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In [[photography]], the '''metering mode''' refers to the way in which a [[camera]] determines the [[exposure (photography)|exposure]].
{{Short description|Way in which a camera determines exposure}}
In [[photography]], the '''metering mode''' refers to the way in which a [[camera]] determines [[exposure (photography)|exposure]]. Cameras generally allow the user to select between ''spot'', ''center-weighted average'', or ''multi-zone'' metering modes. The different metering modes allow the user to select the most appropriate one for use in a variety of lighting conditions. In complex light situations professional photographers tend to switch to manual mode, rather than depending on a setting determined by the camera.


⚫
==Examples of metering modes==
[[File:Metering-Digital.gif|thumb|Digital metering feedback]]
[[File:Metering-Digital.gif|thumb|Digital metering feedback]]
[[File:Metering.gif|thumb|Analog metering feedback (light meter)]]
[[File:Metering.gif|thumb|Analog metering feedback ([[light meter]])]]


== Examples of metering modes ==
===Spot metering===
With spot metering, the camera will measure only a very small area of the scene (1–5% of the [[viewfinder]] area). By default this is the centre of the scene. The user can select a different off-centre spot or recompose by moving the camera after metering.
Cameras generally allow the user to select between ''spot'', ''center-weighted average'', or ''multi-zone'' metering modes.
Certain models support a mode which allows averaging of multiple spot meter readings, and some support metering of highlight and shadow areas.


⚫
Spot metering is not influenced by other areas in the frame. It is commonly used to shoot very high contrast scenes. For example, in a backlit situation a rising sun may be behind a person whose face will be much darker than the bright halo around the body and hairline. Spot metering allows the camera to measure the light reflected from the person's face and expose properly for that, instead of adjusting exposure for the much brighter light around the hairline. With the face properly exposed, the area around the back and hairline will become over-exposed. In many cases spot metering will over or underexpose a portion of the scene, so that the point of interest will be correctly exposed.
Various metering modes are provided to allow the user to select the most appropriate one for use in a variety of lighting conditions.


Another example of the use of spot metering is photographing the moon. Other metering methods will increase overall exposure in an attempt to lighten the dark sky area, resulting in overexposure of the moon. Spot metering gives correct exposure of the moon and underexposes the rest of the scene which was dark already, so the low exposure is not noticeable. Spot metering may also be used for theatre photography, where brightly lit actors appear in a darkened auditorium. Spot metering is a method upon which the [[Zone System]] depends.
⚫
=== Spot metering ===
With spot metering, the camera will only measure a very small area of the scene (between 1-5% of the viewfinder area). This will typically be the very centre of the scene, but some cameras allow the user to select a different off-centre spot, or to recompose by moving the camera after metering. The first spot meter was built by [[Arthur James Dalladay]], editor of The [[British Journal of Photography]] in about 1935 and described it in the BJP Almanac of 1937 on pages 127 to 138.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shutterbug.net/techniques/lighting/1002sb_thesei/|title=The SEI Photometer A Legend Among Spot Meters|last=Hicks|first=Roger W.|date=October 2002|publisher=Shutterbug Magazine|accessdate=15 December 2009}}</ref>


⚫
===Center-weighted average metering===
A few models (including the [[Olympus OM-4]], [[Canon T90]] and in the digital world, the [[Olympus C-5050z]]) support a ''Multi-Spot'' mode which allows multiple spot meter readings to be taken of a scene that are averaged. Some cameras, the OM-4 and T90 included, also support metering of highlight and shadow areas.
In this system, the meter concentrates on the central 60&ndash;80% of the scene. The balance is then "[[feathering|feathered]]" out towards the edges. This mode of exposure is less influenced by peripheral areas of the scene and is therefore well suited for photographs with subjects or objects of interest in the central part of the image. Some cameras allow the user to adjust the weight/balance of the central portion to the peripheral one. If the camera allows a user to move the focus point off the image center, metering will occur around the new focus location. Although promoted as a feature, center-weighted metering was originally a consequence of the meter reading from the focusing screen of [[SLR camera]]s. Light scatter from the focusing screen and proximity of the meter cell caused less sensitivity at the edges.


