Metering Modes? 30D.

I have a 30D and have yet to cross the boundary past evaluative metering. I haev no idea where to begin and what mode to use for what sort of scenes. Any helps or links are greatly appreciated.

generally we use 'evaluative' but feel free to read the manual for times when other metering modes are effective.

I generally use evaluative. As an example of when I switch metering modes, I shoot an annual stage production and for that I switch to partial for shooting because spotlights are used to highlight the subject and backgrounds are often dark. This ensures that the subject is properly exposed which would not be the case if evaluative was used. I have a 20D so the best I can do is partial metering; with your 30D you'd have the option of using spot metering.

yenoram wrote in post #2239711
I generally use evaluative. As an example of when I switch metering modes, I shoot an annual stage production and for that I switch to partial for shooting because spotlights are used to highlight the subject and backgrounds are often dark. This ensures that the subject is properly exposed which would not be the case if evaluative was used. I have a 20D so the best I can do is partial metering; with your 30D you'd have the option of using spot metering.

Heh, I see.

I definitley need to take a glance through my manual to try and help me remember the difference between all the metering modes, although I believe it is very basic and doesn't give examples of situations where each mode would be useful.

http://www.canon.co.jp …ng/enjoydslr/p_​3_012.html

Get this book http://www.amazon.com …tal-Updated/dp/0817463003

I don't know about the 30D's instruction manual, but in the case of the 300D, it explains how to switch between the different modes but not when to use them.

montreal wrote in post #2240138
Get this book http://www.amazon.com …tal-Updated/dp/0817463003

I don't know about the 30D's instruction manual, but in the case of the 300D, it explains how to switch between the different modes but not when to use them.

The sad part is I have that book and have read through it .

Thanks for that link, looks good, I'll take a closer look at it later.

It is not the best explanation, but it will set you in the right direction..

JaGWiRE wrote in post #2240203
The sad part is I have that book and have read through it .

Perhaps you need to read it again from cover to cover

It helped me understand a lot of stuff and now I shoot in 'M' most of the time.

montreal wrote in post #2240228
Perhaps you need to read it again from cover to cover

It helped me understand a lot of stuff and now I shoot in 'M' most of the time.

Yeah, I do need to re-read it, I almost always shoot manual less I have a reason for shooting in TV or AV. As great a book it is, it has a lot of information and unfortunately I am good at forgetting stuff, haha.

Go to the link Hermeto gave. It explains it and shows photo examples. I'm still learning about metering and even when people offer explanations as to how they use it and why, it does not really click until you do something that shows you on your own camera in your hands.

TMR Design wrote in post #2240381
Go to the link Hermeto gave. It explains it and shows photo examples. I'm still learning about metering and even when people offer explanations as to how they use it and why, it does not really click until you do something that shows you on your own camera in your hands.

Yeah, definitley.

JaGWiRE wrote in post #2240244
I almost always shoot manual less I have a reason for shooting in TV or AV.

So you're saying you shoot manual with the evaluative metering mode? I don't understand how you go about doing that... On the 300D it's not even an option (manual goes with "center-weighed)... but even if it was I don't think I would ever do that... how do you know what to compensate for?

montreal wrote in post #2241371
So you're saying you shoot manual with the evaluative metering mode? I don't understand how you go about doing that... On the 300D it's not even an option (manual goes with "center-weighed)... but even if it was I don't think I would ever do that... how do you know what to compensate for?

Yeah I shoot with the evaluative. Usually works well, sometimes not so well. That's why I started this thread, but I'm guessing I'll have to experiment for myself. With other modes I've had weird results, overexposed or underexposed subjects.

JaGWiRE wrote in post #2241377
Yeah I shoot with the evaluative. Usually works well, sometimes not so well.

The problem with evaluative (or so I'm told... I'm far from being an expert) is that the camera takes decisions of which you are not aware. This works for most pics but in sometimes tricky conditions you need to expose for a certain specific part of your frame (f. ex. a backlit tree) and then adjust your exposure from there. With evaluative, the camera decides what it wants to do so you can try to adjust as much as you want, you don't know what the starting point is so you're in the dark...