Seeking suggestions for camera body: I have a Canon Rebel T6 (1300D) and 3 lenses. I would like to upgrade to a camera body that has spot mode metering but not spend too much. What do...

KenY Loc: Glenside, Pa

I have a Canon Rebel T6 (1300D) and 3 lenses. I would like to upgrade to a camera body that has spot mode metering but not spend too much.

What do experienced Canon users suggest?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

KenY wrote:

I have a Canon Rebel T6 (1300D) and 3 lenses. I would like to upgrade to a camera body that has spot mode metering but not spend too much.

What do experienced Canon users suggest?

My T1i has center spot metering, so I would guess any of the "i" series?
Aren't they currently selling the T8i?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

That sounds like unusual reason to seek a new camera. What lenses do you have all already? Your lenses might limit your options. The minimum step up would be any of the 'i' versions of the Rebels. The current version is the EOS T8i.

But coming back to spot metering, why is this necessary? Maximizing the abilities of the EOS T6, or any digital camera, involves processing your images, preferably captured in RAW. Regardless of the JPEG or RAW file format, you should be seeking to 'meter' with the meter registering slightly to the right of the 0-mark in the view finder. You would do this whether in evaluative metering or in spot. And except for the $6000 1-series models, the EOS spot meter registers just the 3.5% very tiny center of the frame, no matter where you focus. In evaluative metering, you can greatly simplify your approach and just adjust your exposure settings to hit +2/3 to +1 to the right of the 0-mark, a simply approach that applies to all EOS bodies.

KenY Loc: Glenside, Pa

CHG_CANON wrote:

TWhat lenses do you have all already? Your lenses ... (show quote)

I have 18-55mm, 70-300mm kit lenses and a 50mm prime. The new body would have to be compatible with these.

I always shoot in RAW + JPEG.

Are you saying that evaluative metering would be the optimum choice instead of partial or center-weighted average? I've read on the internet [so it must be true ;-)] that spot metering is the way to go. The Rebel T6 does not have spot metering.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

KenY wrote:

I have 18-55mm, 70-300mm kit lenses and a 50mm prime. The new body would have to be compatible with these.

I always shoot in RAW + JPEG.

Are you saying that evaluative metering would be the optimum choice instead of partial or center-weighted average? I've read on the internet [so it must be true ;-)] that spot metering is the way to go. The Rebel T6 does not have spot metering.

Here's something else from the internet that may save you from buying another camera you don't need.

If you seek to maximize your EOS RAW files, you expose to the right. The +2/3 is modest, over +1 is more aggressive. The evaluative meter uses the entire scene (frame) and exposing to the right seeks 'white' whites in the image and the maximum digital detail in the shadows. You're editing your RAW files by default, you just correct the highlights, shadows and overall exposure, as needed, leveraging that maximized data in the RAW file.

With just 3.5% of the frame in the center being used by the spot meter, you're either shooting centered images or hoping you've carefully registered the metering from someplace other than where your composition is focused. With focus and composition taking a lot of concentration already, the approach of just defaulting the to-the-right meter position in evaluative metering takes some aspects of the complexity of exposure off the table.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

KenY wrote:

I have 18-55mm, 70-300mm kit lenses and a 50mm prime. The new body would have to be compatible with these.

I always shoot in RAW + JPEG.

Are you saying that evaluative metering would be the optimum choice instead of partial or center-weighted average? I've read on the internet [so it must be true ;-)] that spot metering is the way to go. The Rebel T6 does not have spot metering.

You read someone's opinion of spot metering...........
I use evaluative and spot, depending on the scene and how I want to handle it.
As bad a people saying "manual mode or nothing". Bull feathers.

Use what works best for you and your shot.

Mustanger Loc: Grants Pass, Oregon USA

My new Rebel T8i has four metering modes including Spot Metering....I see it for $749

KenY Loc: Glenside, Pa

Thanks for the responses, everyone. I am now wiser and richer. More education is in order.

Bayou

I find spot metering to be of very limited use. If the spot you meter happens to be 18% grey, then you get a good exposure, otherwise you get over or under, sometimes by a lot. If you don't know what I mean by the term 18% grey, then you really should not mess around with spot metering. Matrix/evaluative almost always works better.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Don't rule out refurbished or eBay. You can get more for less.

BebuLamar

Correct me if I am wrong but don't all the Canon DSLR's have spot metering mode?

KenY Loc: Glenside, Pa

BebuLamar wrote:

Correct me if I am wrong but don't all the Canon DSLR's have spot metering mode?

Rebel T6 does not. Only Evaluative, Partial and Center Weighted Averaging.

It's one of the very few Canon models that doesn't have spot metering.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

CHG_CANON wrote:

T The current version is the EOS T8i.

Mustanger Loc: Grants Pass, Oregon USA

My older Rebel T1i does not have Spot metering either...

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Mustanger wrote:

My new Rebel T8i has four metering modes including Spot Metering....I see it for $749