⚫
===Average metering===
⚫
Spot metering is very accurate and is not influenced by other areas in the frame. It is commonly used to shoot very high contrast scenes. For example, if the subject's back is being hit by the rising sun and the face is a lot darker than the bright halo around the subject's back and hairline (the subject is "backlit"), spot metering allows the photographer to measure the light bouncing off the subject's face and expose properly for that, instead of the much brighter light around the hairline. The area around the back and hairline will then become over-exposed. Spot metering is a method upon which the [[Zone System]] depends.
⚫
In this metering mode, the camera uses light information from the entire scene and creates an average for the final exposure setting, giving no weighting to any particular portion of the metered area. In some situations, such as a snowy landscape, this mode will result in underexposure by 2 [[f-number|f-stops]] or more, because the metering system attempts to darken an excessively bright scene.


⚫
===Partial (selective) metering===
Another example of spot metering usage would be when photographing the moon. Due to the very dark nature of the scene, other metering methods tend to overexpose the moon. Spot metering will allow for more detail to be brought out in the moon while underexposing the rest of the scene. More commonly, spot metering is used in theatre photography, where the brightly lit actors stand before a dark or even black curtain or scrim. Spot metering only considers the actors in this case, while ignoring the overall darkness of the scene.
⚫
This mode meters a larger area than spot metering (around 10&ndash;15% of the entire frame), and is generally used when very bright or very dark areas on the edges of the frame would otherwise unduly influence the metering. As in spot metering, some cameras can use variable points for readings or use a fixed point in the centre of the viewfinder.


=== Center-weighted average metering ===
===Multi-zone metering===
In this system, the meter concentrates between 60 to 80 percent of the sensitivity towards the central part of the viewfinder. The balance is then "feathered" out towards the edges. Some cameras will allow the user to adjust the weight/balance of the central portion to the peripheral one. One advantage of this method is that it is less influenced by small areas that vary greatly in brightness at the edges of the viewfinder; as many subjects are in the central part of the frame, more consistent results can be obtained.

Although promoted as a feature, center-weighted metering was originally a consequence of the meter cell reading from the focusing screen of [[SLR camera]]s. Light scatter from the focusing screen and proximity of the meter cell caused fall off at the edges.

⚫
=== Average metering ===
⚫
In this metering mode the camera will use the light information coming from the entire scene and averages for the final exposure setting, giving no weighting to any particular portion of the metered area.

⚫
===Partial (selective) metering ===
⚫
This mode meters a larger area than spot metering (around 10-15% of the entire frame), and is generally used when very bright or very dark areas on the edges of the frame would otherwise influence the metering unduly. Like spot metering, some cameras can use variable points to take readings from, (in general autofocus points), or have a fixed point in the centre of the viewfinder. Partial metering is found mostly on Canon cameras.

[[Leica]] [[Single-lens reflex camera|SLR]] film cameras always featured selective metering. The original [[Leicaflex]] and [[Leicaflex SL]] only provided selective metering, later [[Leica R3|Leica R]] cameras had selectable centre weighted / selective metering.

⚫
=== Multi-zone metering ===
[[File:Multizone metering example.jpg|thumb|Honeycomb Metering on a Dynax 5D. The AF point was set to the eye of the toy; the camera has been able to produce a good exposure, by not being fooled by the strong back lighting of the out of focus areas.]]
[[File:Multizone metering example.jpg|thumb|Honeycomb Metering on a Dynax 5D. The AF point was set to the eye of the toy; the camera has been able to produce a good exposure, by not being fooled by the strong back lighting of the out of focus areas.]]
⚫
This mode is also called ''matrix'', ''evaluative'', ''honeycomb'', ''segment metering'', or ''esp'' (electro selective pattern) metering on some cameras. This metering mode was first introduced by the [[Nikon FA]], where it was called Automatic Multi-Pattern metering. On a number of cameras this is the default/standard metering setting. Here the camera measures the light intensity in several points in the scene, and then combines the results to find the settings for the best exposure. How they are combined/calculated deviates from camera to camera. The actual number of ''zones'' used varies wildly, from several to over a thousand. However performance should not be concluded on the number of zones alone, or the layout. In general, the most advanced metering is found on [[single-lens reflex]] cameras.


