5D3...Focus and Metering Point...

Ok...

So I've always run spot center focus and metering in the past.
After reading a bunch here on the AF system, and using the joystick to move focus point, I have been using it a little and actually love it and get more comfortable with it every day.

My problem is my camera is still set to spot meter. I've run into a few situations where i've moved the focus point out to the edge, but it seems spot metering, which stays in the middle, causes me to meter in the wrong spot.

How do you guys handle this?
Should I go evaluative on my metering, which I understand still stays in the center, but some say favors the focus point?

Thanx for you help!

Your center point is best point regardless of camera.

Spot meter the subject and recompose, maybe?

I've been using evaluative and have been pretty happy with results.

I guess the way i've been doing it, and it may not be the best way, is to see the shot I want, notice I want the subject in a portion of the picture other than center, bump the focus point to that location with the joystick, back button focus, front button meter and fire with out recomposition.

Going to back button focus is also new to me, and I thought it partly was to help with not having to focus/meter and recompose, which was what I wanted to get away from.

Back button lock AE, recompose, back button AF with whichever AF point you choose, shutter release as you know it...

With all the fingers flying around i'll feel like a violin virtuoso!

Hey Kechar,

You are right that spot metering stays in the centre, so if you want to stick to spot metering your going to have to meter first. You can use evaluative metering which biases metering on the AF point and from my testing it is very close (within 1 stop) of spot metering readings.

this is my findings copied from another thread:

KCY wrote in post #14254117
After reading through this thread I thought I would do some testing with evaluative metering. I'm quite surprised with the results. I would say that the 5D3 places very high bias on the AF point, almost spot like.

Therefore anything under the AF point will most likely be at 18%.

However note that I have only done one test so its all quite inconclusive until other tests are performed.

All these were shot under AV mode, ISO200, F/2.8:

The first 2 images were taken of the same scene moving AF point only
Evaluative Metering
1/60

IMAGE LINK: http://kcyeung.smugmug​.com …380908&k=XJtrFr​r&lb=1&s=A

Evaluative Metering
1/250

IMAGE LINK: http://kcyeung.smugmug​.com …380575&k=rHxnnt​P&lb=1&s=A

These 2 images were to see how close evaluative metering is to spot metering
Spot Metering
1/50

IMAGE LINK: http://kcyeung.smugmug​.com …380606&k=RWRxZd​W&lb=1&s=A

Spot Metering
1/400

IMAGE LINK: http://kcyeung.smugmug​.com …380863&k=hcmDf6​4&lb=1&s=A

The metering is done under the active AF point, therefore with this shot I AF first on the curtain then moved the AF point for metering, drawn on points are very rough estimates.
Evaluative Metering
1/320
http://kcyeung.smugmug​.com …381021&k=g8Rzbp​W&lb=1&s=A

Yes I saw that post...that's where I read about the evaluative.
I will certainly have to give that a shot!!!

Kechar wrote in post #14337769
With all the fingers flying around i'll feel like a violin virtuoso!

It's all in the thumb!...

Only the shutter button requires the index finger...

Kidding aside, it took me almost 6 months to trust the AI Servo for focusing and using the back button to start AF but also to STOP AF.

Once you realize that the two back buttons allow you to separate focusing, metering, photo taking, you learn to go for it!

MakisM1 wrote in post #14337861
It's all in the thumb!...

Only the shutter button requires the index finger...

Kidding aside, it took me almost 6 months to trust the AI Servo for focusing and using the back button to start AF but also to STOP AF.

Once you realize that the two back buttons allow you to separate focusing, metering, photo taking, you learn to go for it!

Quick question. Those concerned about metering, you're not in manual are you? In manual you control your own metering by iso/shutter speed/f stop right?

AAphotog wrote in post #14337904
Quick question. Those concerned about metering, you're not in manual are you? In manual you control your own metering by iso/shutter speed/f stop right?

Well, you still need a reference point unless you are one of those people who can guess a scene with good accuracy.

So even in manual mode, a lot of people tend to rely on the metering scale in the VF and then under or over expose relative to center. So you are still at the mercy of the metering system and mode. You still need to learn what the camera thinks is the correct exposure, i.e. metering needle at center, in the metering mode you use.

I leave mine on evaluative but am pretty good at guessing how much I need to under or over expose relative to what the camera thinks is the correct exposure.

Once you own and use a camera for a while, you learn how it meters, which makes it easier to compensate.

So, Nick, would I be correct in assuming that, if I am in 'M' and have AutoISO set that ISO will be adjusted to set what the camera thinks is the correct metering of the scene according to what metering mode I have set?

Kechar wrote in post #14338059
So, Nick, would I be correct in assuming that, if I am in 'M' and have AutoISO set that ISO will be adjusted to set what the camera thinks is the correct metering of the scene according to what metering mode I have set?

I thought Auto ISO on the 5D3 only worked in Av?

Kechar wrote in post #14338059
So, Nick, would I be correct in assuming that, if I am in 'M' and have AutoISO set that ISO will be adjusted to set what the camera thinks is the correct metering of the scene according to what metering mode I have set?

Auto ISO in M mode is useless IMO. It will force the metering needle to the middle, so yes, it will set it to what the camera thinks is the correct exposure, which we both know is more often than not dead wrong.

Auto ISO in Av mode is much better since it will keep whatever EC you have dialed in. You just need to remember to set the minimum shutter speed depending on what lens you are using and/or if you want fast enough speed to stop subject motion. I have mine set to 1/125 at the moment. I used Auto ISO at the last wedding I shot and it was pretty good. Still trying to figure out whether it's worth it or not.

I've got my camera set up that when I half press & hold the shutter button it locks exposure and use the rear AF-button for focus. I'm usually in AV mode, so I'll use the center point to meter the shot, half press & hold the shutter button to lock exposure, then recompose the frame and press the rear AF button to focus. I find it works great but I really wish Canon made the metering dependent on the focus point.