Believe
it or not, exposure skills
DO NOT COME with it!
When you buy an expensive GUITAR, you KNOW
that playing skills DO NOT COME
with it!
When you buy an expensive CAR, you KNOW
that driving skills DO NOT COME with it!
When you buy an expensive CAMERA, why, then,
do you NOT
KNOW that exposure skills
DO NOT COME with it?
More MegaPixels give you a bigger
picture!
More Exposure Skills give you a better
picture!
Light:
You
can see it,
you can feel it,
now you can
learn to capture its soul!
Image of Calla Lily
and the leaf in the late afternoon (weak) sunlight
What is a Spot Meter?
In simple terms, a spot meter (spotmeter) is a narrow angled meter (the
narrower, the better) with the help of which a
skilled photographer can determine the normal exposure of a simple (one toned) subject.
The Pentax off-camera spot meter was introduced into the market in 1961. On-camera spot meters started appearing in 35mm cameras
in the 1980s.
To use a spot meter, the skilled photographer picks out an IMPORTANT
single-toned surface (like a forehead in portrait photography) and determines its NORMAL exposure (what the camera
thinks that it is the correct exposure for that surface but actually
creating an 18% Gray image tone from that surface). This exposure then
is interpreted by the skilled photographer
and is often overridden to determine the correct exposure for that surface.
Once this is done, then
he or she can use that exposure to correctly expose the entire subject.
The idea behind this method is that "once an important tone of a
subject is correctly exposed, the rest of the tones that matter will follow
and be correctly exposed".
In other words, as what is called "Matrix Metering" is a
cookie-cutter approach to exposure (does not necessarily captures what your
eye sees and wants to capture), Spot Metering is a "Tailored" or
"Custom" approach that captures what the skilled photographer sees
and wants to capture.
Diagram illustrating a
Pentax 1° Digital
spot meter as well as its viewfinder. Please note a distinct spot
frame which is essential for accurate spot metering of small areas.
To learn how to operate this spot meter please click on the image.
Diagram showing the angle of
sensitivity / measure / acceptance for a 1°
( degree) off-camera / External Digital Pentax spot meter.
The narrowness
of the angle on a Pentax Digital Spotmeter as can be seen from the diagram
is fixed. Unfortunately narrowness of this angle in cameras having this
feature depends on the telephoto power of the lens. The higher the mm the
narrower the angle. Traditionally there have been two methods to
compare the Spot Metering powers of different cameras:
1) Originally, the spot metering angle for 35mm cameras, was based on the
50mm lens that is often referred to as the "normal" lens. For
example, the spot metering angle for a Nikon N90 (35mm) with a normal lens
is 3.44° (degrees) where it would be 5.90°
for Canon EOS 3 and 6.30° for Minolta Maxxum 7.
As can be observed, this kind of comparison mainly depended on the power of
a 50mm lens.
After a few years, this type of comparison became less popular and was
replaced by the a different (lens independent) method of calculating the
spot metering area as a percentage of the viewfinder area as is explained
below.
2) Another method of measuring the accuracy of the on-camera spot meter for
the 35mm cameras is to
measure the area of the viewfinder that the spot-circle (or the spot frame)
occupies. It usually consists of a circle 3mm to 6mm (approx) in diameter for many of
35mm cameras. For example the area occupied by the spot circle for a Nikon
N90 was .82% (3mm Dia.) of the viewfinder area, Canon EOS 3 was 2.4% (5.1mm
Dia.), Olympus OM4
was 2% (4.7mm Dia.), and Canon 5D (A full frame D-Slr) is 3.5% (6mm Dia.). This was all fine until the
Partial-Frame/Half-Frame (compared to 35mm frame) D-Slrs hit the market. As you may know,
the film/sensor size in most of the D-Slrs are about 16mmX24mm (approx).
They are no longer full frame (24mmX36mm) and things fell apart
again.
