Light Meter In 10D.

[k_s_rajeev]

Hi,

I tried to look in the manual n the 10D.

Does the 10D comes with a built in Light meter or I have to use a external one.

[krimple]

Yes, it's got a nice built-in light meter with three modes --

1. Evaluative (compares light in different zones against a database of scenes),

2. Center weighted average metering -- takes the light values but puts more emphasis on the center 9% of the frame

3. Partial (9%) meter; not really a spot meter, but what's inside the center circle.

I use #3 most of the time.

The meter is great--in manual mode you have a little
-2 .. -1 .. 0 .. 1 .. 2
scale, and a tick mark letting you know where you stand. It's extremely easy to use.

Ken

[k_s_rajeev]

Can you tell me where is it extactly in the manual

[AndyDe]

Can you tell me where is it extactly in the manual
Page 74, 79-93. Failing that then 182-183
hth

[Jim_T]

Just to add..

The 10D does a fantastic job of automatically metering light.. When you shoot in any mode (Except 'M') the light metering is active and generally provides excellent results. In the creative modes, you have exposure compensation which allows you to override the camera if needed.

But.. There isn't a specific light meter display that gives you a direct readout in 'lux' or 'foot' candles like you had in older film SLR's

If you want to 'meter by hand', you can only do it in full 'Manual' and you will need an outboard handheld light meter..

But why ??

The EOS system has pretty well eliminated the need for taking light readings and then using a chart to compute the necessary aperture and/or shutter speed to obtain the proper exposure....

The fact that you don't have to worry about film and developing costs lets you bracket to your hearts content if exposure is critical.. Not only that, but you can work wonders with image editing software..

There really isn't a need for a readable light meter anymore..

[G3]

Just to add..

The 10D does a fantastic job of automatically metering light.. When you shoot in any mode (Except 'M') the light metering is active and generally provides excellent results. In the creative modes, you have exposure compensation which allows you to override the camera if needed.

But.. There isn't a specific light meter display that gives you a direct readout in 'lux' or 'foot' candles like you had in older film SLR's

If you want to 'meter by hand', you can only do it in full 'Manual' and you will need an outboard handheld light meter..

But why ??

The EOS system has pretty well eliminated the need for taking light readings and then using a chart to compute the necessary aperture and/or shutter speed to obtain the proper exposure....

The fact that you don't have to worry about film and developing costs lets you bracket to your hearts content if exposure is critical.. Not only that, but you can work wonders with image editing software..

There really isn't a need for a readable light meter anymore..

Jim,
Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you are saying. The light meter works on the 10D in Manual Mode. The camera will not automatically select a shutter speed or an aperture for you based on the meter readings, but the meter display in the viewfinder will tell you if the shutter speed and aperture you have selected will give you a correct exposure based on the meter's reading and the ISO selected.

[k_s_rajeev]

To Add to this,

Insted of Light meter it is always a good idea to buy the 18% Gray card and get right exposure level for the light condition and then use those settign will help in saving money and also time.

[Jim_T]

Jim,
Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you are saying. The light meter works on the 10D in Manual Mode. The camera will not automatically select a shutter speed or an aperture for you based on the meter readings, but the meter display in the viewfinder will tell you if the shutter speed and aperture you have selected will give you a correct exposure based on the meter's reading and the ISO selected.

Maybe I'm mistinterpreting the original question :wink:

Yes the 10D has a metering circuit.. Yes, in Manual mode you have an exposure indicator.. But the exposure indicator isn't a light meter.. It's just a display that shows you how close you are to what the camera thinks is the perfect exposure..

Just about all modern cameras have light metering circuits and provide automatic exposure.. That wasn't true in days gone by. You needed a light meter to calculate your exposure settings. High end cameras had light meters built in.. You read them in the viewfinder then set your aperture and shutter speed.

When I hear the term light meter, I picture a device that can give you a precise reading in Lux or Foot candles. The 10D can't do that :)

Here's an example of a true light meter..

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_prod.php?cat_id=2609&pid=6158

The light metering in the EOS system is superb.. so a light meter that reads out in lux or foot candles isn't needed.. but.. Some people (especially studio types) still prefer to use a true light meter rather than count on the internal camera metering..

[G3]

Jim,
Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you are saying. The light meter works on the 10D in Manual Mode. The camera will not automatically select a shutter speed or an aperture for you based on the meter readings, but the meter display in the viewfinder will tell you if the shutter speed and aperture you have selected will give you a correct exposure based on the meter's reading and the ISO selected.

Maybe I'm mistinterpreting the original question :wink:

Yes the 10D has a metering circuit.. Yes, in Manual mode you have an exposure indicator.. But the exposure indicator isn't a light meter.. It's just a display that shows you how close you are to what the camera thinks is the perfect exposure..

Just about all modern cameras have light metering circuits and provide automatic exposure.. That wasn't true in days gone by. You needed a light meter to calculate your exposure settings. High end cameras had light meters built in.. You read them in the viewfinder then set your aperture and shutter speed.

When I hear the term light meter, I picture a device that can give you a precise reading in Lux or Foot candles. The 10D can't do that :)

Here's an example of a true light meter..

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_prod.php?cat_id=2609&pid=6158

The light metering in the EOS system is superb.. so a light meter that reads out in lux or foot candles isn't needed.. but.. Some people (especially studio types) still prefer to use a true light meter rather than count on the internal camera metering..

Yep, I understand what you are saying, but disagree. I have a Sekonic L-358 that I use mainly for flash metering for studio strobes. It is a light meter, and measures flash/incident/reflected. I also have a light meter built into my 10d. It doesn't have the little analog needle that some of my old (OK, ancient) cameras used to have and it doesn't give me an EV in numbers (units of light measure such a LUX), but it has a little meter in the viewfinder that tells me the exposure is correct, under or over according to what the light sensor is reading. That's a light meter. It also measures preflash in all modes for E-TTL and calculates the amount of flash needed, including in manual mode and while manually focusing.

