Center-weighted average metering

I know this has probably been answered before, but I ran a search on the forums and couldn't really find anything.

I shoot with a 400D, and partial and evaluative make full sense to me, I use both a lot (though when I can, I try to borrow someone's Sekonic :lol.

But what about center-weighted average metering? How exactly does it come up with the exposure settings that it does? Basically what I'm asking is what does it do, how does it work, and what kind of situations do/would people use it under?

It always irks me a bit when there is a setting on my camera that I don't fully get or never use.....except that stupid direct print button.

Center-weighted averaging metering meters the entire frame, but gives precident to the center of the frame - that is, the brightness or darkness of the center of the frame carries more weight (or influences exposure to a greater extent) than what is metered around the periphery.

This is similar to how earlier in-camera metering systems worked.

I know that much from reading the manual and online stuff, but I was wondering how exactly this is done by the camera's meter (I like to know how the camera meters for an exposure) and when one would ever use center-weighted metering. What are the benefits/drawbacks? It seems like something one would only use in certain situations.

yeah, whats the better metering mode on xti. mine's always ac enter weighted

Cr4zYH3aD wrote in post #3993382
yeah, whats the better metering mode on xti. mine's always ac enter weighted

Depends on what you are shooting.

I've never heard a definitive answer about how much the center is weighted. I don't trust it because of that, so I stick to spot or partial metering.