3) To make the
comparison easy and between say 35mm, D-Slrs and medium format, I suggested
a telephoto mm power that enables the camera to see a 1° angle
very much the Pentax Digital Spot Meter to my students. A partial
table is provided later on under the heading of "How can
Partial metering cameras become as accurate as Spot Metering Cameras?"
or click here. For the lack of any other terms, I called it
Farzad's Universal 1° Spot
Metering comparison test. This combines # 1 and #2 and is independent of the
film/sensor size (depends on the diameter of the spot frame) and gives us a base that we can compare apples and apples rather than
apples and oranges. Cameras with a distinct spot frame
that top the
spotmetering list are Nikon D70, Olympus E-1, Pentax *ist-D, Nikon N90/N70,
Minolta 7D, and Sony Alpha 100. As can be seen, this method
favors the smallest spot frame in mm. If you do not care for this, please
ignore it. You can use other methods that you are more comfortable with.
Accuracy
rating for non-auto
(manual)
spot
metering
Max 10 stars
Camera's
make and model
The
mm of the lens that would reduce the spot metering angle of the
camera to 1° degree
(Sorted low-to-high)
S
P
O
T
F
R
A
M
E
Film
/ Sensor size
in
mm
Radius (mm)/
Normal lens power (mm)
Spot
Diameter in mm
Spot
frame as a % of the VF area
Spot
Angle with a normal lens: 30mm- HF 50mm- FF 80mm- MF
(Approx.)
**********
Nikon
N90/s
1°
With 172mm Lens
S
Y
24.0X36.0
1.50/43.25
03.00mm
0.82%
03.97°FF
**********
Nikon
N70*
1°
With 172mm Lens
S
Y
24.0X36.0
1.50/43.25
03.00mm
0.82%
03.97°FF
**********
Pentax
645N
1°
With 344mm Lens
S
Y
45.0X60.0
3.00/75.00
06.00mm
1.00%
04.58°MF
**********
Nikon
N6006
1°
With 200mm Lens
S
Y
24.0X36.0
1.75/43.25
03.50mm
1.11%
04.63°FF
**********
Nikon
8008s
1°
With 200mm Lens
S
Y
24.0X36.0
1.75/43.25
03.50mm
1.11%
04.63°FF
**********
Nikon
D70
1°
With 132mm Lens
S
Y
23.7x15.5
1.15/28.30
02.30mm
1.06%
04.65°HF
*********
Pentax
*ist-D
1°
With 148mm Lens
S
Y
23.7x15.5
1.30/28.30
02.60mm
1.50%
05.26°HF
Note:
Some manufacturers like Canon only
offer spot metering with their high-end and more expensive models. Please
also note that different manufacturers can deviate from the classic
definition of spot metering and define their own. For example on Nikon D200,
the spot metering areas are simply hidden and one can never be sure of the
exact boundaries of the spot frame (s). Please see the Partial/Spot
Metering Comparison further down on this page.
Spot
Metering example / 35mm
(24mmX36mm frame)
Aspect Ratio: 24/36 = 2/3
The accuracy of the spotmeter has traditionally been determined by the
size of the angle that measures the exposure of a one-toned surface (the smaller
the more accurate). It is usually about 3.5° to 6°
with a 50mm lens in 35mm cameras.
Diagram illustrating the spot frame for
Nikon N90 / Nikon N70 (35mm) viewfinders. The angle of sensitivity (acceptance) for this camera with a 50mm (approx) normal lens is about 3.44°
(degrees). The
percentage occupied by this spot frame with a diameter of 3 mm is
about 0.8%.
Diagram illustrating the spot
frame for Pentax *ist-D (Digital Slr) viewfinder. The angle of
sensitivity (acceptance) for this camera with a 31mm (approx) normal lens is about 5°
(degrees). The percentage area occupied
by this spot frame with a diameter of 3mm is about 1.5%.