As you said, the internal light meter in the 10d is superb in most situations. The only time it is of little or no value is in situations where the camera has no control and can't measure light levels, such as using non-dedicated strobes. However, even in those situations the internal meter COULD be used to evaluate the ambient light and a hand-held used to measure flash from studio strobes. However, if you are using dedicated Speedlights in a wireless setup, such as a 550EX master with 550EX or 420EX slaves, the internal metering will do a good job of calculating the amount of flash needed.

I agree that the internal metering does not give you an EV in numbers. But I still think it is a true light meter, just a different kind, and contrary to popular belief, it DOES work in manual mode. On a 10D, it does switch to an evaluative metering pattern in manual mode, but it works.

[scottbergerphoto]

G3,
You are absoloutely right. The 10D most certainly has a light meter. It can be used in evaluative, partial and and center weighted modes, making it much more complicated, though not always more accurate then a hand held meter in particular situations.

You are also correct in saying that the meter is active whenever the shutter is depressed 1/2 way. You can't manually turn it off. You do have the option of using the camera's meter reading as is or using it as a starting point. In the P,Auto, Av, Tv modes you can use exposure compensation and in Manual mode you adjust the f stop or shutter speed to get more or less then the camera meter recommends. In Manual mode you can ignore the camera meter and use a handheld meter.

One important point to remember is that the camera meter is a reflecive meter and as such its reading must be corrected for the reflectance of the subject. For example snow requires +1-2 stops above what the camera meter says. Most hand held meters other then spot meters are incident meters and are not affected by subject reflectance. Spot meters are reflective meters and their readings have to be adjusted just like the camera meter.

The reasons why most shots taken with the camera doing all the work come out OK include;
1. Most scenes average out to about 18% grey. (The standard is actually closer to 12%, other issue).
2. The camera computer has complex algorithms to interpret the brightness of the various 35 segments and come up with a reading. By switching to center weighted or partial metering you tell it to limit how much of the scene to look at when measuring.

Regards,
Scott

[G3]

G3,
You are absoloutely right. The 10D most certainly has a light meter. It can be used in evaluative, partial and and center weighted modes, making it much more complicated, though not always more accurate then a hand held meter in particular situations.
You are also correct in saying that the meter is active whenever the shutter is depressed 1/2 way. You can't manually turn it off. You do have the option of using the camera's meter reading as is or using it as a starting point. In the P,Auto, Av, Tv modes you can use exposure compensation and in Manual mode you adjust the f stop or shutter speed to get more or less then the camera meter recommends. In Manual mode you can ignore the camera meter and use a handheld meter.
One important point to remember is that the camera meter is a reflecive meter and as such its reading must be corrected for the reflectance of the subject. For example snow requires +1-2 stops above what the camera meter says. Most hand held meters other then spot meters are incident meters and are not affected by subject reflectance. Spot meters are reflective meters and their readings have to be adjusted just like the camera meter.
The reasons why most shots taken with the camera doing all the work come out OK include;
1. Most scenes average out to about 18% grey. (The standard is actually closer to 12%, other issue).
2. The camera computer has complex algorithms to interpret the brightness of the various 35 segments and come up with a reading. By switching to center weighted or partial metering you tell it to limit how much of the scene to look at when measuring.
Regards,
Scott

Yep. Good explanation, Scott. You explained that part better than I could.

[HKdom]

I hope this isn't too sidetracked and makes sense,

From what I gather, the light meter on the 10D is in equilibrium when the ap and shutter speed are correctly dialed in for a given reflected light intensity.

-How does the 10D metering modes translate compared to a dedicated spot meter like the Sekonic. Does a dedicated spot meter give you one reading for exposure and aperture?

or can you vary it like on the 10d i.e. depending on the effect you want to get you can vary the ap and shutter speed to find that equilibrium in M mode.

Thanks and sorry if this is confusion

[G3]

I hope this isn't too sidetracked and makes sense,

From what I gather, the light meter on the 10D is in equilibrium when the ap and shutter speed are correctly dialed in for a given reflected light intensity.

-How does the 10D metering modes translate compared to a dedicated spot meter like the Sekonic. Does a dedicated spot meter give you one reading for exposure and aperture?

or can you vary it like on the 10d i.e. depending on the effect you want to get you can vary the ap and shutter speed to find that equilibrium in M mode.

Thanks and sorry if this is confusion


I think I understand what you are asking.

The 10D does not provide a true spot metering. The closest it comes is a center-weighted mode using a portion (I forget the exact number) of the center focusing circle in the finder. It really doesn't matter much for me, it works well anyway.

If I need true spot metering, I have a Sekonic hand-held. This is a very flexible meter. It allows you to take reflected, incident or direct flash readings. It can be used in either aperture priority mode or in shutter priority. In aperture priority mode, it allows you to dial in the aperture you want to use, then it displays the appropriate shutter speed. In shutter priority, you dial in the shutter speed you want to use and it displays the appropriate aperture. It has memory to store up to 9 readings, and an averaging mode.

The Sekonic is much more precise referenced to 18% gray. The 10D actually measures to something like 12% or 14% gray. The 10D's metering system is perfect for most shooting situations, and you can always dial in a little exposure compensation if your Histograms aren't looking exactly right for the scene, but if you really need to be precise then I think the hand-held is the way to go.

[HKdom]

Thanks for that information G3! :D

[LatinaV]

I'm still learning my camera...it's a Canon Rebel XT...does it have a light meter?