BebuLamar

As it turned out the underexposed shot was not on Auto ISO. Spot metering could cause problem but it didn't. The problem is that the camera was in shutter priority and it run out of aperture to open up. It was at maximum aperture already.

Dziadzi Loc: Wilkes-Barre, PA

Thanks, Ed, what do you recommend?

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Pretty sure most Canons use center for spot metering vs. follow the focus point.

An easy way to check is to put the camera in M mode and watch the meter as you move the focus point.

BebuLamar

Now I am lost. I set my camera up for using all of the focus points and let it automatically select so which point does it use for spot metering?

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Look up in your canon camera manual how it works with spot metering... it will either be the center point only or the active focus point. Not sure how it would work if attached to the active point and you have a multiple point focus mode selected. It might then use the center point also.???

k2edm Loc: FN32AD

might want to average meter scenes that have high differ between hilits and dark areas, or eliminate them from shot...tho usually fixable afterwards...just realizing what is going on is 99% of the solution, and you are there......

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Try the test I mentioned. Turn on the LCD, put in M mode with some reasonable settings, and move the camera while watching the meter and what your focus points are on.

bleirer

What camera is it? People keep saying Canon, but you said D7100 in your post. This is for Nikon D7100:

bleirer

So going back to your original question, I see how the ISO could be "all over the place" as you said. With Spot metering and shutter priority, The meter is trying to provide an average exposure for the little spot in the center. If you point the little spot in the middle at the blue shirt you will get one reading, the white pants another, if it lands on his skin yet another, and the helmet would also be different. It's not impossible to use spot metering and shutter priority and even auto ISO in this situation, but to keep the exposure from jumping all over you would want to aim at something you is think close to the middle tone, lock the exposure (I'm guessing a partial shutter press does that, but I don't know your camera), recompose, and shoot. That is why a lot of people are suggesting to use manual exposure if you want to spot meter, because that way you would focus on the spot you think is a good middle tone, set the exposure, and keep it there.

Or you could switch to matrix metering with shutter priority and auto ISO, because that metering mode is using light from the whole scene to try to give you an average exposure, not just one little spot.

Dziadzi Loc: Wilkes-Barre, PA

Thanks for your suggestions. :)

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

If your spot metering is locked to the center focus point I would probably just use matrix metering with auto ISO.

LMurray Loc: North Orange County, CA

It says in his signature line Nikon D7100.

BebuLamar

Thanks! I have the Nikon Df but it's the same. Because I enable multi point focus it would use only the center focus point for spot metering.

bleirer

Then why is everyone giving advice about Canon? I guess the original topic has strayed.

Bill P

I suspect that you problem is using a reflected light meter. When shooting for a living, I always used an incident light meter. Was super easy to use, just do what it tells you, no need to interpret.