Actual Dimensions: 15.7 x 23.5
NIKON:
The best and most accurate spot metering cameras with a distinct frame
were produced by Nikon during the mid 80s to the late 90s. These include
Nikon N6006, N8008s, F-4, N70, and N90(s). The same spot metering philosophy
was also
followed with their CoolPix series. All CoolPix cameras had spot
metering with a distinct spot frame. The only new Nikon D-Slr that comes to
mind and has a distinct frame (it is actually the center
focusing frame that almost coincides with the spot frame) is the D70.
Since most of the new Nikons lack a visible spot circle (spot frame),
it is fair to categorize the design as a Partial Matrix Meter rather
than a Spot Meter. Unlike the older models that had one spot meter,
new Nikons have multiple spot meters that are built around the
focusing frames of the viewfinder. With this design more emphasis seem
to be placed on focusing and automation rather than manual spot
metering.
Nikon (very much like Canon) has traditionally provided the user with
the diameter of their spot frames in mm. Some manufacturers simply
refuse to provide the information to the user!
On my
dream list! As a Nikon user for most of my life (I shot mostly
Nikon and Pentax), I wished they add at
least one distinct center spot frame to the center of the viewfinder
(very much like the Canon 30D) in their future models
for people like me! Or at least provide the option of an interchangeable focusing screen with
one distinct/outlined spot frame in the middle of the
viewfinder.
CANON:
Canon has a mixed history of introducing the spot metering / Partial
metering feature in their low-to-medium priced cameras. Some of their
film cameras such as T90, EOS 650, and A2/A2e have Partial Metering with
a distinct Spot/Partial frame. Many of the Rebel and Elan models
lacked a distinct Partial frame (I get many e-mails from the users of
such cameras complaining and looking for the frame!). Traditionally,
Canon's high-end cameras come with a spot meter with a center spot
frame. These include EOS 1n, EOS 3, 5D as well as their new 30D (one
of their best Spot Metering cameras). With the
exception of Digital Rebels that like most of the film Rebels lack a
distinct Partial frame, the 10D and 20D have a centered Partial frame
that can be easily converted to an accurate spot frame using a
telephoto lens. For example a 115mm lens can reduce the Spot/Partial
metering angle for these two cameras to about 6 degrees and with a 334mm lens it can
narrow it down to about 1 degree! Like Nikon, the size and the
approximate area of the spot/partial metering frame is readily available as a percentage of the
viewfinder area in the user manual for many of the Canon models.
PENTAX:
To the best of my knowledge, Pentax Corporation was the first
to introduce a popular off-camera spot meter to the world of
photography (1961). Many of their cameras started incorporating this
feature in their mid-to-high-priced film and digital camera models in
the late 80s.
Pentax cameras with a distinct spot frame include ZX-5N, Pz1P, *ist,
and *ist-D models. The Pentax Medium Format 645N with a 1% spot frame,
has the best spot metering features on any medium format camera
that I have seen.
MINOLTA
(Konica, Sony):
Much like Pentax, Minolta incorporated spot metering with a distinct
spot frame in many of their newer medium-to-high priced film and
Digital cameras. These include 500si, 700si, Maxxum 5, Maxxum 7, Maxxum
9, and Sony Alpha 100, and many others.
Traditionally Minolta 35mm cameras have a distinct spot circle of
5.50mm in diameter occupying 2.8% of the viewfinder with a spot angle (acceptance) of about 6.3° (Degrees).
Lately, Konica Minolta and Sony made an announcement that they were to
jointly develop Digital SLR cameras. I am assuming that the Minolta's
tradition of incorporating accurate spot meters with a distinct spot
frame will go on.
OTHER SPOTMETERING CAMERAS:
Please note that there are many other camera manufacturers that
produce cameras with spotmetering features. These include Olympus, Sony, Fuji, and many
more. The ones mentioned before are those that are more popular and
most in use and that I could get my hands on in order to evaluate them.
