R5/R6 Metering

If I could ask Canon to make one change to the R5/R6 or other R series cameras, it would be to enable a feature that would allow the camera to meter the scene based on where you have the focus point aimed.

I believe how metering works, is say you have spot metering or evaluative metering set - the light for the shot is metered from roughly the center of the scene.  But what if your focus point is somewhere to the left or right and the lighting in that part of the scene is much different?

It would be nice to have a feature (selectable) that would allow you to have the metering based on wherever you have the focus point aimed.  I would think this could be accomplished with a firmware update?

Do you have a "wish" for future firmware upgrades?

Basil Fawlty wrote:

If I could ask Canon to make one change to the R5/R6 or other R series cameras, it would be to enable a feature that would allow the camera to meter the scene based on where you have the focus point aimed.

I believe how metering works, is say you have spot metering or evaluative metering set - the light for the shot is metered from roughly the center of the scene. But what if your focus point is somewhere to the left or right and the lighting in that part of the scene is much different?

It would be nice to have a feature (selectable) that would allow you to have the metering based on wherever you have the focus point aimed. I would think this could be accomplished with a firmware update?

Do you have a "wish" for future firmware upgrades?

Although Canon's literature on the inner workings of evaluative metering for R5/R6 is sparse, I believe it does give some additional weighting to the focus point. I don't think it's a true spot meter as the exposure doesn't seem to change massively when moving the focus point from very light to very dark areas. I agree that a true focus-based spot meter would be a nice additional option, as would having a smaller area for the spot metering they do have.  Additionally, I would like to see them add real-time highlights/blinkies pre-capture (as opposed to only being viewable after the shot), and a 14-bit ES mode (even if it's single shot only).

PDE94301 wrote:

Basil Fawlty wrote:

If I could ask Canon to make one change to the R5/R6 or other R series cameras, it would be to enable a feature that would allow the camera to meter the scene based on where you have the focus point aimed.

I believe how metering works, is say you have spot metering or evaluative metering set - the light for the shot is metered from roughly the center of the scene. But what if your focus point is somewhere to the left or right and the lighting in that part of the scene is much different?

It would be nice to have a feature (selectable) that would allow you to have the metering based on wherever you have the focus point aimed. I would think this could be accomplished with a firmware update?

Do you have a "wish" for future firmware upgrades?

Although Canon's literature on the inner workings of evaluative metering for R5/R6 is sparse, I believe it does give some additional weighting to the focus point. I don't think it's a true spot meter as the exposure doesn't seem to change massively when moving the focus point from very light to very dark areas. I agree that a true focus-based spot meter would be a nice additional option, as would having a smaller area for the spot metering they do have. Additionally, I would like to see them add real-time highlights/blinkies pre-capture (as opposed to only being viewable after the shot), and a 14-bit ES mode (even if it's single shot only).

In a recent video with Canon Technical Advisor Rudy Winston, he is asked about this and confirms that, with the exception of, I think it was the 1DX Mark III, the Canon's spot metering is in the center of the scene when the metering is initiated and is not linked to the focus point.  He further says (paraphrasing) that this is an issue he's heard before and has passed the concern to the product developers at Canon.

PMUK wrote:

Basil Fawlty wrote:

If I could ask Canon to make one change to the R5/R6 or other R series cameras, it would be to enable a feature that would allow the camera to meter the scene based on where you have the focus point aimed.

I believe how metering works, is say you have spot metering or evaluative metering set - the light for the shot is metered from roughly the center of the scene. But what if your focus point is somewhere to the left or right and the lighting in that part of the scene is much different?

It would be nice to have a feature (selectable) that would allow you to have the metering based on wherever you have the focus point aimed. I would think this could be accomplished with a firmware update?

Do you have a "wish" for future firmware upgrades?

Hi Basil,

+ Customise the (Rate) button for other functions and, finally, vary the shots/sec rate in ES.