⚫
This mode is also called ''matrix'', ''evaluative'', ''honeycomb'', ''segment metering'', or ''esp'' (electro selective pattern) metering on some cameras. This metering mode was first introduced by the [[Nikon FA]] and was termed Automatic Multi-Pattern metering. On a number of cameras this is the default or standard setting. The camera measures the light intensity in several points in the scene and then combines the results to find the setting for the best exposure. The method of calculation can be different from camera to camera. The actual number of ''zones'' used varies widely, from several to over a thousand. The design concept behind multi-zone is to reduce the need to use [[exposure compensation]].<ref>[http://www.canon.com/technology/canon_tech/explanation/multi_zone.html Canon technology description for evaluative metering.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070522003526/http://www.canon.com/technology/canon_tech/explanation/multi_zone.html |date=May 22, 2007 }}</ref>
⚫
Many manufacturers are less than open about the exact calculations used to determine the exposure. A number of factors are taken into consideration, including the following:
⚫
[[Autofocus]] point, distance to subject, areas in focus or out of focus, colors/hues of the scene, and backlighting. Multi-zone tends to bias its exposure towards the autofocus point being used (while taking into account other areas of the frame too), thus ensuring that the point of interest has been exposed for properly, (this often means the subject area being exposed for as a mid-tone). A database of many thousands of exposures is pre-stored in the camera, and the processor can use a ''selective pattern'' to determine what is being photographed.<ref>{{cite web | publisher = Nikon Corporation | title = Exposure Metering | url = http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/technology/scene/14/index.htm}}</ref>


⚫
Many manufacturers keep their exact calculation methods confidential as proprietary information. A number of factors are taken into consideration, including:
⚫
Some cameras allow the user to link or unlink the autofocus and metering, and allow the option of locking exposure once AF confirmation is achieved, ''AEL'', (auto-exposure lock). Using manual focus, and on many compacts/bridge cameras, the AF point is not used as part of the exposure calculation, in such instances it is common for the metering to default to a central point in the viewfinder, using a pattern based on that area. There is considerable variation from different manufacturers as to how multi-zone metering is implemented, and even from the same maker in their model range, and how much "priority" is given to the AF point itself. Some "Scene" modes, such as sunset, sports, night exposures etc., also often affect the calculations of this metering pattern.
⚫
[[autofocus]] point, distance to subject, areas in or out of focus, colours/hues of the scene, and backlighting. Multi-zone tends to bias its exposure towards the autofocus point, thus ensuring that the point of interest has been exposed for properly. A database of thousands of exposures may be pre-stored in the camera, and the processor can use that information to determine what is being photographed.<ref>{{cite web | publisher = Nikon Corporation | title = Exposure Metering | url = http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/technology/scene/14/index.htm | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100428034831/http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/technology/scene/14/index.htm | archive-date = 2010-04-28 }}</ref>


⚫
Some cameras allow the option of locking exposure when autofocus is achieved. In other cameras the AF point is not used for exposure calculation, and in such cases it is common for metering to default to a central point in the viewfinder, using a pattern based on that area. There is considerable variation among different manufacturers how multi-zone metering is implemented–even in the model range of the same brand–and how much priority is given to the AF point itself. Some "Scene" modes, such as sunset, sports and night exposures also often affect the calculations of this metering pattern.
However, some photographers may be uncomfortable with multi-zone metering. This tends to stem from a lack of clarity about "how" the camera reacts in certain situations. The design concept behind multi-zone is to reduce the need to use [[exposure compensation]].<ref>[http://www.canon.com/technology/canon_tech/explanation/multi_zone.html Canon technology description for evaluative metering.]{{Dead link|url=http://www.canon.com/technology/canon_tech/explanation/multi_zone.html|date=January 2010}}</ref>