There are many great cameras out there on the market that I have not
seen or have been able to evaluate. If you own one of these, I
apologize.
When choosing a camera for its
Spot Metering feature,
please take these factors into consideration:
1) A low percentage of the spot frame that occupies the film/CCD frame.
This should be about 1% to 3.5% for 35mm cameras (about 0.7% to
2.3% for
D-Slrs).
Another method is to look
for the sensitivity
angle (acceptance) of 1° to
6° (approx) for a normal lens. The normal lens for a 35mm camera is about 50mm and
for a D-Slr is about 30-31mm. Of course this angle very much depends on the telephoto power of the lens (usually zoom) used on the camera.
The higher the mm of the zoom lens the narrower/smaller (the better) is the
sensitivity angle (acceptance).
2) A distinct / outlined spot frame (spot circle) which is a must for accurate
manual spot metering used by the skilled photographer. Cameras that have this feature (as far as the angle of acceptance goes) but lack a distinct
spot frame in the viewfinder can be said to have Partial or Selective Matrix
Metering feature.
Best Digital Spot Metering cameras at this writing include Pentax *ist-D,
Nikon D70, Canon 30D, and Olympus E-1.
3) 100% of the light that passes through the spot frame (spot circle) must determine the normal
exposure. Some manufacturers are hesitant to disclose this
information. Please refer to your camera's manual. If you can not find
it in your manual, e-mail the manufacturer for this information.
What is a Partial Meter?
As we discussed, an on-camera spot meter by definition and tradition, has a
sensitivity angle (acceptance) of 1° to 6.9° (degrees) with a normal lens. By the same tradition, a Partial Meter has
a larger sensitivity/Partial angle that is in the order of about 7° to 13°
(had to draw the line somewhere!) with a normal lens. It picks up the angle where the spot meter left
off.
The angle of some cameras with a partial metering feature (like Canon A2/E, Digital 10D, and 20D that 100% of the light
that is measured passes through the
partial circle), with a use of a telephoto/zoom lens can be reduced to fall within the spot metering angles
of 1° to 6.9°. In this case
a partial meter that measures 100% of the light going through the partial
circle/frame) can function as accurate and powerful as a camera with an
accurate built-in spot meter with a distinct spot frame.
Partial
Metering Example for
Canon 20D
D-SLR
(Digital SLR) Aspect
Ratio: 15/22.5 = 2/3
Diagram illustrating the spot
frame for Canon EOS 20D (Digital SLR) viewfinder. The spot angle (acceptance) for this camera with a
27mm (approx) normal lens is about 12.66°
(degrees). The percentage area occupied
by this 30 sq. mm Partial Metering frame is about 9%.
Some other Partial Meters (like low-to-medium-end Canon SLRs/D-SLRs such
as Rebels, and Elan models) lack a distinct frame and are difficult to use their
Partial Metering function easily and accurately. Others with a frame (like low-end Nikons such as N50, N55, N60, and N65)
that do not measure 100% of the light going through them (it is close to 75-80%) cannot act as an accurate spot meters even with a long telephoto
lens.
When does a
Partial Meter
becomes a
Spot Meter?
As was
mentioned, when a Partial Meter (such as
Canon 20D's) used with a telephoto lens, can become as accurate
(and as powerful) as a narrow-angled Spot Meter.
For example, when a Canon 10D or 20D camera is used with an 86mm lens, then, the
spot angle (acceptance) is decreased from 11° (degrees) with a 31mm
lens to about 4°
(degrees) matching Nikon D70's spot angle with the same lens.
Please note that only 100% partial meters with a distinct spot frame where 100% of the light passing
through the partial/spot circle is measured can become a true and accurate spot meters
when used with a longer than normal (telephoto) lens.
How can
Partial metering cameras become as
accurate as Spot Metering Cameras?
