1D Mark II Spot meter How and When

[Miranda1]

Hi everyone

This may sound like a silly question but how are you using the spot meter function on the mark II. I use it to check the dynamic range of a scene but the manual doesn't really go into depth in terms of practical use.

Thanks

[adas]

Indeed, it's a silly question if it comes from a pro body user.
The spot metering allows a good exposure on small subjects wich otherwise would be over/underexposed. Take as example the Moon. Or when you want to take candids in the people's appartment on open window in daylight from the next block.

[GyRob]

if you were taking shots of say a single dancer on a brighly lit stage that is the sort of shot a spot metre would be handy but it can easyerly mess things up if you take the reading of say a white /black dress so one has to be carefull.
Rob.

[blue_max]

It simply tells you what the camera is using to base it's exposure on. If you point it at a mid-grey, then the exposure will expose that as mid grey. If you point it at anything darker or lighter, you have to make allowances for it (in manual, reduce or lengthen the exposure).

It's not clever enough to know what you want, but it will tell you how it intends to make everything grey.

That sounds fairly clear for once!

Graham

[PaulB]

Indeed, it's a silly question if it comes from a pro body user.
The spot metering allows a good exposure on small subjects wich otherwise would be over/underexposed. Take as example the Moon. Or when you want to take candids in the people's appartment on open window in daylight from the next block.

Why the condescending answer to a very straightforward question?
A 'proper' answer may have enlightened a few of us, instead we get a smart**** reply, totally uncalled for.

[PacAce]

Hi everyone

This may sound like a silly question but how are you using the spot meter function on the mark II. I use it to check the dynamic range of a scene but the manual doesn't really go into depth in terms of practical use.

Thanks
Now take that "dynamic range checking" a step farther. Instead of just half-pressing the shutter button to get a spot reading of an area, press the FEL button instead. The camera will note that exposure reading. Go to another spot that you'd like to check the exposure on and press the FEL button again. You can take up to 8 spot metering reading like this. When you've metered all the important parts of the scene, fully press the shutter button and the camera will average all these spot-meter readings to set the exposure and take the picture. See page 82 in the ID2 manual (96 for the 1D2N) for more details.

That spot meter on the 1DII is a lot more sophisticated than a lot of people think. ;)

[jacobsen1]

Why the condescending answer to a very straightforward question?
A 'proper' answer may have enlightened a few of us, instead we get a smart**** reply, totally uncalled for.

Zing!

[Miranda1]

Indeed, it's a silly question if it comes from a pro body user.
The spot metering allows a good exposure on small subjects wich otherwise would be over/underexposed. Take as example the Moon. Or when you want to take candids in the people's appartment on open window in daylight from the next block.

Wow, are you always this helpful ??? Thanks for the insight (insert sarcasm).

[Miranda1]

Now take that "dynamic range checking" a step farther. Instead of just half-pressing the shutter button to get a spot reading of an area, press the FEL button instead. The camera will note that exposure reading. Go to another spot that you'd like to check the exposure on and press the FEL button again. You can take up to 8 spot metering reading like this. When you've metered all the important parts of the scene, fully press the shutter button and the camera will average all these spot-meter readings to set the exposure and take the picture. See page 82 in the ID2 manual (96 for the 1D2N) for more details.

That spot meter on the 1DII is a lot more sophisticated than a lot of people think. ;)

Thanks

This was my understanding of it as well, are you absolutely sure that the multi-spot readings are averaged to determine the exposure ? The handheld meter that I had at one point also did this, i.e take several reading of a scene select average and it would average out the exposure readings. I always assumed the mark II did the same thing but in a recent post at another site someone challenged that believe so I thought I would ask the question here. Anyway thank you for the response.

[shiato storm]

Now take that "dynamic range checking" a step farther. Instead of just half-pressing the shutter button to get a spot reading of an area, press the FEL button instead. The camera will note that exposure reading. Go to another spot that you'd like to check the exposure on and press the FEL button again. You can take up to 8 spot metering reading like this. When you've metered all the important parts of the scene, fully press the shutter button and the camera will average all these spot-meter readings to set the exposure and take the picture. See page 82 in the ID2 manual (96 for the 1D2N) for more details.

That spot meter on the 1DII is a lot more sophisticated than a lot of people think. ;)
wow, I never knew this...thats great, you can measure light in several areas to guage the exposure of a whole scene? thats fantastic! I take it this is the case with the 1dsmkII also...
it is only 1d series?

[mbze430]

I take it this is the case with the 1dsmkII also...
it is only 1d series?

Yes this is available on all 1D-Series, and as well as the 1vHS


Of course using the FEL with Spot pretty much leave you to a scenery shot. so unless you can do the FEL REALLY fast, Spot metering is primarily for stationary shots. I use it for landscape with difficult lighting situation.

It also serves as a spot meter for those day I don't have my light meter on me, that way I know how much ND filter to use to level a scene.

[PacAce]

Thanks

This was my understanding of it as well, are you absolutely sure that the multi-spot readings are averaged to determine the exposure ? The handheld meter that I had at one point also did this, i.e take several reading of a scene select average and it would average out the exposure readings. I always assumed the mark II did the same thing but in a recent post at another site someone challenged that believe so I thought I would ask the question here. Anyway thank you for the response.
Well, that's what the manual says and that's what I've observed from the few times that I've used multi-spot metering.

So, if it's not averaging the spot meter readings, then what was it that the other person was suggesting was being done with the spot meter reading, did he say? Just curious.

[shiato storm]

yes, very useful that. provided you have your nd's on you at the time!!

[mbze430]

When I am out side... I ALWAYS have ND. :) It's a must.

[JasonW]

My EOS3 had the same function but unfortunately it was traded in to "upgrade?" to a 20D. Spot Metering and Multi Spot are the two things that I miss the most. I guess I will have to just dream about one day owning a 1DMkIIN......