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Metering Mode symbols

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Tommy Wirestam

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Maybe it's just me, but I find it difficult associating the Metering Mode symbols with their respective function.

In my mind it would be more logical to have the square for Evaluative Mode that works all over the viewfinder area, the circle for Center-weighted Mode that also meters the entire scene but concentrates on the center and the filled circle for Partial Mode that only measures within that circle.

It's not a big problem, but I never experienced this with my old E-10.
--
Tommy
 
Tommy Wirestam said:
Maybe it's just me, but I find it difficult associating the
Metering Mode symbols with their respective function.

In my mind it would be more logical to have the square for
Evaluative Mode that works all over the viewfinder area, the circle
for Center-weighted Mode that also meters the entire scene but
concentrates on the center and the filled circle for Partial Mode
that only measures within that circle.

It's not a big problem, but I never experienced this with my old E-10.
--
Tommy
Click to expand...
Nope, it's not just you - count me in too :)

I have a D30 and I think it needs the above symbols too. Maybe Canon will get it together by the time they make an affordable FF for the masses.

I always marvel how companies like Canon,Nikon and Olympus can get it so wrong in the digital world with SO MUCH experience in the analog camera world to build on.

ps - I had an E-10 once also, glad I sold it.
--
[email protected]
 
Rand E. Martin said:
Tommy Wirestam said:
Maybe it's just me, but I find it difficult associating the
Metering Mode symbols with their respective function.

In my mind it would be more logical to have the square for
Evaluative Mode that works all over the viewfinder area, the circle
for Center-weighted Mode that also meters the entire scene but
concentrates on the center and the filled circle for Partial Mode
that only measures within that circle.

It's not a big problem, but I never experienced this with my old E-10.
--
Tommy
Click to expand...
Nope, it's not just you - count me in too :)

I have a D30 and I think it needs the above symbols too. Maybe
Canon will get it together by the time they make an affordable FF
for the masses.

I always marvel how companies like Canon,Nikon and Olympus can get
it so wrong in the digital world with SO MUCH experience in the
analog camera world to build on.

ps - I had an E-10 once also, glad I sold it.
--
[email protected]
Click to expand...
--
Tommy
 
I do have the same problem... I think Nikon is still better in this particular department...
Tommy Wirestam said:
Rand E. Martin said:
Tommy Wirestam said:
Maybe it's just me, but I find it difficult associating the
Metering Mode symbols with their respective function.

In my mind it would be more logical to have the square for
Evaluative Mode that works all over the viewfinder area, the circle
for Center-weighted Mode that also meters the entire scene but
concentrates on the center and the filled circle for Partial Mode
that only measures within that circle.

It's not a big problem, but I never experienced this with my old E-10.
--
Tommy
Click to expand...
Nope, it's not just you - count me in too :)

I have a D30 and I think it needs the above symbols too. Maybe
Canon will get it together by the time they make an affordable FF
for the masses.

I always marvel how companies like Canon,Nikon and Olympus can get
it so wrong in the digital world with SO MUCH experience in the
analog camera world to build on.

ps - I had an E-10 once also, glad I sold it.
--
[email protected]
Click to expand...
--
Tommy
Click to expand...
 
The Evaluative symbol is roughly the same as Nikon's Matrix symbol, and is OK. The Canon CenterWeighted symbol is more like the NIkon Spot symbol, and is confusing because of that.

I would propose a 3-ring bull'seye for Evaluative, a 2-ring for centerweighted, and the center ring only, for spot, or partial.
andreas_d said:
Tommy Wirestam said:
Rand E. Martin said:
Tommy Wirestam said:
Maybe it's just me, but I find it difficult associating the
Metering Mode symbols with their respective function.

In my mind it would be more logical to have the square for
Evaluative Mode that works all over the viewfinder area, the circle
for Center-weighted Mode that also meters the entire scene but
concentrates on the center and the filled circle for Partial Mode
that only measures within that circle.

It's not a big problem, but I never experienced this with my old E-10.
--
Tommy
Click to expand...
Nope, it's not just you - count me in too :)

I have a D30 and I think it needs the above symbols too. Maybe
Canon will get it together by the time they make an affordable FF
for the masses.

I always marvel how companies like Canon,Nikon and Olympus can get
it so wrong in the digital world with SO MUCH experience in the
analog camera world to build on.

ps - I had an E-10 once also, glad I sold it.
--
[email protected]
Click to expand...
--
Tommy
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Walter K
 
Tommy Wirestam said:
Maybe it's just me, but I find it difficult associating the
Metering Mode symbols with their respective function.
Click to expand...
Doesn't take long to learn, but...
Tommy Wirestam said:
In my mind it would be more logical to have the square for
Evaluative Mode that works all over the viewfinder area, the circle
for Center-weighted Mode that also meters the entire scene but
concentrates on the center and the filled circle for Partial Mode
that only measures within that circle.
Click to expand...
You're thinking ONLY about the camera that you own. You have to realise that there are OTHER cameras out there which offer different metering modes which aren't available on your camera, and canon (very sensibly) wished to keep commonality between cameras.

