Meter reading on Canon 500D

[stacy87]

This is probably gonna be a reeeeaaaally silly question, which I probably should have asked a while ago,


but I really have to ask it!

How on earth do you take a meter reading on a Canon 500D??

At the moment, I take a picture first to see if I then need to adjust the exposure. But I want to know how I can meter for a specific area?

I'm asking this because I noticed when I took a picture of the garden on a very sunny day (with polariser), the foreground is very dark against the bright sky.

Any advice/help please?!?!

 

[chad]

Never used 500d you not get a scale on the screen or in the view finder with a little thing that moves left and right?

And put picture up as I think your using wrong filter if you want to just change the sky and leave forground you need a graduate filter like cookin or lee do

But not sure as can't see photo

 

[stacy87]

Never used 500d you not get a scale on the screen or in the view finder with a little thing that moves left and right?

And put picture up as I think your using wrong filter if you want to just change the sky and leave forground you need a graduate filter like cookin or lee do

But not sure as can't see photo

I have a scale, but it only seems to stay on what I have set the exposure too?

I have a lee grad filter too-I'll take a picture with that on, and will post them up on here later on today when I can get on the laptop to try and help!

 

[DaveRed]

It sounds to me like what youre trying to shoot is a high contrast image, that the camera cant actually cope with? If the sky is that bright and the foreground that dark, then without the use of something akin to grad filters, whatever you do is going to be a compromise.

However, in order to meter for a specific area, aim at that area and note the meter reading, then press the * button to lock the exposure. It will retain the same settings while you recompose the shot. In other words, aim at the sky, half press the shutter, press * (AE lock), and then recompose.

 

[boccers_2000]

This is probably gonna be a reeeeaaaally silly question, which I probably should have asked a while ago,


but I really have to ask it!

How on earth do you take a meter reading on a Canon 500D??

At the moment, I take a picture first to see if I then need to adjust the exposure. But I want to know how I can meter for a specific area?

I'm asking this because I noticed when I took a picture of the garden on a very sunny day (with polariser), the foreground is very dark against the bright sky.

Any advice/help please?!?!

I have a 500D. The meter is on the screen (ie the exposure reading). Its just below the top left corner (ie where it shows the shutter speed etc).

In addition you should used an ND Grad filter if you want to enhance the foreground whilst darkening the sky. I use a Cokin filter (they are quite cheap but many people dont like them as they seem to colour cast).

If I was you I would also use spot metering if you want to adjust the exposure for a specific area (check you manual on how to do that) but it will take a meter reading and calculate the correct exposure of around 4% of the screen around the centre point.

Hope this helps?

 

[tijuana taxi]

If you want to meter from a specific area, easy example being a street light at night use the spot meter option which is found in the main menu under metering modes

 

[stacy87]

Thank you everyone for the responses!

I have a 500D. The meter is on the screen (ie the exposure reading). Its just below the top left corner (ie where it shows the shutter speed etc).

In addition you should used an ND Grad filter if you want to enhance the foreground whilst darkening the sky. I use a Cokin filter (they are quite cheap but many people dont like them as they seem to colour cast).

If I was you I would also use spot metering if you want to adjust the exposure for a specific area (check you manual on how to do that) but it will take a meter reading and calculate the correct exposure of around 4% of the screen around the centre point.

Hope this helps?

I've just gone outside, with the Lee filter I have (0.3 ND grad - soft) and took this pic (no editing has been done at all).

Does this look like it has been exposed correctly? I used spot metering, pressed the shutter halfway down whilst on the sky, and then recomposed the shot before taking it.

 

[boccers_2000]

Thank you everyone for the responses!




I've just gone outside, with the Lee filter I have (0.3 ND grad - soft) and took this pic (no editing has been done at all).

Does this look like it has been exposed correctly? I used spot metering, pressed the shutter halfway down whilst on the sky, and then recomposed the shot before taking it.

Hmm, the foreground looks a little dark to me although not too far away.

Where was the sun? Foregrounds are always going to be darker than youd expect if it is more than 90 degrees in front of you.

You can of course bring the forground out in post processing (I sometimes use Elements 9 ie layers and brighten the specific layer in this case the foreground).

Perhaps one of the more experienced toggers on here can provide an alternative to lightening the foreground in this picture.

I'm not overly experienced so there are othes here that will be able to give better advise and id be interested to see what it is.

Maybe you should take a pic with the sun behindm you and see the difference that makes?

 

[DaveRed]

The sky (which is what you metered for) looks fine...a tiny bit blown in the top right corner, but thats obviously where the light source is. The rest of is is underexposed, which is what I meant about a compromise. The camera cant really cope with that much contrast.

Did you shoot RAW or jeg? Theres no EXIF data to view, but if you shot RAW the underexposed walls and buildings etc should be easily recoverable.

 

[stacy87]

Hmm, the foreground looks a little dark to me although not too far away.

Where was the sun? Foregrounds are always going to be darker than youd expect if it is more than 90 degrees in front of you.

You can of course bring the forground out in post processing (I sometimes use Elements 9 ie layers and brighten the specific layer in this case the foreground).

Perhaps one of the more experienced toggers on here can provide an alternative to lightening the foreground in this picture.

I'm not overly experienced so there are othes here that will be able to give better advise and id be interested to see what it is.

Maybe you should take a pic with the sun behindm you and see the difference that makes?

Thanks Andrew! The sun was just in the top right of this photo (we have a south facing garden, so it's always there! )

The sky (which is what you metered for) looks fine...a tiny bit blown in the top right corner, but thats obviously where the light source is. The rest of is is underexposed, which is what I meant about a compromise. The camera cant really cope with that much contrast.

