Nicholas Wright wrote:
>
> >
> >> The thing
> >> that I always wonder is "If manual camera users can through experimentation
> >> learn what their cameras are doing (meter wise) why cannot auto camera users
> >> do the same thing?" Well we can and we do...
> >
> > Except in this case the experimentation would have to be much more
> > thorough.
>
> I'm not sure that this is entirely correct. True, the multi-segment metering
> will adjust exposure according to the way the computer percieves the scene,
> but if you know your camera you will also know how the computer will
> percieve that scene so you can make the adjustments that you see fit.
I just question how easy it is to figure out what the camera is
thinking. As I understand it, the camera makers basically program
possible scenes into the chip, and, supposedly, there are thousands of
them.
Also, these are going to vary by camera.
Taking the example of the bear. If you take the white one, and shift it
off center, will the camera think it's the sky in a vertical shot? What
if it's just taking up 2 segments? 4? 2 segments plus 1/2 of 2 more?
Sure, you could test that, but it seems to me you'd have to test for a
lot a EI's in the various metering segments.
> >
> > I think his test is simplistic. I don't often shoot a single colored
> > subject against a simple evenly-lit background.
>
> His test is not simply a single colored subject with an evenly lit
> background. His test involves two stuffed bears (one white, one dark)
> against several different background lighting conditions.
But each situation in itself is fairly simple...all lit by one light
source, with varying degrees of shade.
>
> Again, I am ~not~ saying that MM is the perfect solution.
I didn't mean to imply you were.
> In fact, I will be
> the first to admit that my best photos (no exceptions) were taken using the
> zone system with spot meter. And when the time presents itself, or when
> lighting conditions dictate (as in the above mentioned "light source in
> photos") I will always switch to spot. But for journalistic stuff where one
> or so stop exposure error means less than the content of the photo it's
> matrix all the way.
I agree, mostly. I'm in matrix mode often...I just don't always know
what the camera is thinking, and I still don't after printing at least
500 negs made in matrix mode.
Lately, if I think the lighting isn't going to change much, I'll take a
couple of spot readings and just work with those manually.
tv
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