Phil

Yep, zebra in still is the feature I miss mostly on my R5 (especially after Sony's zebras that were linked to RAW output levels)

As for evaluative metering - for sure it is weighted to current AF region - independently of AF mode of operation.

Br, Pawel

SigZero wrote:

PMUK wrote:

Basil Fawlty wrote:

If I could ask Canon to make one change to the R5/R6 or other R series cameras, it would be to enable a feature that would allow the camera to meter the scene based on where you have the focus point aimed.

I believe how metering works, is say you have spot metering or evaluative metering set - the light for the shot is metered from roughly the center of the scene. But what if your focus point is somewhere to the left or right and the lighting in that part of the scene is much different?

It would be nice to have a feature (selectable) that would allow you to have the metering based on wherever you have the focus point aimed. I would think this could be accomplished with a firmware update?

Do you have a "wish" for future firmware upgrades?

Hi Basil,

+ Customise the (Rate) button for other functions and, finally, vary the shots/sec rate in ES.

Phil

Yep, zebra in still is the feature I miss mostly on my R5 (especially after Sony's zebras that were linked to RAW output levels)

As for evaluative metering - for sure it is weighted to current AF region - independently of AF mode of operation.

Br, Pawel

The problem with Evaluative metering is exactly that - weighted/linked to the AF point.  This point may not be an appropriate brightness for the rest of the image, leading to incorrect exposure.  One way to avoid this is to use average metering.  Having spot metering tied to the centre of the frame is a nuisance and surely linking the spot to the AF point (portraiture for example) could be implemented in firmware.

The advantage of evaluative metering is just that - weighted to take the point(s) in focus into more account than the rest. Most photographers tend to focus on the important part in the image, at least most of the time.

Spot metering linked to a focus point is no problem. Just buy a 1-series Canon. The 1DX Mark III is the current camera with this feature. Otherwise aim the center at the point you want to meter, press *, recompose and shoot.
Or use evaluative, as it makes this automatically but easier to handle, since it doesn't go all the way to spot only.

Basil Fawlty wrote:

If I could ask Canon to make one change to the R5/R6 or other R series cameras, it would be to enable a feature that would allow the camera to meter the scene based on where you have the focus point aimed.

But it works exactly like this now. See my examples. Both shot at Av, Evaluative metering mode, Spot AF point. No settings changed between the two shots. First image is focused on dark trees in the bottom half of the image. Second shot focused on bright clouds.

I believe how metering works, is say you have spot metering or evaluative metering set - the light for the shot is metered from roughly the center of the scene. But what if your focus point is somewhere to the left or right and the lighting in that part of the scene is much different?

It would be nice to have a feature (selectable) that would allow you to have the metering based on wherever you have the focus point aimed. I would think this could be accomplished with a firmware update?

Do you have a "wish" for future firmware upgrades?

apersson850 wrote:

The advantage of evaluative metering is just that - weighted to take the point(s) in focus into more account than the rest. Most photographers tend to focus on the important part in the image, at least most of the time.

Spot metering linked to a focus point is no problem. Just buy a 1-series Canon. The 1DX Mark III is the current camera with this feature. Otherwise aim the center at the point you want to meter, press *, recompose and shoot.
Or use evaluative, as it makes this automatically but easier to handle, since it doesn't go all the way to spot only.

Sorry, I misspoke in my original post.  Apparently it is only Spot Metering on the R5/R6 (and most other Canon cameras) that doesn't follow the focus point.  Canon Tech advisor Rudy Wilson discusses this in a recent video about Canon AF system. He mentioned it is something that a lot of people have been asking for for a long time and he has, on more than one occasion, mentioned this to the Canon development folks.  After re-listening to that show, I realize it was just spot metering he was talking about.  He did mention that spot metering linked to focus was available in the 1DX Mark III as you mentioned.