===Highlight-weighted metering===
Some users have problems making wide-angle shots with high contrast, due to the large area which can vary greatly in brightness. It is important to understand that even in this situation, the focus point can be critical to the overall exposure.
⚫
[[clipping (photography)|Clipping]] is reduced by using a high resolution metering sensor and analyzing each area for washed-out ("blown") highlights or [[Exposure (photography)#Blacks|underexposed]] shadows.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://photographylife.com/nikon-d810-announcement |title=Nikon D810 Announcement |publisher=PhotographyLife}}</ref> Although there are some similarities with multi-zone, matrix, or evaluative metering, this mode uses a high-resolution sensor for detailed detection and gives more ''weight'' to reduce clipping.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://amateurphotographer.co.uk/reviews/dslrs/129531/1/first-look-review-nikon-d810 |title=First Look Review: Nikon D810 |publisher=[[Amateur Photographer]]}}</ref>


==See also==
===Highlight Weighted Metering===
*[[Feathering]]
⚫
[[Clipping (photography)|Clipping]] is reduced by using a high resolution metering sensor and analyzing each area for blown highlights or [[Exposure_(photography)#Blacks|underexposed]] shadows.<ref>[http://photographylife.com/nikon-d810-announcement Nikon D810 Announcement] Photographylife</ref> Although there are some similarities with Multi-zone, Matrix or evaluative metering, this mode uses a high resolution sensor for detailed detection and gives more ''weight'' to reduce clipping. First used in the [[Nikon D810]].<ref>[http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/reviews/dslrs/129531/1/first-look-review-nikon-d810 First Look Review: Nikon D810] Amateurphotographer</ref>
*[[Vignetting]]


== References ==
==References==
{{reflist|date=December 2009}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [https://photographylife.com/understanding-metering-modes Understanding Metering and Metering Modes]
* [http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Glossary/Exposure/Metering_01.htm Metering] in the [http://www.dpreview.com/ Digital Photography Review] glossary.
* [https://digital-photography-school.com/metering-modes-and-how-your-camera-meter-works/ Metering Modes and How Your Camera Meter Works]
* [http://nps.nikonimaging.com/technical_solutions/d810_tips/highlight/ Highlight-Weighted Metering: Technical Details and Use] Nikon
* [http://nps.nikonimaging.com/technical_solutions/d810_tips/highlight/ Highlight-Weighted Metering: Technical Details and Use] Nikon


{{Photography}}
{{Photography}}


[[Category:Photography equipment]]
[[Category:Camera features]]

Latest revision as of 21:40, 22 July 2023

In photography, the metering mode refers to the way in which a camera determines exposure. Cameras generally allow the user to select between spot, center-weighted average, or multi-zone metering modes. The different metering modes allow the user to select the most appropriate one for use in a variety of lighting conditions. In complex light situations professional photographers tend to switch to manual mode, rather than depending on a setting determined by the camera.

Examples of metering modes

[edit]
Digital metering feedback
Analog metering feedback (light meter)

Spot metering

[edit]

With spot metering, the camera will measure only a very small area of the scene (1–5% of the viewfinder area). By default this is the centre of the scene. The user can select a different off-centre spot or recompose by moving the camera after metering. Certain models support a mode which allows averaging of multiple spot meter readings, and some support metering of highlight and shadow areas.

Spot metering is not influenced by other areas in the frame. It is commonly used to shoot very high contrast scenes. For example, in a backlit situation a rising sun may be behind a person whose face will be much darker than the bright halo around the body and hairline. Spot metering allows the camera to measure the light reflected from the person's face and expose properly for that, instead of adjusting exposure for the much brighter light around the hairline. With the face properly exposed, the area around the back and hairline will become over-exposed. In many cases spot metering will over or underexpose a portion of the scene, so that the point of interest will be correctly exposed.

