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What is your normal exposure metering method?

Started Jan 6, 2020 | Questions thread
Scottelly
Scottelly Forum Pro • Posts: 18,026
Re: What is your normal exposure metering method?

I don't meter, except that I see the preview of the exposure and the live histogram in the viewfinder and on the rear screen, when shooting with my EVF cameras Ted. By those I just estimate what I will need the exposure to be, based on what I'm seeing in the viewfinder. (i.e. are there bright spots of sunlight on an otherwise shaded subject? If so, I feel that in order to avoid blown spots in the shot, I'll normally reduce exposure a little, by setting the shutter speed one or two clicks higher/faster. If things are too dark, and I need to expose more, I'll just slow down the shutter speed or step up from ISO 100 to ISO 200, and then adjust the shutter speed, if I feel it's necessary. I don't spot meter. Instead I guestimate, and then chimp.

I always shoot manual, because the camera might suddenly change the exposure, based on some light suddenly peeking through the leaves, and coming from the subject, or maybe my subject moves, and more light comes from the background. My camera, left on any auto setting, might reduce exposure just at the wrong time. Imagine if I had used an auto-exposure setting with this photo?

It would have been over-exposed or under-exposed.

Even this one probably would have turned out under-exposed:

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Scott Barton Kennelly
https://www.bigprintphotos.com/

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