Metering Mode

I have the T1i and I've been reading about metering modes. I guess the big question I have is about locking in spot with spot metering. When I have spot metering selected and I select a spot on someones face, for example, and lock it in using the star button. If I then recompose by moving the camera after locking in that spot, does the camera still remember that spot? Or for this to work correctly, do I need to have the camera centered over the spot that I locked in? Or can I center in on another spot and take the shot? If it's the latter, and I center in on a different spot and take the shot, how does locking in that previous spot affect the result?

I hope that made some sense?

Also, it seems that it's possible to "lock" in with the star button with all of the modes? I though locking was only available or useful with spot metering?

If the star (*) button on your T1i is setup to lock the exposurure (it may be the default setting), then place the spot on the subject, press and hold the * button, recompose and take the shot. I use manual exposure and when I use a spot meter on skin, I over-exposue by one stop, I don't center the meter on skin.
...Terry

Overkill-F1 wrote in post #12014499
If the star (*) button on your T1i is setup to lock the exposurure (it may be the default setting), then place the spot on the subject, press and hold the * button, recompose and take the shot. I use manual exposure and when I use a spot meter on skin, I over-exposue by one stop, I don't center the meter on skin.
...Terry

no need to hold the * & recompose. You can press & release the button & you'll see the * icon in the viewfinder. It'll remained lock for 5-6 seconds to allow you to recompose.

deronsizemore wrote in post #12014270
Also, it seems that it's possible to "lock" in with the star button with all of the modes? I though locking was only available or useful with spot metering?

you can lock thru all metering modes...included evaluative. Say, for instance, you're eval metering mode & have a bright sunny corner in your frame. The meter will adjust to darken that, thereby underexposing your entire image. if you move the camera a little bit to get that sunny area out of the view, you can lock in the exposure at that point, recompose w/ the sunny corner, & take the shot. Just know that that area will more than likely be blown out.

Thanks everyone for the responses.

josullivan79 wrote in post #12014785
you can lock thru all metering modes...included evaluative. Say, for instance, you're eval metering mode & have a bright sunny corner in your frame. The meter will adjust to darken that, thereby underexposing your entire image. if you move the camera a little bit to get that sunny area out of the view, you can lock in the exposure at that point, recompose w/ the sunny corner, & take the shot. Just know that that area will more than likely be blown out.

Ah, that makes sense. Thanks

Ok, so lets use this scenerio as an example. In my research online, it seems that when spot metering is used the most is when you're taking a shot of something with the sun in the background, e.g., a person where the sun is behind them just over their head. If you take the shot on evaluative, you'll likely not be able to see the person because they'll be in the shadows. So, by using spot metering, I can center in on the person's face and lock in that exposure. Then, lets say I don't want the person's face to be the center of the shot, but I've centered off to their left (so the person is on the right side of the frame). The camera just remembers that spot that I locked in then? Is that correct?

The last question I have (sorry if this is obvious) is, if you can lock in the exposure with all metering modes, what then is the advantage of using spot metering or center over evaluative? Just to have more control of the locked in exposure rather than allowing the camera to do it?