Did you shoot RAW or jeg? Theres no EXIF data to view, but if you shot RAW the underexposed walls and buildings etc should be easily recoverable.

Thanks for that Dave. Yeah, the sun was just to the top right of the image.

I shot this in Jpeg - still to venture into RAW! I might go outside and take another shot in RAW, and have a play with that one in PSE to see what I can do with it.

tyvm!

 

[DaveRed]

Hope you dont mind....quickie 2 second edit in Aperture.

Its by no means perfect, but it will give you some idea of whats recoverable

 

[boccers_2000]

Thanks Andrew! The sun was just in the top right of this photo (we have a south facing garden, so it's always there! )




Thanks for that Dave. Yeah, the sun was just to the top right of the image.

I shot this in Jpeg - still to venture into RAW! I might go outside and take another shot in RAW, and have a play with that one in PSE to see what I can do with it.

tyvm!

I really recommend RAW. I started with Jpeg but, as a newbie RAW was invaluable in alowing me to recover pictures that if shot in Jpeg would not have been. Once fixed you can always then compress it into a final Jpeg.

I always keep my Raw files on an external storage device in case I want o play with them again in the future though.

 

[stacy87]

Hope you dont mind....quickie 2 second edit in Aperture.

Its by no means perfect, but it will give you some idea of whats recoverable

Thanks for doing that Dave, it definitely looks like it would be better after a little touch up! Will try to remember to take that into account for future shots!

I really recommend RAW. I started with Jpeg but, as a newbie RAW was invaluable in alowing me to recover pictures that if shot in Jpeg would not have been. Once fixed you can always then compress it into a final Jpeg.

I always keep my Raw files on an external storage device in case I want o play with them again in the future though.

I think it's the whole process of editing the RAW files that scares me away! It looks so much more complicated then jpeg editing? How did you get to grips with how to edit in RAW?

I've just taken a couple of shots outside in RAW, so will use them as practice for my editing skills!!

 

[boccers_2000]

Thanks for doing that Dave, it definitely looks like it would be better after a little touch up! Will try to remember to take that into account for future shots!




I think it's the whole process of editing the RAW files that scares me away! It looks so much more complicated then jpeg editing? How did you get to grips with how to edit in RAW?

I've just taken a couple of shots outside in RAW, so will use them as practice for my editing skills!!

I dont think editing a RAW file is any different from that of a Jpeg, it just allows you to edit it more. What editing program do you have? Elements 9 comes with a guided edit screen which is really easy to use and lets you have a feel for the process of editing an image from start to finish. It also has some really useful tools such as the clone brush etc.

 

[DaveRed]

Never be scared of editing RAW. The whole point of RAW is that it is non destructive. Whatever you do can be undone, so it is nigh on impossible to cock it up that spectacularly

All you are doing when editing raw files, is the little bits of enhancements that the camera would normally do when you shoot jpeg. It just gives you more control. As long as you treat it as a way to enhance a good image (rather than recover a bad one), its a useful tool.

 

[stacy87]

I dont think editing a RAW file is any different from that of a Jpeg, it just allows you to edit it more. What editing program do you have? Elements 9 comes with a guided edit screen which is really easy to use and lets you have a feel for the process of editing an image from start to finish. It also has some really useful tools such as the clone brush etc.

Yeah I have PSE9, so that's good to know that it has a guided screen! Always helpful

Thanks for that, I will give it a go - and maybe post up the resulting pic if it looks good enough!

Never be scared of editing RAW. The whole point of RAW is that it is non destructive. Whatever you do can be undone, so it is nigh on impossible to cock it up that spectacularly

All you are doing when editing raw files, is the little bits of enhancements that the camera would normally do when you shoot jpeg. It just gives you more control. As long as you treat it as a way to enhance a good image (rather than recover a bad one), its a useful tool.

Impossibe to cock it up that spectacularly - I like that!

Will definitely give it a go and see how I get on!

Thanks again!

 

[stacy87]

Ok here goes - took a shot in the garden in RAW, and have just had a quick play with editing. So firstly, here is the jpeg of the same image (un-edited):

And here is the RAW image after I have edited it. How does this look?

 

[boccers_2000]

Ok here goes - took a shot in the garden in RAW, and have just had a quick play with editing. So firstly, here is the jpeg of the same image (un-edited):

And here is the RAW image after I have edited it. How does this look?

Well i'd say it was a step in the right direction.

 

[stacy87]

Well i'd say it was a step in the right direction.

So I'm slowly getting there! tyvm

 

[boccers_2000]

So I'm slowly getting there! tyvm

Well from the looks of the picture which was a quick edit, yes.

The thing ive found about photography is just when you think youre getting there, a new problem presents itself and there another period of trying to find out how to deal with that situation.

Its frustrating but ultimately, rewarding when you take the time to work it out and get it right.

I always get a thrill from seeing a finalised image and knowing id done it (well, when its any good that is lol)

 

[stacy87]

Well from the looks of the picture which was a quick edit, yes.

The thing ive found about photography is just when you think youre getting there, a new problem presents itself and there another period of trying to find out how to deal with that situation.

Its frustrating but ultimately, rewarding when you take the time to work it out and get it right.

I always get a thrill from seeing a finalised image and knowing id done it (well, when its any good that is lol)

I know what you mean! Getting used to the basics at first was ok for me, and then now with the metering/exposure issue (which is actually part of the basics).

I'm still to take a shot that makes me go wow! I'm hoping I won't have to wait too long to get one of those shots. I have however, seen my shots improving since getting my camera which is a good thing!