I know about metering and recomposing, but it's something I'd like to see as an option on my R5 - the ability to turn on or off spot-metering linked to focus point.  I have been in situations with extreme lighting differences, for example a concert, where metering (spot metering) and recomposing would be impossible as the musician is jumping around.  It's not something that I can't live without but I think it would be nice to have that option.

apersson850 wrote:

The advantage of evaluative metering is just that - weighted to take the point(s) in focus into more account than the rest. Most photographers tend to focus on the important part in the image, at least most of the time.

Spot metering linked to a focus point is no problem. Just buy a 1-series Canon. The 1DX Mark III is the current camera with this feature. Otherwise aim the center at the point you want to meter, press *, recompose and shoot.
Or use evaluative, as it makes this automatically but easier to handle, since it doesn't go all the way to spot only.

As a long time 1-series shooter, I wasn’t pleased to find out that the R3 doesn’t link spot metering to the focus point 😡. I still bought one though!

cfieldgate wrote:

apersson850 wrote:

The advantage of evaluative metering is just that - weighted to take the point(s) in focus into more account than the rest. Most photographers tend to focus on the important part in the image, at least most of the time.

Spot metering linked to a focus point is no problem. Just buy a 1-series Canon. The 1DX Mark III is the current camera with this feature. Otherwise aim the center at the point you want to meter, press *, recompose and shoot.
Or use evaluative, as it makes this automatically but easier to handle, since it doesn't go all the way to spot only.

As a long time 1-series shooter, I wasn’t pleased to find out that the R3 doesn’t link spot metering to the focus point 😡. I still bought one though!

It seems like such an obvious feature to have and could probably be made available on the R cameras with a simple firmware update.  Yes, you can spot meter and recompose, but in fast moving situations that's impossible.

Multi-spot metering is also something that's omitted from the R3, but a "given" on a 1-series. It appeared for the first time on the T90.

Distinctly Average wrote:

Basil Fawlty wrote:

cfieldgate wrote:

apersson850 wrote:

The advantage of evaluative metering is just that - weighted to take the point(s) in focus into more account than the rest. Most photographers tend to focus on the important part in the image, at least most of the time.

Spot metering linked to a focus point is no problem. Just buy a 1-series Canon. The 1DX Mark III is the current camera with this feature. Otherwise aim the center at the point you want to meter, press *, recompose and shoot.
Or use evaluative, as it makes this automatically but easier to handle, since it doesn't go all the way to spot only.

As a long time 1-series shooter, I wasn’t pleased to find out that the R3 doesn’t link spot metering to the focus point 😡. I still bought one though!

It seems like such an obvious feature to have and could probably be made available on the R cameras with a simple firmware update. Yes, you can spot meter and recompose, but in fast moving situations that's impossible.

With exposure simulation is it as needed as before?

I think so, yes.  In some situations, like fast moving concerts with lots of variable lighting, you don't always have time to adjust exposure based on Exposure Simulation.  By the time you think "the exposure on then singer is too dark" and try to adjust some setting to compensate, you have lost the shot.  Being able to have the metering instantly tied to the focus point, I think would be a great option to have.  It's just something I'd like to have available as an option.  Since the 1DX Miii already has this, it's obviously possible.

Abbott Schindler wrote:

Basil Fawlty wrote:

I think so, yes. In some situations, like fast moving concerts with lots of variable lighting, you don't always have time to adjust exposure based on Exposure Simulation. By the time you think "the exposure on then singer is too dark" and try to adjust some setting to compensate, you have lost the shot. Being able to have the metering instantly tied to the focus point, I think would be a great option to have. It's just something I'd like to have available as an option. Since the 1DX Miii already has this, it's obviously possible.

I suspect that there’s a reason that only 1-series cameras have this. At the least, it’s a “marketing differentiator.”

Probably so - but it's still on my wish list. Rudy, in the video I mentioned, said he didn't understand why they didn't include it in the R5/R6/R3.

They don't want to. As simple as that. They could, for sure, if they did want to.

Perhaps a reason is that for spot metering to follow the AF point there has to be an AF point to follow. The mirrorless are  more about clusters of AF points.