A Comparison table for old and
new Spot Metering / Partial Metering cameras
based on 1° (degree) angle of sensitivity / measure / acceptance to match
the spot metering power of Pentax Digital / Analog (Standard) Spot meter as our base.
(Approximate) Please click here for a comprehensive
list for most cameras
Farzad's Universal 1°
(degree) Spot Meter comparison test
Camera
Model
Distinct
Spot / Partial Frame*
Telephoto
Lens to make a 1° Spot
Nikon
D70
YES**
(center Focus Frame)
1° (degree) with a 132mm lens
Olympus
E-1 (3/4)
YES
1° (degree) with a 141mm lens
Pentax
*ist-D
YES
1° (degree) with a
148mm lens
Nikon
D200
NO-Partial/Selective
Matrix
1° (degree) with a 172mm lens
Nikon
N90/N90s/N70
YES
1° (degree) with a 172mm lens
Nikon
D80
NO-Partial/Selective
Matrix
1° (degree) with a
172mm lens
Sony
Alpha 100
YES
1° (degree) with a
183mm lens
Nikon
8008s
YES
1° (degree) with a 200mm lens
Canon
EOS 30D
YES
1°
(degree) with a 222mm lens
Olympus
OM4, OM3
YES
1°
(degree) with a 269mm lens
Nikon
F4
YES
1° (degree) with a 286mm lens
Pentax
ZX-5N
YES
1° (degree) with a 286mm lens
Canon
EOS 1n
YES
1° (degree) with a 286mm lens
Nikon
F4
YES
1° (degree) with a 286mm lens
Canon
T90
YES
1° (degree) with a 312mm lens
Minolta
Max5, Max7, Max9
YES
1° (degree) with a 315mm lens
Minolta
Stsi, 700si, 800si
YES
1° (degree) with a 315mm lens
Pentax
PZ-1P
YES
1° (degree) with a 317mm lens
Pentax
645n (Spot)
YES
1° (degree) with a 336mm lens
Canon
EOS 5D (Spot)
YES
1°
(degree) with a 344mm lens
Canon
EOS 10D (Partial)
YES
1°
(degree) with a 344mm lens
Canon
EOS 20D (Partial)
YES
1°
(degree) with a 344mm lens
Canon
EOS A2/E
YES
1° (degree) with a 355mm lens
Canon
EOS 650
YES
1° (degree) with a 487mm lens
*While
measuring small areas, cameras with a distinct spot frame, will produce
more accurate readings
**Nikon D70 is the only new Nikon that the focusing frame closely
follows the spot frame.
Please bring any errors on this site or this table to my attention. I
will be thankful.
What isSpot Metering in Photography/Correct Exposure Determination?
When to use Spot Metering? When to use a Spot Meter?
Spot metering is the skilled photographer's method of determining the distant subject's correct exposure (or the desired exposure).
Other subjects that lend themselves to spot metering are subjects with a
Long Tonal Range (Subject Brightness Range (SBR) of say 7 or 8 stops: please
see example below) or when a photographer is not under the same light as the
subject (inside shooting out).
In cases like these, the photographer chooses a simple tone
(preferably an important or the most important tone) from a complex subject, determines its normal exposure, then she or he interprets the reading and if necessary modifies the aperture opening / shutter speed readings in order to obtain the correct exposure for the entire subject.
Please note that the "normal exposure" (what the camera thinks is the
correct exposure) and the "correct exposure" (what the skilled photographer decides to use) usually differ and
in many instances they not the same. Spot
metering is the most powerful exposure technique available to today's photographer and is the ONLY metering system that can allow the
skilled photographer to previsualize the tone as well as the detail in the final image before taking the picture.
In other words: spot metering puts the skilled photographer in total control of the final image.
If anyone tells you otherwise, be polite, look them in the eye, give them a nice smile,
nod your head,
and simply change the conversation topic!