Another example of the use of spot metering is photographing the moon. Other metering methods will increase overall exposure in an attempt to lighten the dark sky area, resulting in overexposure of the moon. Spot metering gives correct exposure of the moon and underexposes the rest of the scene which was dark already, so the low exposure is not noticeable. Spot metering may also be used for theatre photography, where brightly lit actors appear in a darkened auditorium. Spot metering is a method upon which the Zone System depends.

Center-weighted average metering

[edit]

In this system, the meter concentrates on the central 60–80% of the scene. The balance is then "feathered" out towards the edges. This mode of exposure is less influenced by peripheral areas of the scene and is therefore well suited for photographs with subjects or objects of interest in the central part of the image. Some cameras allow the user to adjust the weight/balance of the central portion to the peripheral one. If the camera allows a user to move the focus point off the image center, metering will occur around the new focus location. Although promoted as a feature, center-weighted metering was originally a consequence of the meter reading from the focusing screen of SLR cameras. Light scatter from the focusing screen and proximity of the meter cell caused less sensitivity at the edges.

Average metering

[edit]

In this metering mode, the camera uses light information from the entire scene and creates an average for the final exposure setting, giving no weighting to any particular portion of the metered area. In some situations, such as a snowy landscape, this mode will result in underexposure by 2 f-stops or more, because the metering system attempts to darken an excessively bright scene.

Partial (selective) metering

[edit]

This mode meters a larger area than spot metering (around 10–15% of the entire frame), and is generally used when very bright or very dark areas on the edges of the frame would otherwise unduly influence the metering. As in spot metering, some cameras can use variable points for readings or use a fixed point in the centre of the viewfinder.

Multi-zone metering

[edit]
Honeycomb Metering on a Dynax 5D. The AF point was set to the eye of the toy; the camera has been able to produce a good exposure, by not being fooled by the strong back lighting of the out of focus areas.

This mode is also called matrix, evaluative, honeycomb, segment metering, or esp (electro selective pattern) metering on some cameras. This metering mode was first introduced by the Nikon FA and was termed Automatic Multi-Pattern metering. On a number of cameras this is the default or standard setting. The camera measures the light intensity in several points in the scene and then combines the results to find the setting for the best exposure. The method of calculation can be different from camera to camera. The actual number of zones used varies widely, from several to over a thousand. The design concept behind multi-zone is to reduce the need to use exposure compensation.[1]

Many manufacturers keep their exact calculation methods confidential as proprietary information. A number of factors are taken into consideration, including: autofocus point, distance to subject, areas in or out of focus, colours/hues of the scene, and backlighting. Multi-zone tends to bias its exposure towards the autofocus point, thus ensuring that the point of interest has been exposed for properly. A database of thousands of exposures may be pre-stored in the camera, and the processor can use that information to determine what is being photographed.[2]

Some cameras allow the option of locking exposure when autofocus is achieved. In other cameras the AF point is not used for exposure calculation, and in such cases it is common for metering to default to a central point in the viewfinder, using a pattern based on that area. There is considerable variation among different manufacturers how multi-zone metering is implemented–even in the model range of the same brand–and how much priority is given to the AF point itself. Some "Scene" modes, such as sunset, sports and night exposures also often affect the calculations of this metering pattern.

Highlight-weighted metering

[edit]

Clipping is reduced by using a high resolution metering sensor and analyzing each area for washed-out ("blown") highlights or underexposed shadows.[3] Although there are some similarities with multi-zone, matrix, or evaluative metering, this mode uses a high-resolution sensor for detailed detection and gives more weight to reduce clipping.[4]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Canon technology description for evaluative metering. Archived May 22, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Exposure Metering". Nikon Corporation. Archived from the original on 2010-04-28.
  3. ^ "Nikon D810 Announcement". PhotographyLife.
  4. ^ "First Look Review: Nikon D810". Amateur Photographer.
[edit]
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