Does the EXIF indicate the position of the meter in manual?

For a shot taken in manual mode, is there a way to know what the meter reading was when the shot was taken?

I had taken some shots in manual that I know I had to compensate for irregular lighting, but I am not sure how much. Can I tell if I took it the picture 2/3 stops under, or perhaps 1 1/3 under?

For pictures taken in Av, I can figure out -- kind of -- the same thing by looking at the "Exposure Bias Value" that is found in the EXIF of a picture. But I want to know how much I compensated for a shot taken in manual.

Focus point (and the metering zones used when in Evaluative mode) are NOT necessarily on top of the right stuff within the frame...if you center focus and recompose so main subject is off to the side, the focus point shown is still in the center, not on top of the main subject!

It's nice that you're working in manual, but I wonder why knowing that is important to you?
There are two basic methods I use for exposure. One is letting some highlights blow out: Need an exposure crutch?

The other is based on Expose (to the) Right where you bias the important object in the exposure toward the right side of the histogram in RAW, & then adjust back in PP. That might have been used for your moth avatar.

So if you don't want to be bothered with writing it down, the simplest way I know of keeping track would be to take one shot at the "normal" exposure followed by one at the corrected exposure. Then the exif will show you the difference. It's not as if you have to pay for film?

PhotosGuy wrote in post #10255994
It's nice that you're working in manual, but I wonder why knowing that is important to you?

I just got back my 7D from service. The meter was not working properly in bright sunlight. I want to try to recreate the photos where I first noticed the problem. I don't recall exactly how much compensation I used when manually metering. But it seems like in general, it would be a good thing to know.

I do know that, just like storing the AF point(s) that were used for a shot in the EXIF, the information would not always be meaningful. for example anytime you focus (or meter) then recompose and shoot.

Knowing how much deviation from 'standard exposure' is used in practicing ETTR is important, when one uses post processing to reduce the overall brightness back to the proper level for the amount of light striking the scene. For example, if an Zone V tonality (18% gray) is brought up by +1.5EV along with the rest of the scene -- because there are many shadow details and few highlight details (a low key scene) so there are no important highlights to blow out -- then post processing of -1.5EV will restore the 18% gray target to Zone V and its inherent tonality.

hairy_moth wrote in post #10256199
I just got back my 7D from service. The meter was not working properly in bright sunlight. I want to try to recreate the photos where I first noticed the problem. I don't recall exactly how much compensation I used when manually metering. But it seems like in general, it would be a good thing to know.

I do know that, just like storing the AF point(s) that were used for a shot in the EXIF, the information would not always be meaningful. for example anytime you focus (or meter) then recompose and shoot.

To answer your question, you can download ExifTool and check the Measured EV value. I don't know if it is based off a standard of ISO 100 or if it is for the ISO you used for the shot. A quick test should tell you which (i.e. in constant light vary the ISO and see if this impacts the measured EV).

e-k