How to meter for a partcular colour

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theshortstack

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Simon
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Ok, a proper newbie question this one I suppose.


I've been reading a lot about metering recently and have come across a lot of phrases along the lines of "meter for the sky" and "take a meter reading off the bird" for example.

How do I actually do this though?

I have a Canon D600. Am I right in thinking that its a case of holding down the exposure button half way with a focus point over a relevant part of the picture and then holding down the asterisk button at the same time as you re-frame the picture and press the exposure button the rest of the way down?
 
Not sure what the asterisk button is on a Canon?

make sure you have the camera set to spot metering, and not centre weighted or evaluative.

Then like you say, focus on what you want to meter, hold the AE-L (auto exposure lock) button (guess that could be asterisk on canon -or maybe its user assignable?). Then re-focus on your subject and shoot.
 
theshortstack said:
Ok, a proper newbie question this one I suppose.


I've been reading a lot about metering recently and have come across a lot of phrases along the lines of "meter for the sky" and "take a meter reading off the bird" for example.

How do I actually do this though?

I have a Canon D600. Am I right in thinking that its a case of holding down the exposure button half way with a focus point over a relevant part of the picture and then holding down the asterisk button at the same time as you re-frame the picture and press the exposure button the rest of the way down?
Click to expand...

Yes, that would do it, but unless both the sky and bird are mid-grey in tone, neither would give correct exposure.
 
Simon, you can't meter for a particular color. The camera 'sees' in shades of gray from black to white. It trys to fix exposure for a mid-tone grey, so if you point the camera at a bright sky it will try to make it darker, if you point the camera into dark shadow it will try to make it lighter. Evaluative tries to take an average and give you something suitable. Spot metering only works if you find something in your pic that is roughly mid-tone grey and meter off that. Its like taking pictures in the snow and they all come out grey. That's when exposure compensation can be used. There is an element of experience and skill involved, not just letting the camera do 'its' thing unless you are happy with that result.
 
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