Amazing to me....(spot metering on selected AF point)

thw wrote in post #4028360
Many of you don't appear to be aware that Nikon has spot metering on all the AF points on the D200 etc. So, yes, it can be done even on a DSLR.

Technologically, Canon is simply lagging behind Nikon now, especially after the advent of the D3/D300.

the canon 1D already has that. that is not the point of the thread, he is asking why it isn't available on the 400D/40D/5D cameras.

Canon just won't give us the "whole package or anything with nearly the whole package" in one camera. Canon is the leader in digital camera sales. Nikon is trailing behind by a far distance in terms of market share. Therefore, Nikon gives consumer a boost in features and functionalities in its cameras to attract sales. I don't like what Canon is doing but I'll live with it for now.

OP - BTW, how do you like the overall response and image quality with the G9?

Redbird_xo wrote in post #4028696
Canon just won't give us the "whole package or anything with nearly the whole package" in one camera.

Nothing new about that. The original Digital Rebel (300D) used the processor of the 10D but the firmware was crippled to protect the 10D's market position.

Thanks to a couple of Russian hackers, the nut was cracked and we 300D owners were the beneficiaries.

The point wasn't ignored by Canon: haven't seen any hacks on firmware since the 300D.

-js

SRPhotographic wrote in post #4027799
I noticed something too. On the RebelXT, the 5D, the 40D, and the 1DMkIII you can change lenses. There's a whole line of lenses you can use. The G9 doesn't have that apparently. So if you want to change lenses you have to use an SLR. Interesting.

BUT, they still all have LCD screens. Canon must be up to something.

My point being: don't compare apples to oranges.

Well, in all actuality, I'm comparing the XTi, 40D and 5D SLRs to the 1D series SLRs. So I don't think that's really apples to oranges. That's SLRs to SLRs. And I didn't even begin to talk about the availability of this feature in the competition's SLRs.

But for $500 I can get spot metering on the selected AF point with the G9. For $1,300 I cannot get it with the 40D. For $2,500 I cannot get it with the 5D. Finally, for $4,500 I CAN get it with the 1DIII. Yes, it's obvious that the G9 will always be lacking in a miriad of ways when compared to the SLRs. But here's a feature it has that we don't get until we shell out $4,500 for an SLR. You know Canon could give it to us, metering and AF seperate from the sensor or not.

Again, this is a feature I like a lot. I loved it on my 1DIIn and my 1DsII. I love it on my 1DIII. I really wish my 40D had it. Maybe we'll get lucky and the 5D Mark II will have this very useful feature. It seems I'm not alone in desiring it.

PacAce wrote in post #4027461
Did you also notice that the G9 has a heck of a lot more AF points, too?

As TimmyEatChips pointed out, implementing lots of AF points and AF point spot metering on the G9 is a lot easier than with the EOS bodies because everything needed for focusing and spot metering on the G9 is coming off the sensor that also displays the image on the LCD and takes the actual picture. On the EOS bodies, the image sensor only takes pictures, a different set of sensors is used for metering and yet another set of sensors are used for AF.

That actually hadn't occured to me. But if the AF points are there.......is it that much more difficult to meter them?

Redbird_xo wrote in post #4028696
...Canon is the leader in digital camera sales. Nikon is trailing behind by a far distance in terms of market share...

nikon is doing quite well these past few quarters.

scokar wrote in post #4031955
nikon is doing quite well these past few quarters.

Indeed, they've just become the dSLR market share leader:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=384359

scokar wrote in post #4031955
nikon is doing quite well these past few quarters.

Sure, 8.1 million digital cameras shipped was great. But in terms of market share of digital cameras, Nikon is still far behind by the numbers.

For more information, please read this.

Redbird_xo wrote in post #4034327
Sure, 8.1 million digital cameras shipped was great. But in terms of market share of digital cameras, Nikon is still far behind by the numbers.

For more information, please read this.

It's in DSLRs that Nikon now leads in market share. Not total digital cameras.

Now Canon has to their homework to play catch up. I wish the 5D replacement next year will have in-body IS, pro AF, 16MP FF, live view and a $2500 price tag. Competition is good for all of us!

AF point linked spot metering as a 50D wishlist item... check!

Or better yet, wishing that Canon would put out a direct competitor to the crop-sensor pro-spec Nikon D300 and leave the xxD line where it is price and feature-wise... check!

I don't know about the Mark III 1-series, but on the Mark II although they had AF point linked spot metering, it wasn't a 1-to-1 relationship between AF points and metering zones. There are 45 AF points and only 21 metering zones.

http://www.dpreview.co​m …CanonEOS1DsMkII​/page4.asp
(scroll down to the "Metering system/zones" section)

I went into the local BMW dealer the other day and asked why they dont put the M5's V10 in the 130. They looked at me funny

AeroSmith wrote in post #4026988
It's amazing to me that the PowerShot G9 (I just picked one up....neat camera) has spot metering on the selected AF point as an available feature while the Rebel, the 40D and 5D do not.

So, please correct me if I'm wrong here, one either needs a 1D body or a G9 for spot metering on the selected AF point. Go figure. If we can get this feature on a G9 why can't we get it on the lower end dSLRs?

Spot metering on the selected AF point is one of my favorite metering modes in Av, especially for portraits.

Well it does to a degree on my old 350D and 40D. If you are using evaluative metering, the the focus point you use ( select manually or the camera selects ) is used for AE lock. Thats where it meters. Give it a try, it works for me, also read the bottom of page 95 in the 40D manual. How big the area it meters is not known to me but it works well.

I don't claim to be an expert or a pro but the experts and pros that I have spoken too and / or read books by all say to pick one type of metering (for most cameras evaluative metering) and stick to it. Learn how to compensate for the cameras meter in all types of situations. Learn how to read the scene then adjust your exposure from what the camera's meter recomends. If you switch metering modes your compensation rules wont apply.

Of course this has nothing to do with the 40d not comming with spot metering on single AF points but even it it did I would not use it.

forno wrote in post #4038785
I went into the local BMW dealer the other day and asked why they dont put the M5's V10 in the 130. They looked at me funny

Well, the $40,000 Audi allraod has Xenon headlights. So does the $113,000 V-10 powered S8. They both have power steering too.

selorme wrote in post #4038812
Well it does to a degree on my old 350D and 40D. If you are using evaluative metering, the the focus point you use ( select manually or the camera selects ) is used for AE lock. Thats where it meters. Give it a try, it works for me, also read the bottom of page 95 in the 40D manual. How big the area it meters is not known to me but it works well.

Now that is a very interesting insight into evaluative metering. Many thanks!

KarlMarsh wrote in post #4038874
I don't claim to be an expert or a pro but the experts and pros that I have spoken too and / or read books by all say to pick one type of metering (for most cameras evaluative metering) and stick to it. Learn how to compensate for the cameras meter in all types of situations. Learn how to read the scene then adjust your exposure from what the camera's meter recomends. If you switch metering modes your compensation rules wont apply.

Of course this has nothing to do with the 40d not comming with spot metering on single AF points but even it it did I would not use it.

Frankly, I use M as much as possible. But there are times, often for portraits and candids, where metering linked to the selected AF point is very useful.