How to spot meter on Canon Digital Rebel?

[csondagar]

Canon Digital Rebel offers three (usual) metering options. I would like to use spot-meter in some instances. How can this be selected and locked?

[robertwgross]

Canon Digital Rebel does not offer any spot metering, with or without hacked firmware.

As a general rule, you have to move up to a fairly professional model of camera body to get spot metering.

---Bob Gross---

[scottbergerphoto]

If the Rebel doesn't have spot metering you can create a spot meter using a zoom lens and your camera. Put the camera in Manual Mode. Zoom in on the subject you want to spot meter so that it fills the viewfinder. It doesn't matter what mode of metering is set. Set the Aperture and Shutter speed to center the meter needle. Recompose your shot and put on any lens you want. You now have a spot meter reading for your subject.

Regards,
Scott

[Guillermo Freige]

The closest is the partial metering, triggered during AE lock. Only the 1D line of cameras have a true spot metering now.

[cmM]

open your manual to page 84.
No spot metering :( , neither can any metering can be selected manually.

[CyberDyneSystems]

It's simple.. it' called "Sekonic" :)

[scottbergerphoto]

As I stated above. By putting a zoom lens on a Rebel and filling the viewfinder or the partial metering circle with the subject(in partial metering mode), you in effect have created a spot meter. Does it matter that it's not built in to the camera? No. It's just less convenient.
Scott

[petiot]

scottbergerphoto, why doing thing simply when it is possible to be complicated!!! changing twice of lens just to spot meter is not very practical, i wouldnt advise doing so. Do you really use this technic?? I much prefer the "sekonic" approach!! ;)

[blinking8s]

spot metering? you guys and all your crazy terms...ill google it i guess *sigh*

[Aylwin]

Actually, I think it's the "sekonic approach" that's not very practical. What's the effective range on this approach? What if I want to shoot a boat on the water? Some people across the street? Animals at the zoo?

Your best bet is spot metering. But since that's not possible, we'll have to settle for partial metering. The only reason you'd have to swap to a longer lens is if the spot you're trying to meter won't fit in the circle. And I'd rather do that than walk up to the lion with my Sekonic. ;)

[scottbergerphoto]

scottbergerphoto, why doing thing simply when it is possible to be complicated!!! changing twice of lens just to spot meter is not very practical, i wouldnt advise doing so. Do you really use this technic?? I much prefer the "sekonic" approach!! ;)
Actually, I usually have a zoom on my camera and it's alot faster then reaching for my Sekonic. But that's not the point. The point is that you can use what you have without buying an additional spot meter if you don't want to. I have the L558, but I don't always carry it around. Using the method I describe, I don't have to.
Scott

[scottbergerphoto]

Actually, I think it's the "sekonic approach" that's not very practical. What's the effective range on this approach? What if I want to shoot a boat on the water? Some people across the street? Animals at the zoo?

Your best bet is spot metering. But since that's not possible, we'll have to settle for partial metering. The only reason you'd have to swap to a longer lens is if the spot you're trying to meter won't fit in the circle. And I'd rather do that than walk up to the lion with my Sekonic. ;)

Spot meters have a viewfinder on them just like you have on your camera. A 1 degree spot meter can be very accurate at long distances as long as you get the subject on the cross hair.

People are getting stuck in an either/or approach here. That's not the point. The point is how to get the best results with what you have and can afford.
Scott

[Aylwin]

Sorry, I was just being silly. I should've added more of these: :D :) :wink: :lol:

[RichardtheSane]

Well I like Scott's zoom lens spot metering approach.

It is cheaper... that always alters my sense of practicality :lol: :lol: :lol:

[msvadi]

The spot meter was one of the reasons I seriously considered D70. I went with the DRebel. The partial meter actually does the job. I usually switch to M, place the center of the viewfinder over brightest/darkets part of the scene, zoom in if necessary, choose aperture, activate partial metering, and decide by how much overexpose/underexpose with the shutter speed. And, I always check the histogram, and take a second shot if necessary.

[scottbergerphoto]

Well I like Scott's zoom lens spot metering approach.

It is cheaper... that always alters my sense of practicality :lol: :lol: :lol:
I'd love to take credit for it, but it's from, "The Confused Photographers Guide to Photographic Exposure and the Simplified Zone System of Exposure" by Farzad

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0966081714/002-2839608-9912023?v=glance
It's a must read!
Scott

[msvadi]

spot metering? you guys and all your crazy terms...ill google it i guess *sigh*

Michel Freeman, Digital Photography Expert: Light and Lighting - very good reading. You can find it for less than $20. The book, actually, is heavily based on his older, out of print, "Light" (a part of Amphoto/Collins workshops). The old book is even better.

[Tom W]

The spot meter was one of the reasons I seriously considered D70. I went with the DRebel. The partial meter actually does the job. I usually switch to M, place the center of the viewfinder over brightest/darkets part of the scene, zoom in if necessary, choose aperture, activate partial metering, and decide by how much overexpose/underexpose with the shutter speed. And, I always check the histogram, and take a second shot if necessary.

Popular PHotography tested the D70 and found the spot meter to be more of a partial metering scheme, with an actual measured metering circle of 5% of the viewing area, not the 1% claimed by Nikon (Popular Photography, June, 2004, page 64).

But heck, I'm an old-fashioned center-weighted averaging kind of guy. ;)

[robertwgross]

But heck, I'm an old-fashioned center-weighted averaging kind of guy. ;)

Some of us are a little more center-weighted now than we used to be.

---Bob Gross---

[defordphoto]

But heck, I'm an old-fashioned center-weighted averaging kind of guy. ;)

Some of us are a little more center-weighted now than we used to be.

---Bob Gross---

:lol:

[CyberDyneSystems]

:lol: :lol:

The Zoom trick works great.. when it will work for you.

Unfortunately.. depending on your application.. there may be no more "zoom" left in your lens...

When I used to dream of a built in spotmetter in the 10D was when I was shooting a bird on a branch using a 500mm prime... and I wanted to make sure the birds head would be exposed properly....

No way to zoom in any closer...

I allways have the 10D set to partial!