Exposure and Metering Question (Page 2): Another informative post and thread. Thanks.

ocbeyer Loc: Baltimore

Another informative post and thread. Thanks.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

rjrbigdog wrote:

Hi,
Just want to ask about working in manual mode. When I take a meter reading lets say from the blue sky and get my reading, when I recompose the shot the reading changes. Do i have to manually dial in the reading I got from the sky?

I suspect that from your question that you are relatively new to all this. Therefore, I would suggest that you select an automatic exposure mode and metering pattern, take the picture, and look at the result. If you do not like it, then adjust the exposure compensation up or down by 2/3 and monitor the results as above.

If I am correct about your being new to this, my overall advice is to learn the most basic and easy to use camera functions and get some good looking pictures. Once you are confident with that, then, if you wish, you can learn about "serious" photography: composition and exposure settings (ISO, aperture, shutter speed).

Good luck and keep asking questions.

Old Redeye Loc: San Mateo, CA

If you are shooting people, use the spot metering mode and focus on the subject. To keep the meter from changing during re-composition, keep the shutter release half depressed after taking the reading.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

rjrbigdog wrote:

Hi,
Just want to ask about working in manual mode. When I take a meter reading lets say from the blue sky and get my reading, when I recompose the shot the reading changes. Do i have to manually dial in the reading I got from the sky?

When you are in manual and you take a reading off something - it should be assumed and preferable that this subject has an 18% reflectance and that this is the exposure you will be using for your subject under equal lighting conditions and do not change it ! If the lighting changes - ie sun goes behind a cloud, subject moves into a shaded area - then your manual exposure will have to change accordingly ! - but only then. So yes, it is entirely conceivable that you correctly get an 18% reading, set your camera accordingly and then when takeing a close shot of a white or black bird - the metering is showing a completely different exposure - this would be normal - and proper ! - and you keep your original 18% setting.

Cibafan Loc: Virginia

This is a bit complicated, your camera meter is trying to expose so that your subject shows up as a neutral gray. I would recommend as others have either read the exposure off your palm or green grass or a grey sidewalk and set your exposure to that. Unless you are spot metering off the face of your subject your camera is also reading on the background of your subject.

Patw28 Loc: PORT JERVIS, NY

rjrbigdog wrote:

So, I meter the sky recompose the shot, then take the picture?
Even if the meter gives me a different reading after pointing at the sky?

While still metering the sky, turn the PSAM wheel to M. That locks your exposure on the sky reading.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Cibafan wrote:

This is a bit complicated, your camera meter is trying to expose so that your subject shows up as a neutral gray. I would recommend as others have either read the exposure off your palm or green grass or a grey sidewalk and set your exposure to that. Unless you are spot metering off the face of your subject your camera is also reading on the background of your subject.

This was bad advice even in the days of film and should go the way of Cibachrome. These all have different reflectance and are not standardized. Let us say I am dark skinned because I am Nigerian and I want to shoot a sunny landscape, what do you think will happen? Or I meter off a gray sidewalk that is in the sun but my subject is buildings across the street and in the shadows?

The past has a lot to teach us and most people ignore that. But why resort to antiquated methods for exposure and white balance when then that fancy, expensive camera and Expodisc do a better job when you understand how to use them? Or is that camera merely a status symbol?

Cibafan Loc: Virginia

My advice had nothing to do with color balance which is a function of the color of the light. If you don't think that exposure meters are based on a neutral gray go out and shoot a full frame pure white object and then a pure black object with the color balance matching the light. Neither image will be a true representation of the color of the object you shot.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Cibafan wrote:

My advice had nothing to do with color balance which is a function of the color of the light. If you don't think that exposure meters are based on a neutral gray go out and shoot a full frame pure white object and then a pure black object with the color balance matching the light. Neither image will be a true representation of the color of the object you shot.

Ciba, you are right. My only points and they were quite extraneous is that today, dealing with color balance is as easy as dealing with exposure and that just as much bump advise is floating around about it. You were correct to call me out on that. I should have kept my comments limited to exposure.

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

rjrbigdog wrote:

Hi,
Just want to ask about working in manual mode. When I take a meter reading lets say from the blue sky and get my reading, when I recompose the shot the reading changes. Do i have to manually dial in the reading I got from the sky?

It all depends on what you want. Do you want good sky detail, or of the building for example.

I shoot in manual mode quite often but also use the other modes such as AV or TV. I do use an external meter but only under certain conditions like when I am shooting a great egret. Their feathers are so white and bright they can fool the camera meter very easily. I have found that on the newer cameras their metering system is normally accurate.

OK, go ahead and blast me. I have thick skin, but I can also tell when something is so bright it is going to give me a problem.

Jim D

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

rjrbigdog wrote:

Hi,
Just want to ask about working in manual mode. When I take a meter reading lets say from the blue sky and get my reading, when I recompose the shot the reading changes. Do i have to manually dial in the reading I got from the sky?

In answer to your question......No. :D

Marionsho Loc: Kansas

Bmac wrote:

In answer to your question......No. :D

No? Then why bother metering off the sky in the first place?

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

rjrbigdog wrote:

Hi,
Just want to ask about working in manual mode. When I take a meter reading lets say from the blue sky and get my reading, when I recompose the shot the reading changes. Do i have to manually dial in the reading I got from the sky?

Bmac wrote:

In answer to your question......No. :D

Marionsho wrote:

No? Then why bother metering off the sky in the first place?

I have no idea why he metered off the sky but seems he was using it as an example.

Manual mode.....you meter off something (anything) and set your exposure....you now recompose.....do you again set the meter based on the new composition?

No, unless you change your mind about where to take your reading from. 8-)

rjrbigdog Loc: New York

I was reading Bryan Petersons book on Understanding Exposure and he mentions it.He taks about brother blue sky, brother backlit sky, brother dusky blue sky, brother reflecting sky and mr.green jeans (the sky brothers cousin). he mostly shoots in manual mode. Not that I do not use the auto modes, But want to learn all about taking a proper exposure or as Bryam puts it a "Creative Exposure"

Meives Loc: FORT LAUDERDALE

rjrbigdog wrote:

So, I meter the sky recompose the shot, then take the picture?
Even if the meter gives me a different reading after pointing at the sky?

You only meter the sky if you are taking pictures of the sky.