5D Mk II Metering Mode

Just recently upgraded from a 50D to the 5D Mk II, and whilst I'm still getting a feel for the Mk II, I get the impression that it tend to underexpose by around -2/3EV ?

Admittedly, I had become very comfortable with Evaluative Metering on the 50D and found it generally predictable (my other preferred mode is Partial), I'm finding it less so on the 5D Mk II, and get the feeling from various threads here that CWA Metering may the better way to go rather than Evaluative for 'evenly' lit situations (I still tend to use Partial for just about everything else) ?

Any thoughts or advice would be most welcome

Spot meter off the same object and compare the exposures.

Center-weighted is regarded as "better" simply because it's more consistent than evaluative. I spot meter off known values or use the zone system (which also requires spot metering).

I'm finding with my 5D2 that I usually want +2/3 EC as well.

At first I was also compensating +2/3, but now it's metering perfectly. Seems strange that it would change over time and I have not changed my shooting method.

justaf IREMAN wrote in post #8254828
At first I was also compensating +2/3, but now it's metering perfectly. Seems strange that it would change over time and I have not changed my shooting method.

Maybe like a good wine ... it matures with age

Question; does having a full frame (with more light entering it) vs Crop frame (less light entering it) may be the reason why the 5Dmii maybe underexposing it a little? It seems to me that if all things were equal, meaning that lets suppose the 50D and 5dmii uses the same metering technology, the full frame sensor may be just more sensitive to light and underexpose just a little. Just a thought. And if that was the case, I dont think it would be a bad thing. Just means you might have to keep that in mind. A great example I have for you is desert shooting. I have a 40D (crop sensor) and when shooting photos in the bright desert day, my photos seem to be exposed correctly most of the time. However on the 5dmii, there is so much light, the camera is trying to underexpose a bit because the sensor is so big. Any others?

stevenlhopkins wrote in post #8255551
Question; does having a full frame (with more light entering it) vs Crop frame (less light entering it) may be the reason why the 5Dmii maybe underexposing it a little? It seems to me that if all things were equal, meaning that lets suppose the 50D and 5dmii uses the same metering technology, the full frame sensor may be just more sensitive to light and underexpose just a little. Just a thought. And if that was the case, I dont think it would be a bad thing. Just means you might have to keep that in mind. A great example I have for you is desert shooting. I have a 40D (crop sensor) and when shooting photos in the bright desert day, my photos seem to be exposed correctly most of the time. However on the 5dmii, there is so much light, the camera is trying to underexpose a bit because the sensor is so big. Any others?

Y'know ... that does actually make sense to me

Regardless, its a fantastic camera

Actually the light per sensor area would be the same.

Makes absolutely no sense to me. The amount of light reaching the sensor is determined by two things alone - the aperture and the shutter speed. The size of the sensor has nothing to do with it.

You are actually wrong.
But the camera's metering system is of course supposed to compensate for this.
You can easily convince yourself if you use two cameras, say a 50D and a 5D Mark II, set both to ISO 100, Av mode and select f/5.6, use an EF 24-105 mm f/4L IS USM lens, set the zoom so that you get the same image in view with both cameras (i.e. focal length used on the 5D Mark II should be the one used on the 50D times 1.6) and take one picture with each.
You'll find that the shutter speed used by the 5D Mark II is shorter than the 50D needs for a correct exposure.

I thought the same to begin with, but some good arguments and some practical testing convinced me that I was wrong, too.

How much difference will there be ?

Actually I don't believe it unless the ISO is not the real ISO. Canon has been known for that in the past.

It's interesting to read about the 5D MkII underexposing by 2/3 of a stop. My 20D used to do it and my 30D does it too, by the same amount.

I haven't used my new 5D yet, but it will be interesting to see if it does the same.

Mike

bohdank wrote in post #8259786
How much difference will there be ?

Actually I don't believe it unless the ISO is not the real ISO. Canon has been known for that in the past.

If you believe dxomark, that's true -- but they also measure the D700 as being measurably off too.

The 2/3 stop on my 5DII is fairly consistent. Sometimes I need to add a bit more exposure yet in PP

Further to my last post I can now confirm that my 5D MkII underexposes by 2/3 of a stop as well, so that's all of my cameras so far!

Mike

Mike-DT6 wrote in post #8614222
Further to my last post I can now confirm that my 5D MkII underexposes by 2/3 of a stop as well, so that's all of my cameras so far!

Mike

Just how, actually, are all of you determining what the actual exposure should be and that your camera meters are "off?" What standard metering device or measurement are you comparing them to? How are you making your measurements in your controlled tests?