Light metering

[the_stink]

So this is prob one thing that i can never get right

ive heard people mention that they lock the metering? havent a clue how they do that but have read various bits and pieces on which one to use etc but still seems greek to me !

[Horney]

You're camera has a built in light meter which shows you in M mode how you're doing (better if you look it up in the manual than me try to explain it).

You can buy a light meter to use out in the open and stuff but frankly with Digital cams it's easier to real off a few shots and tweak your settings that way. If the subject isn't going to be round long enouh to real off a few shots it certainly won't be around long enough for you to faff about with a light meter.

nick

[the_stink]

ill have another read through my manual 

[JMallows]

Basically its called auto exposure lock, and is not just limited to manual mode. All cameras meter on a grey scale, and you want about 18% grey. You can get this from metering off something that is exposed about right in the picture, ie not something bright like the sun etc or something really dark. Obviously when its all dark, you need to expose more etc. You can also get the same result from an 18% grey card.

Its useful when taking pictures with lots of dark and light regions in the centre of the frame - ie where you are metering if you have spot metering, and the pictures dont come out right.

So, to use AEL is simple. Say you are taking a photo with a lot of dark sections, say a black car, the meter in the camera will be fooled by the dark, and the exposure will be all wrong. So, what you do is point the camera at something in the middle (grass is very good for this) press the AEL button (you may have to hold it down - read your manual) then take the picture. The meter will be set accurately according to the grass, and the car will be exposed correctly.


Does that make sense?

[the_stink]

Basically its called auto exposure lock, and is not just limited to manual mode. All cameras meter on a grey scale, and you want about 18% grey. You can get this from metering off something that is exposed about right in the picture, ie not something bright like the sun etc or something really dark. Obviously when its all dark, you need to expose more etc. You can also get the same result from an 18% grey card.

Its useful when taking pictures with lots of dark and light regions in the centre of the frame - ie where you are metering if you have spot metering, and the pictures dont come out right.

So, to use AEL is simple. Say you are taking a photo with a lot of dark sections, say a black car, the meter in the camera will be fooled by the dark, and the exposure will be all wrong. So, what you do is point the camera at something in the middle (grass is very good for this) press the AEL button (you may have to hold it down - read your manual) then take the picture. The meter will be set accurately according to the grass, and the car will be exposed correctly.


Does that make sense?

yeah that does! cheers ill give it a try next time and see what i need to do with regards to the AEl 

[JMallows]

Actually, i had meant to say here.....

Basically its called auto exposure lock, and is not just limited to manual mode.

Its never used in manual mode, since you adjust the exposure yourself, used in auto mode only where it exposes where you point it.

[pink witch]

Basically its called auto exposure lock, and is not just limited to manual mode. All cameras meter on a grey scale, and you want about 18% grey. You can get this from metering off something that is exposed about right in the picture, ie not something bright like the sun etc or something really dark. Obviously when its all dark, you need to expose more etc. You can also get the same result from an 18% grey card.

Its useful when taking pictures with lots of dark and light regions in the centre of the frame - ie where you are metering if you have spot metering, and the pictures dont come out right.

So, to use AEL is simple. Say you are taking a photo with a lot of dark sections, say a black car, the meter in the camera will be fooled by the dark, and the exposure will be all wrong. So, what you do is point the camera at something in the middle (grass is very good for this) press the AEL button (you may have to hold it down - read your manual) then take the picture. The meter will be set accurately according to the grass, and the car will be exposed correctly.


Does that make sense?

Forgive me butting in, but if you dont have a 'neutral' area to set your meter by, the next best thing is to take a reading from the back of your hand!
Learned this years ago, and it never fails. Simply hold your arm out with the back of your hand facing the camera, and take the reading. easy peasy!

[the_stink]

ahh another great tip again i will try this one out cheers

[JMallows]

Basically its called auto exposure lock, and is not just limited to manual mode. All cameras meter on a grey scale, and you want about 18% grey. You can get this from metering off something that is exposed about right in the picture, ie not something bright like the sun etc or something really dark. Obviously when its all dark, you need to expose more etc. You can also get the same result from an 18% grey card.

Its useful when taking pictures with lots of dark and light regions in the centre of the frame - ie where you are metering if you have spot metering, and the pictures dont come out right.

So, to use AEL is simple. Say you are taking a photo with a lot of dark sections, say a black car, the meter in the camera will be fooled by the dark, and the exposure will be all wrong. So, what you do is point the camera at something in the middle (grass is very good for this) press the AEL button (you may have to hold it down - read your manual) then take the picture. The meter will be set accurately according to the grass, and the car will be exposed correctly.


Does that make sense?

Forgive me butting in, but if you dont have a 'neutral' area to set your meter by, the next best thing is to take a reading from the back of your hand!
Learned this years ago, and it never fails. Simply hold your arm out with the back of your hand facing the camera, and take the reading. easy peasy!

Thanks for the tip!