New to cs... Evaluative metering

[mengwei11]

You'd do that if you want to shoot a silhouette with a nicely exposed sunset in the background (for example). Need to meter on the sky, but focus on the silhouette. Something like this:

If the camera tried to meter to retain some details in the silhouette (the subject in focus), the sky would be blown out, or at least overexposed and the mood would be completely different.

Thanks that's a super example! Just out of curiosity, do u think you would have gotten this if u had set it to evaluative metering?

 

[mengwei11]

You'd do that if you want to shoot a silhouette with a nicely exposed sunset in the background (for example). Need to meter on the sky, but focus on the silhouette. Something like this:

If the camera tried to meter to retain some details in the silhouette (the subject in focus), the sky would be blown out, or at least overexposed and the mood would be completely different.

Btw, do u meter on the sky or on the sun?

 

[Diavonex]

Thanks that's a super example! Just out of curiosity, do u think you would have gotten this if u had set it to evaluative metering?

It's a lot easier to use evaluation metering + exposure compensation

 

[Alpina]

try

1) exposing correctly for the tree, take a pic then expose for the sky, take another. blend them together in photoshop.

2) look for a grey area in the secene and meter for it. lock exposure(the * button) then take a pic.

3) read this.. http://reviews.davidleetong.com/tutorials/photography/what-is-metering-and-how-do-i-meter-2/

 

[mengwei11]

It's a lot easier to use evaluation metering + exposure compensation

I agree with you. Can change without taking your eye off the viewfinder. I can't change eval to spot unless I take my eye off. Ha ha

 

[Diavonex]

I agree with you. Can change without taking your eye off the viewfinder. I can't change eval to spot unless I take my eye off. Ha ha

Why can't you use evaluative metering with exposure compensation without switching to Spot?

 

[mengwei11]

Why can't you use evaluative metering with exposure compensation without switching to Spot?

No no no... I meant I agree with you that my preference is to use evaluative metering with exposure compen.
Changing to spot requires more steps and you may have missed the pic.

 

[Diavonex]

Why not use Center-weighted metering + exposure compensation? It'll handle most situation.

I hardly use Spot Metering unless I'm trying to shot a tiny bird on a tree (just an example).

 

[Gengh]

Thanks that's a super example! Just out of curiosity, do u think you would have gotten this if u had set it to evaluative metering?

I could, but I would have to know how my camera meters when pointed at the sun and the bright sky around it, and set the appropriate +- EV to get the exposure I want. I just feel that this is not really something I want to commit to memory, and evaluative metering will probably also give different exposures if I'm using different focal lengths 'cos the brightest area will occupy different fraction of the frame.

I choose to use spot metering and meter off a point in the sky a little to the side of the sun, it's something I read somewhere and found that it works well for me. It's consistant and gives me the same result everytime I shoot into the sun.

If you're familiar with your camera, you can certainly shoot this with evaluative metering. I think in some cameras evaluative metering will also give greater weightage to the AF point (it's something I can set on mine), so you'll have to take that into consideration when correcting the EV.