Mastering The Metering Modes Of A Camera
This is a key tool in photography that contributes to the control of a photo’s exposure. It used to be the case that photographers would have to judge a situation totally by eye, or use a separate light metering device to measure the ambient light conditions and adjust the camera settings accordingly. If you didn't do this back in the early days of digital, or shooting in film, the dark and light areas in a photo could appear under and overexposed.
Luckily, most modern DSLR cameras have a built-in light meter. This allows your camera to analyze the scene and optimize the exposure of the photo. If you’re shooting in semi, or full, automatic modes then metering modes will be having an effect on your photos, whether you realize it or not! It uses the readings it obtains to decide how to set the settings which it has control over. It’s useful to know what the modes do, as some will be more appropriate than others for your needs.
Canon Cameras
Evaluative metering meters the overall scene in multiple sections in the viewfinder and combines the results to find the correct exposure based on the subject's position and lighting conditions. This is the default metering on most DSLR cameras and can be used for the majority of your photography.
Centre-weighted average metering concentrates the metering on the central part of the viewfinder but also takes the rest of the frame into consideration. This mode is favorable when you want to capture a well-balanced exposure, but biased towards whatever is right in the middle of the shot.
Partial metering weights the metering on the central area of the frame only, usually around 6% of the frame. It’s the best option for where a central subject has considerably different lighting to the rest of the scene, for example in backlit situations.
Spot metering is similar to partial metering but covers a much smaller area of the scene, usually less than 2% and right in the middle of the frame. This mode is useful for where you want to pick out a small subject.
Nikon Cameras
Matrix metering mode divides the wide area of the frame into multiple segments that instantly analyses your subject’s brightness and color against an on-board database of over 30,000 images. By accurately analyzing the information, your camera can appropriately select the best overall exposure values. Matrix metering mode is great for beginners or for when you want your camera to evaluate the entire scene.
Center-weighted metering mode focuses on the center of your frame when determining the best exposure values, while still considering its surroundings. In some Nikon DSLR, the size of the circle in the center can be adjusted to suit your needs.
Spot metering mode causes your camera to only evaluate whatever is at the focal point in your shot and completely ignores the light in the rest of the scene. Focusing on bright or dark areas will give your camera extreme readings, so it is best to focus on a mid-toned subject for setting the best exposure. This is a great mode to use if you are photographing a subject against a bright light source.
On some professional Nikon DSLRs, you can choose to use Highlight-weighted metering mode that automatically ensures that highlights are never overexposed even in challenging conditions like in concerts or theatres.
Sony Cameras
Multi segment: This mode divides the whole screen into multiple segments to measure light. It is suitable for general shooting, including shooting into direct sunlight.
Center weighted: While emphasizing the central area of the screen, this mode measures the average brightness of the entire screen. If you shoot directly into the sunlight or the subject is not in the center of the image, you may need to use exposure compensation.
Spot: This mode measures light only in the spot metering circle in the center of the frame. It is suitable for shooting a subject with strong contrast.
If you are a beginner you don’t need to worry too much about metering modes. It is not something that you will find yourself adjusting regularly until you become more proficient at adjusting on the fly. Experiment with different modes in a controlled environment when you have time. See what changes the different modes make in your images. You’ll see more differences in challenging conditions, with bright highlights or dark shadows in some parts of the image.
Which Metering Mode should you use and when?
Matrix metering works well for scenes that are evenly lit. It can be used as your go-to method for taking photos. Even though the camera meter may fail you, these meters are highly sophisticated and can be relied upon for any situation. You can leave your camera on this mode and use it as a means of exposure education by taking an image in this mode, then switching to other modes to learn how it changes the image.
Center-Weighted metering can be used for any scene where you want the primary subject to be correctly exposed while the rest of the image can be generally ignored for proper exposure.
Center-Weighted is much more consistent and predictable compared to matrix metering. Use it wisely to control where the camera will be measuring the scene and those areas where the lighting does not play a key role in your composition. Use this mode for wildlife portraits.
Spot metering gives you the best accuracy and exposure control of your main subject. This is ideal for back-lit subjects, close-up portraits, or an animal that is well lite and walking near shadows. It can be used to read the brightest and darkest zones in your images. Remember to use this mode any time it is important to correctly expose for a subject that does not fill the frame.