For example, look at the EOS 3, 1V, 1D, 1DS...

On these cameras, all symbols showing is evaluative (as on the D30/D60/10D), just brackets is partial (again the same), just the dot is spot (which is why it can't be used for partial) leaving empty for C/W.

--
Mostly Full Frame user!

EOS Tree + Nikon Coolscan III
Deef Hurty.
 
Thanks Isaac,

though I'm not very familiar with the EOS film camera family (my last Canon was an EF), I do understand that they wish to keep a common interface between the different models. And that is of course the only way to do it.

The problem is when I'm out there taking pics and I have to change metering mode quickly. Then I always find myself thinking: "-Let's see now, the square is the entire viewfinder.... no, wait.. but....".

So, the consistency through the whole line of cameras doesn't really help ME. I just have to let go of logic and just learn the symbols.

--
Tommy
 
Eventually, I photocopied (scanned and printed actually) that page of the manual and keep it in my camera bag. Not the ideal solution but better than nothing.

Hey! Perhaps taped to the inside of the lens cover?!

While on the subject of lens covers, marking your last name and phone number on the inside would be a good idea too! I'll place this idea in a separate post.
--
Curt S.

Digital photographers never run out of 1's and 0's. They just run out of room to store them.
 
Curt Sumner said:
While on the subject of lens covers, marking your last name and
phone number on the inside would be a good idea too! I'll place
this idea in a separate post.
Click to expand...
That way, somebody knows where, either to return your $8 lens cap, or to break in to snag your camera and L lenses!

--
Walter K
 
George Montemayor said:
George Montemayor said:
really help ME. I just have to let go of logic and just learn the
symbols.
Click to expand...
Bingo. I wonder if people complain to car manufacturers that the
dashboard on their new car does not match their previous car made
by a competitor, and its layout is rather cumbersome to learn. :)
Click to expand...
Yes,

the very reason for using icons instead of text, is that they are supposed to be internationally understandable and self-explaning.

--
Tommy
 
i have this problem too but i was a little bit shy to raise this before you did.

no matter how hard i try i am still unable to map the empty rectangle sign to centre-weighted, and map the centre "eye" looking sign to matrix evaluative. it's just impossible. the perception of the sign and actual meaning is totally reversed. and it's painful to reverse it back for my brain cells.
Tommy Wirestam said:
Maybe it's just me, but I find it difficult associating the
Metering Mode symbols with their respective function.

In my mind it would be more logical to have the square for
Evaluative Mode that works all over the viewfinder area, the circle
for Center-weighted Mode that also meters the entire scene but
concentrates on the center and the filled circle for Partial Mode
that only measures within that circle.

It's not a big problem, but I never experienced this with my old E-10.
--
Tommy
Click to expand...
 
When I load to my computer I actually used Partial. Always confused me.

The box with ( ) in the center also leads me to believe this is center weighted.

I always figured the empty box resembled a partial/spot meter box like the focus points.

Oh well.

-Jack
Tommy Wirestam said:
Maybe it's just me, but I find it difficult associating the
Metering Mode symbols with their respective function.

In my mind it would be more logical to have the square for
Evaluative Mode that works all over the viewfinder area, the circle
for Center-weighted Mode that also meters the entire scene but
concentrates on the center and the filled circle for Partial Mode
that only measures within that circle.

It's not a big problem, but I never experienced this with my old E-10.
--
Tommy
Click to expand...
--
-Jack
==================
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Rand E. Martin said:
Tommy Wirestam said:
Maybe it's just me, but I find it difficult associating the
Metering Mode symbols with their respective function.

In my mind it would be more logical to have the square for
Evaluative Mode that works all over the viewfinder area, the circle
for Center-weighted Mode that also meters the entire scene but
concentrates on the center and the filled circle for Partial Mode
that only measures within that circle.

It's not a big problem, but I never experienced this with my old E-10.
--
Tommy
Click to expand...
Nope, it's not just you - count me in too :)

I have a D30 and I think it needs the above symbols too. Maybe
Canon will get it together by the time they make an affordable FF
for the masses.

I always marvel how companies like Canon,Nikon and Olympus can get
it so wrong in the digital world with SO MUCH experience in the
analog camera world to build on.

ps - I had an E-10 once also, glad I sold it.
--
[email protected]
Click to expand...
Hi there

Just got my D10 yesterday and reading thrue the Manuel that was indeed one thing that seems unlogical. I agree with your thoughts.

Greetings from the Netherlands
 
Tommy Wirestam said:
Maybe it's just me, but I find it difficult associating the
Metering Mode symbols with their respective function.

In my mind it would be more logical to have the square for
Evaluative Mode that works all over the viewfinder area, the circle
for Center-weighted Mode that also meters the entire scene but
concentrates on the center and the filled circle for Partial Mode
that only measures within that circle.

It's not a big problem, but I never experienced this with my old E-10.
--
Tommy
Click to expand...
--



http://www.digitallyactive.com
 
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