Metering Q

Hi all, this is my 1st post here

I have s suspicion that the metering in my 300D is faulty as it needs a lot of light to take normal photos. By normal I mean when there is plenty/enough light that one doesn’t have to go to higher ISO or slow shutter speed.
I read somewhere that one can check the metering him/herself by pointing at the sky between 12-2 and take a reading (can’t remember what one should get). My question is what if one lives in a place with ALOT of light, say in Arizona. What is the expected reading in such a case.
Note: the lens doesn't have a filter.

Thanks

As a rule of thumb you could use the "sunny f16" rule. Means in practice, on a sunny day with clear sky the meter should read approx. f16 for a set shutter speed of 1/ISO (=1/100sec f16).

--Jens--

Thanks EXA1a, that's a really helpful info.

Do you think it applies to areas with very bright sun. What adjustment would you apply to the rule (if any).

Thanks again

That rule applies to bright sun and average brightness environment (normal landscape). A -1 to -2 correction (1/100 at f22 or 1/200 at f16) is necessary for bright stuff like white sand, snow, water reflections. But it's just a rule of thumb. Your camera ought to be more precise for a certain subject. Test shoot and use the histogram for a precise metering evaluation.

--Jens--

Can't you just check the histogram? Or, you might run the camera by a photo store and ask to see a light meter. Then you could check the exposure meter in your camera against the store's meter by using each of them to meter the same scene. If the setting match, your camera is fine.