novice question?

On my 30D, Canon offer me:

Evaluative Metering: An overall, lets measure the whole frame mode.

Partial Metering: A 9% area in the middle of the frame is measured, but nothing else.

Centre Weighted: a mix of the above, with the centre being given a higher priority

Spot Metering: A 3.5% area in the middle of the frame.

On the 30D I am not aware of any way I can shift this spot metering around between AF points, although it sounds like a good idea. I'm also not sure whether any of the XXXD series offer Spot metering? Anyone able to advise?

Richard

LBaldwin probably owns one of 1D series cameras where Spot metering can be linked to the active focusing point.
In lesser models that feature is not available in any metering mode other than Evaluative.
Although Evaluative measures the whole frame, it gives significant weight to the active focusing point.

This is XT/350D..

I think if you learn to shoot in manual mode, you'll get to where you'll love it. I shoot in M pretty much 75% of the time. It came from shooting film, and I love it. You do have to check your metering in the view finder, but this way, you can do some bracketing and go a few stops up or down and see what works best. Once you find exactly what you want for that shot, use AE.

bluefox9er wrote in post #5624258
what does this mean and how do you do that?

With the 40D it looks like the Spot meter is 3.8% and linked to the center AF sensor only. So instead of linking the meter to the sensor it looks like you need to make sure if you used the spot meter and another AF sensor to focus that you lock the exposure and recompose the shot.

My buddy has the 40D and we have sent Canon an email but have yet to hear anything.

So procedure would be spot meter with the Center AF sensor - read the exposure and either remember it or lock it down, recompose if need be and refocus, adjust the exposure if needed and shoot. May I suggest either safety shift or bracketing the exposure as well.

Read this: How the subject affects the exposure & why manual keeps me worry free: Post #47

First set the f-stop & shutter speed you need. Then adjust the ISO. Need an exposure crutch?