Spot
Metering Examples?:
To see spot metering examples or when to use spot metering, please click
this
link "Why Spotmetering"
What kind of situation does not
lend itself to Spot Metering?
Due to its nature, spot metering is
slow and in situations where one does not have the time to think, when one's
life is in danger, or when the image content is more important than of the
image quality (war photography), other metering modes that lend
themselves to point-and-shoot must to be utilized.
The other types of subjects that lend themselves to say
matrix/point-and-shoot metering, are those with a short tonal range that overall
do not look too bright or too dark.
There are also times that one does not want to think because the subject is
not worth the effort (a snapshot). In cases like these set your metering to
matrix, take a chance, and enjoy what the camera can offer you!
As the
First World War was
thought to be the war to end all wars, the matrix metering was thought to be the ultimate
exposure system.
Well, not according to the images below. The left image was taken using an expensive
digital camera with a 256-element Matrix Metering on program mode (Automatic
Exposure). The same camera's spot meter in Manual exposure mode was used by a
skilled photographer to capture the image on the right. With the exception of
reducing their image size to fit this illustration, both of these images are
exactly as they were produced by the camera (no
photo-editing or manipulation).
Meter Over Mind Scenario
Mind Over Meter Scenario
A PRODUCT OF
POINT-AND-SHOOT
(skillless/effortless) PHOTOGRAPHY MATRIX + Point-and-shoot
Matrix metering is in total control and
the Correct Exposure (?) decision is
left entirely to the camera's meter that cannot
differentiate between exposing a white surface
and a black surface (true!)
---Matrix + Point-and-Shoot---
A PRODUCT OF
SPOT-COMPENSATE- AND-SHOOT
(skilled) PHOTOGRAPHY SPOT + SKILL
Spotmeter provides the needed information
to the photographer so that she or he can make the "Correct Exposure"
or the
"desired exposure" decision.
---Spot + Skill---
If you do not expect
yourself to correctly expose your images, then do not throw money at your camera and
expect the meter to be able to see what you see and to capture what you want it to
capture. Correctly exposing an image is an art and
needs one's exposure
skills and does not need one's money!
The normal exposure for the image on the right was determined by the on-camera
spot meter (narrow-angled metering) from the whitest part of the petal then interpreted by a skilled photographer before it
was shot. This means the "normal exposure" indicated by the spot meter was
increased by two stops to obtain the "correct exposure." The opening of
the aperture by two stops is to brighten the 18% gray image tone created by
the camera's meter (gray scale density of 128 on your digital image) by two stops in order to
create a 72% white image tone (gray scale density of 228 on your digital
image) for the petal. With this simplified single-tone
metering technique, once the most important tone of a subject is correctly exposed, the
rest of the tones in the subject will follow and will be correctly exposed.
The unskilled
photographer always expects a miracle!
The skilled one doesn't!
Thanks Canada!
For making the Spotmetering book to
outsell 820 other books and become the
#1 best-selling
Photographic Reference book
on amazon.ca
on October 9, 2002
Did you ever wonder why many photographers spend hundreds and sometimes
thousands of dollars on their camera equipment, but refuse
to spend a few dollars and a few hours of their time to
learn the application of its most powerful exposure feature effectively?
Correctly exposing an image is a skill that
canNOT be purchased
with any camera at any price!
"Using simplified text, drawings,
and examples, Farzad makes this difficult subject [Exposure] comprehensible. His
charts of lens aperture, shutter speeds and film speeds are some of the best that have
been published."
Nature Photographer
Magazine
"Farzad offers
simple solutions to the sometimes complicated light metering issues of the modern
equipment."
Outdoor Photographer Magazine
"Farzad's wealth of creative
analogies should certainly alleviate the confusion all beginning photographers have in
understanding (and remembering) how to expose their subjects correctly"
Elinor Stecker-Orel -
Popular photography book review
The
Spot Metering book at a glance
Camera basics, exposure basics, on-camera spotmeter,
simple and complex subjects, equivalent exposures, normal exposure, correct exposure,
desired exposure, and so on. The spot metering book is 100% self-contained. Assumes the
photographer knows nothing about a camera operated in the Manual exposure mode and has no
exposure skills.
