of peoples. Landscapes are a wash, normally I shoot dark to preserve the sky details and bring up the dark spots in post.

 

[kathyt]

I use spot metering a lot. I tend to get the most accurate exposures for people by metering off of my subjects.

 

[AlanKlein80 19]

Im curious just for myself how many people use Spot metering as opposed to Matrix?

Ive started always using spot metering, and im liking it, I know the D7100 has a great Matrix metering system but it just allows me to have more control over my subjects.

Also on a side note, does anyone use AE lock on the shutter ever?

Is anyone else the same?

I prefer Center Weighted on my cameras through the years.


AE lock is a good method when you're shooting many shots in the same light and you want all the photos to look the same let's say for a slide show. Without AE lock, the exposures could vary. AE is also helpful; when you meter in one direction, and then move the camera to frame the shot a little differently. It will prevent the exposure from shifting. Many cameras, (don't know about yours) will also lock the exposure and focus similarly by half-pressing the shutter button when using this re-frame method.