Which metering mode should i use

Sony also offers a fifth option in some cameras — entire screen avg. Hasselblad cameras, on the other hand, refer to their metering options slightly differently.

Centre spot prioritises the central section of the screen and is suited to scenes where the subject is in the centre of the frame. Spot metering, like other cameras, provides an accurate measurement of a very small area and disregards any information outside of that area. When creating an image, I find the best option is always to shoot in Manual mode and set the exposure yourself by controlling the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

I usually set the aperture first and then set the shutter speed based on that. I make my exposure decisions based on the results I see and the histogram information. Landscape images are one example where you may want to use evaluative metering. Using this mode will help you get the best overall exposure for the whole scene, even if there are bright highlights or deep shadows. Centre-weighted metering is best suited for any image where your subject is in the centre of the frame, or even where the subject fills the majority of the scene.

A typical example of this would be portrait photography or macro photography. The key thing to keep in mind when using this mode is that the rest of the scene may well be under or overexposed. For any scene where you want to expose for a very particular area, spot metering would be the best choice.

Examples of where you might use this would be when photographing the moon or any high-contrast scene where you want the subject to be correctly exposed. They even used to print on the film packets what the exposure would be for sunny, hazy or cloudy situations. This provided a guide, which meant it was simply a case of then adjusting the f-stops and shutter combinations based on the recommended settings.

I measure the light visually by looking at the result and the histogram and then decide on what exposure settings to use from there. But none of the metering modes will guarantee you the correct exposure or balance out the exposure range in the scene. You still have to look at the image and evaluate how you can get to the desired result.

Exposure compensation, also known as EV, can be used to make corrections to the exposure. An EV setting of 0 means no adjustments will be made to the image.

Hopefully, this has helped you understand a bit more about metering modes and which ones to use when. To learn more about photography and how to use your camera, take a look at our numerous photography classes throughout the site. It is crucial to reach a balance between shadows, highlights and mid-tones. This is what you should be aiming for when choosing a metering mode. Before taking a picture, you have to weigh the options that the different modes provide you with.

This mode has different names depending on the manufacturer. Canon calls it evaluative, whereas Nikon calls it Matrix. But there is no difference in the way they decide on exposure. It collects data from across the entire frame and even gives priority to your focus point. If the camera sees a bright area, such as the sun, it takes that spot into account. According to this spot, it will try to work out the best exposure settings. This metering mode collects data from a small circular area in the metering centre of the camera.

Partial light metering is useful when your subject is in the centre of the frame. Most likely, you want the camera to prioritise the subject during exposure calculation. It sets the exposure according to where your focus point is.

To get the focus point right and achieve your desire results, your subject has to be still. This is a more advanced way of working out the good exposure for your camera. This is because it involves metering for the small area of your focus point.

The rest of the scene may not be correct, leaving that up to you to work out. Notice that the white fur on the dog looks much softer and less highlighted. Even though this is pleasant to look at, it leaves the rest of the scene underexposed.

Be careful when using this metering mode. Some newer Nikon cameras have highlight-weighted metering as an option. It is almost the same as spot metering. But unlike spot metering, here, the camera recognises the highlights even in motion. This prevents the whites on your photo from blowing out.

It is the most useful when photographing moving, highlighted subjects, such as a white car. The centre-weighted mode is a halfway between matrix and partial metering. It measures the exposure of a pretty big metering spot in the viewfinder of the camera. Most people take photographs in which the subject is in the metering centre of the image. DSLR camera manufacturers realised this. They needed to include an effective centre-weighted metering system in the camera.

I would not have used Evaluative Metering mode for this scene because my camera would have tried to brighten the image — seeing it is mostly dark. Whereas, I intentionally wanted more of a silhouette-like feel.

The area inside the circle is roughly the percentage of the frame that will be metered when using Center-Weighted mode. If Center-Weighted metering meant zooming in a little, Partial Metering is a huge jump inwards again. Boatman on the Ganges — Varanasi, India. Partial Metering mode is where things start to get really interesting. You begin taking more control than ever before of where you meter from in the scene. With the Varanasi boatman above, I was shooting in Aperture Priority mode.

I aimed my center focus point at his face before composing the shot. Note that this is for use mainly with Aperture or Shutter Priority mode. With this button held down, you lock in the exposure and can recompose the shot without the settings changing.

On the same boat ride, the sun sets over the ghats — Varanasi, India. Again, I aimed my center focus point at the flowers to meter. I personally use Spot Metering mode more than any other, but it may be more challenging for you if you are just learning about your camera and metering. It is particularly useful to use spot metering in conjunction with the exposure lock button and the center AF point selected.

Aim the center point of your viewfinder at the subject or light source to meter from it. Lock in the exposure and recompose, then focus and shoot. I find that spot metering mode is goodfor portraits and getting the correct skin tones.