Spot-metering 1dsiii

Hi, I'm trying to get multiple exposure readings of my image by using spotmetering. When I use the 'joystick' I only get readings for the edges of the oblong shaped part in the middle. Is it possible to get readings for the rest of the image? I have tried the 'fel' button, but this doesn't seem to change anything.

alabaster wrote in post #17075319
Hi, I'm trying to get multiple exposure readings of my image by using spotmetering. When I use the 'joystick' I only get readings for the edges of the oblong shaped part in the middle. Is it possible to get readings for the rest of the image? I have tried the 'fel' button, but this doesn't seem to change anything.

Have you read the camera manual on how to select individual focus points?

alabaster wrote in post #17075319
Hi, I'm trying to get multiple exposure readings of my image by using spotmetering. When I use the 'joystick' I only get readings for the edges of the oblong shaped part in the middle. Is it possible to get readings for the rest of the image? I have tried the 'fel' button, but this doesn't seem to change anything.

You shouldn't need to change the spot metering from the centre, when trying to take multiple readings, you just point it at the various parts of the scene and take each reading. You sort all that out, set your exposure and then compose your shot. If you just want ONE spot meter reading, then I believe the 1D series cameras can be set up to take it from any selected AF point, but you would need to check your manual to confirm that (I don't use a 1D).

But, going back to your multiple spot meter reading situation. I believe that you take a spot meter reading from the dark area, press FEL, then take one from the light area, press FEL again, then it will average them out. I believe the 1DsIII can do several readings this way and work out an average exposure (again, I don't have one so check your manual).

Personally, I don't like leaving the camera to decide on the exposure that way. I take spot meter readings of one or more parts of the scene and then decide on exposure myself, taking into account the tones I metered off, how important the shadows are etc.

Ah, one more thought, are you trying to do this in manual mode?

You can only get the camera to do the multiple reading and give an average if you are in an automatic mode (as it involves the camera setting the exposure).

I believe there is a control setting in the menu that will turn on spot metering linked to any focus point. Make sure that's turned on. Then use the control stick to move to the focus point over the area you want to meter and then use FEL. The 1DS Mark III can meter up to eight spots and average the exposure.

Thanks guys, I do use manual mode, so that would explain why the fel thing did'nt work. i have the exposure combined to the af points, but somehow expected I could move around the entire image to get exposure readings. Presumably it's limited to the af points and you can't measure the edges of the frame.

Sandpiper, I agree with you. I don't like it when the camera decides for you either, but I thought you could use fel to get to wherever yoou want to go in the frame as well.

It's even more limited on a camera like the 1Ds Mark III, since there are 63 metering zones, but only 19 of these coincide with AF points. Thus the spot metering can be moved to the position of the 19 user selectable AF points only.
A camera like the 1DX, which has 252 metering zones, have one zone overlapping every one of the 61 AF points, and thus allows linking of the spot metering to any of the 61 AF points.

It was different with the 1DSii, wasn't it? Now I understand why people complained about the limited user selectable AF points when going from the ii to the iii.