ESFotoClix Blog

Like many other D80 user’s before me, it wasn’t long before I found Matrix metering (MM) quirky, to say the least. At the time I was using Aperture priority mode and letting MM set the shutter speed for most of my shots. Noticing over-exposure (oh, no, the blinkies!) in many of my daytime shots, I soon started -0.7EV of exposure compensation, only to find a significant number of my shots were under-exposed. Here’s a sample shot of a typical scene where MM over-exposes (notice that white flag — all of its detail is blown).

Since Center-weighed metering wasn’t giving me the results I really wanted, the solution was to return to basics, using Spot-metering in Manual mode. Under the conditions that challenge matrix metering — sunny, high contrast — I like to set my camera to Manual mode and spot on one of 3 usual suspects, if available in the scene: blue sky, brightly lit grass or foliage, or gray pavement. Here’s the same scene, this time spot-metered on the green grass. Notice how the detail in the white flag is now discernible?

Finding a shade of color that approximates middle gray (18% gray) also does the trick, and should work even in non-sunny conditions. For this, you will have to develop a sense and eye for picking out middle gray tones. With experience and practice, it’s very doable. In this next scene, I didn’t have my usual suspects, so I set my aperture at f/16 (IIRC), I zoomed in and spotted on the light tan of the buildings, set my shutter speed to zero out the meter reading, and was rewarded with one of my favorite shots of beautiful Bordeaux.

To summarize the steps for using Spot-metering in Manual mode.

1) Set your camera to Manual (M) mode.
2) Decide what aperture (or shutter speed) you need.
3) Find one of the usual suspects to spot on or find an alternative.
4) Point the spot at the suspect, zoom if needed, and set your shutter speed (or aperture)
5) Now that your exposure is set, compose the shot how you want it, and take it! That’s right, you can point the camera anywhere, and the exposure won’t change.
6) Check the histogram and adjust if needed. With practice you’ll be surprised how many times you have to do nothing except start thinking about your next photo.

At first this may seem like a lengthy process, but keep in mind that good photos come when you are deliberate and intentional about what you shoot. In many cases, once you have set your exposure, unless you are changing the scene or the lighting is changing, you will not need to readjust settings, allowing you to keep shooting as quickly as you need. I find that to be the case even when shooting sporting events.

Give Spot-metering in Manual mode a try and see how your exposures look.