Understanding Your Camera's Metering Modes

Metering modes are one of the most important settings on your camera. They determine how your camera meters light and, in turn, how your photos look. There are typically three primary metering modes found in cameras: evaluative, centre-weighted, and spot. Depending on the camera brand, you may encounter other names and metering modes, including matrix, partial, highlight-weighted, multi-pattern, and entire screen average metering.

The metering mode in photography refers to the method a camera uses to measure the brightness of a scene before capturing an image. It helps determine the exposure settings by analysing the light in the frame.

Evaluative/Matrix/Multi Metering

One of the key factors that affects Evaluative/Matrix/Multi Metering is where the camera focus point is set. After reading information from all individual zones, the metering system looks at where you focused within the frame and marks it as more important than all other zones.

When using Evaluative/Matrix/Multi Metering, the exposure is determined largely by tones in the centre of the image. The camera does not consider the edges of the frame or which focus point is selected.

The main drawback of Evaluative/Matrix/Multi Metering is that your camera can underexpose or overexpose the scene when there is a predominance of black or white.

Partial Metering

In summary, Partial Metering is a good choice when you want to expose for a small subject that is backlit, or when you want to expose for a subject with a large brightness difference between the subject and background.

Highlight-Weighted Metering

This metering mode is particularly useful when you are photographing a subject with spotlights or coloured lighting, or when your subject is in motion. It is also a good choice when faced with uneven lighting and a background that is much darker than the subject. For example, when photographing a bride in her wedding dress, a singer on stage, or a subject with a bright light source in the frame.

To access this metering mode on a Nikon camera, press and hold the metering button on the far left dial on the camera body, and while holding it down, rotate the main command dial until the highlight-weighted metering icon is displayed. For other camera models, refer to the user manual to find out how to set this mode.

Limitations and considerations:

• Highlight-weighted metering is not the best solution for everyday shooting as it can result in a great deal of the photo being too dark and underexposed.
• It is designed to work best with RAW image files, as they retain more data for editing in post-processing. JPEG files, on the other hand, may not provide enough data for effective editing.
• It is recommended to use lower ISO values when using this mode, as sensor dynamic range drops off at higher ISO values, resulting in reduced ability to bring up the shadows during editing.
• This metering mode may not be suitable for scenes with a bright light source in the frame, as the camera may treat the light as a highlight, leading to underexposure of the main subject.
• Active D-Lighting can be used alongside highlight-weighted metering to brighten shadows and reduce contrast.

Center-Weighted Metering

Compared to matrix metering, center-weighted metering does not consider the focus point you select and only evaluates the middle area of the image. It is also not concerned with the edges of the frame.

Spot Metering

• Wildlife photography, especially when the subject is small in the frame, like a bird in flight against a bright sky.
• Theatre photography, where brightly lit actors appear in a darkened auditorium.
• Photographing the moon, as other metering methods will overexpose it.
• Portrait photography of subjects with darker skin tones, photographed against a light sky or snow.

To use spot metering, simply point the centre dot in your viewfinder at your subject and dial your camera settings until the dot registers as "0" or neutral. Then, re-compose your shot if you don't want your subject in the middle of the frame.

Frequently asked questions