If and when should I use * button

Just going through my camera manual to refresh everything.

One thing I haven't really used yet is the * AE Lock button. How often do you use this? And in what circumstances?

Now with my 1dmk2, I am using it all the time (C. Fn 4 - 3), whether in 1 shot or AI servo.

I've used mine in a sunset situation, where I wanted to expose for the sky, but re-compose to include more of the ground in the final shot.

I think it could be used in any situation where you want to expose for a specific part of your picture that might otherwise be incorrectly exposed when the overall composition is framed to your satisfaction in your viewfinder.

Indoors I use it quite a bit. It's a great button. lol

I've just done some googling and think I've got the idea. Use it to lock the exposure on the subject, rather than a general evaluative exposure reading made by the camera.

I can think of a few shots over the years with point and shoot cameras in sunlight where this would have proved useful.

Do you shoot in RAW when using this or are you happy enough to use jpeg?

It's useful for keeping the same exposure while taking a panorama. But why not just shoot manual? Set your desired aperture and shutter speed and leave it alone.

If using Center Weighted, or Partial, or Spot, you can lock the reading on your centered subject, then shift the camera so that compositionally the photo is better (not bulls-eyed on the main subject!), without altering the exposure at all.

Funnily enough I have been using mostly manual. It's just that on a day out manual mode is a bit more time consuming, and there were problems the last time with the light keep changing so s speedier process would've been useful.

I've noticed on flickr quite a lot of people shoot in AV mode. I might use this in future if time or conditions aren't on my side. I do like the consistency of manual mode especially in consistent conditions

Wilt - I'd forgotten about the metering modes, my camera is usually in evaluative.

primalcarl wrote in post #5204583
Just going through my camera manual to refresh everything.

One thing I haven't really used yet is the * AE Lock button. How often do you use this? And in what circumstances?

Always - it's on permanently and won't be changed any time soon.

You just need to press it once right? No need to hold it down...

This might help get the exposure faster: Need an exposure crutch?

Post #6 gives a work around to using your palm.

Glenn NK wrote in post #5205469
Always - it's on permanently and won't be changed any time soon.

I was wondering when someone was going to say. ALaways of course!

Here's an example pic. What could I have done to make this photo expose properly? Also would a lens hood help in any way?

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primalcarl wrote in post #5211925
Here's an example pic. What could I have done to make this photo expose properly? Also would a lens hood help in any way?

Two shots composited via HDR methods, or a split ND filter.

Hood would not help, the dynamic range is simply too wide for the digital sensor to cope with in a single shot.

Wilt wrote in post #5212026
Two shots composited via HDR methods, or a split ND filter.

Hood would not help, the dynamic range is simply too wide for the digital sensor to cope with in a single shot.

Just out of curiosity, which would you choose? HDR or ND?

While HDR may have its place, I would think doing it old-school with the filter, at the time of the shot, is better. Try to get it nailed with the camera.