So what metering setting do you use?

Static birds - aperture priority with exposure compensation. Birds on the water or in the air - usually fully manual, take a few test shots first...
 
I usually use evaluative and take a reading from a genral scene that gives me a rough light level then tweak as required.
 
I used to struggle with metering birds until I started shooting manual and now its easy :D
 
Liam said:
I used to struggle with metering birds until I started shooting manual and now its easy :D
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So what difference did shooting manual make Liam :shrug:
 
u8myufo said:
So what difference did shooting manual make Liam :shrug:
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Lots, I like shooting into the sun its a bad habit I have :D So when shooting AV my camera always underexposed or when shooting against trees into the sun overexposed.

Shooting manual enables me to adjust quickly and get the exposure I want, not for everyone but it works for me.
 
stuartg said:
Just wondering what metering setting you use for shooting birds. Quite often small in the frame are you a spot meter person, partial, centre-weighted or evaluative person?
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Stuart, I use spot metering 95% of the time for birds, as it is the subject I want exposed correctly, if it is a more scenic in habitat shot I may switch to matrix (evaluative).

Centre weighted average is a hangover from the 70's ;)
 
I generally use spot metering and aperature priority with compensation dialed in based on the scene/effect desired.
 
Liam said:
Lots, I like shooting into the sun its a bad habit I have :D So when shooting AV my camera always underexposed or when shooting against trees into the sun overexposed.

Shooting manual enables me to adjust quickly and get the exposure I want, not for everyone but it works for me.
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Yeh I understand that ;) but the OP asked "what metering setting do people use" :)
 
stuartg said:
Just wondering what metering setting you use for shooting birds. Quite often small in the frame are you a spot meter person, partial, centre-weighted or evaluative person?
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Spot metering as a general rule for me Stuart, but then I will always alter that as I go along. It is surprising how friendly evalutive metering can be sometimes as well.
 
For exposure, there was a good hint on here once about shooting birds in the air and using manual mode, which I now use a lot, which went along the lines of meter on the palm of your hand and it'll be about spot on.

Mostly I'm lazy and leave it on evaluative metering
 
sturs said:
Evaluative metering here in AV mode and some exposure adjustment.
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+1 and remember if using flash at all in either iTTL or eTTL then it doesn't work with spot metering ....

Which makes sense - but some people forget
 
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