Using spot cw or matrix on DSLR's

With the immediate feedback of the LCD I am interested in how many use either spot, cw or matrix for metering. I am tending to leave it on one or the other, evaluate the exposure, histogram and highlights and simply alter the exposure accordingly. With film for wide angles I continue to use spot but the goalposts have now changed with digital. I am interested in your views.

Thanks Martin Edge

Martin, welcome to wetpixel

I use spot metering...I only use the meter to determine blue water backgrounds and spot gives me more control of the metering location...I use manual control and manual strobes for all shots, so the meter isn't really used for anything else....no TTL for DSLR's except S2 :?

Karl

It depends. (my favorite answer)

1) Depends on your camera. On the D100, center weighted really isn't very good. If you know exactly how your camera does center weighted, you can determine how effective it is.

2) Depends on what I'm shooting. I still spot meter contemplative wide angle scenery. I'm basically using my camera as a light meter pointing it all over the place to get an ambient background exposure I like.

3) Fast moving subjects with little or no strobes, I use matrix and fire away. I check the histogram and bump the exposure with compensation as needed.

4) For purely lit by strobe shots (e.g. macro), it doesn't matter. It's set wherever it was the last time I changed it.

Hi Martin,

For wide angle I agree with you that using the histogram post shooting is most effective way to assess exposure.

For general info: I shoot matirx for most wide angle, underexposing its reading by 1/3-1stop, depending on how much silhouetted foreground is in the shot. The only time I have used spot is when I am in a cave or wreck with just a small window to open water and I have wanted balanced light in those conditions.

Alex

This is a pic where I used spot to get the blue as I wanted it.