Exposure without a meter. How to expose images that do
not lend themselves to metering (tracing stars, moonlit landscapes, lightning at night,
fireworks, etc.). This also includes Sunny-16, Hazy-11, cloudy-8, and overcast-5.6. These
techniques become useful when your meter stops functioning or you want to have an idea
what your interpreted exposure should be or when you are trying to calibrate your
camera's meter using an 18% Gray Card.
Easy-to-follow camera cheat Sheets for many electronic
cameras with spotmetering feature including: Canon
EOS 10D Digital SLR, Canon EOS 20D Digital SLR, Canon EOS 3, Canon EOS
A2/A2E, Canon EOS Elan 2E, Canon EOS Elan 7E, Canon EOS Rebel 2000,
Canon EOS Rebel Ti/300V, Canon PowerShot G3 Digital, Canon PowerShot
G5 Digital, Minolta Maxxum 5, Minolta Maxxum 7, Minolta Maxxum 9,
Minolta Maxxum StSi, Nikon CoolPix 990 Digital, Nikon CoolPix 995
Digital, Nikon CoolPix 4500 Digital, Nikon CoolPix 5700 Digital, Nikon
Coolpix 5000 Digital, Nikon Coolpix 8700 Digital, Nikon D70 Digital SLR, Nikon F4, Nikon F5, Nikon F100, Nikon N50, Nikon N55, Nikon N60,
Nikon N6006, Nikon N65, Nikon N70, Nikon N75, Nikon N80, Nikon N8008s,
Nikon N90/N90s, Pentax *ist, Pentax *ist-D Digital SLR, Pentax 645N
Medium Format, Pentax MZ-S, Pentax PZ-1P, Pentax ZX-5N, and Sony
DSC-F717 Digital.
Confused
about 35mm, Medium Format, Large Format (4X5, 5X7, 8X10, and 11X14
Film) Digital Equivalents? The
Negative The Lens (coming shortly)
Camera-Specific
Zone System / Spot Metering
Cheat Sheets
/ Techniques
Please note: If you do not see your camera here, chances are that either the camera does
not have a spot metering / partial metering feature or I was unable to get the camera locally
or my efforts to secure a loaner from different
camera manufacturers was
unsuccessful. If you wish for me to create you one, please e-mail me and I will do
it as soon as I get a camera to evaluate. If you are a manufacturer, please e-mail me and let me know what
I need to do to borrow a camera so that I can include it on this list as well as the
on-camera Spot metering book.
Please E-mail: New
Spot Metering Cheat Sheets added on December 4, 2006:
The world's first book
written on the most powerful exposure technique using an on-camera spot meter. This book is ideal for the
young, beginner, non-technical, unsophisticated, or the experienced photographer
who is willing to learn the art and the science of photographic exposure using a standard
(Digital / 35mm / Medium Format) camera that is equipped with an on-camera
Spot Meter or Partial Meter.
(9th grade level)
Happy Spot
Metering!
Remember:
Your camera cannot read your mind but a skilled photographer
can read the mind of the camera's spot meter!
This is called "mind over meter" scenario! Learn the art of correctly exposing your images!
35mm -
24 X 36 X 11574
= 10,000,000 = 10 MegaPixels
645 medium format - 60 X 45
X 11574 =
31,249,999 = 31 MegaPixels
6X7 medium format - 60 X 70
X 11574 =
48,611,111 = 48 MegaPixels
6x9 medium format - 60 X 90
X 11574 =
62,499,999 = 62 MegaPixels
4X5" (Inch) Film - 102 X
127 X 11574 =
149,930,555 = 149 MegaPixels
8X10" (Inch) Film - 203 X 254
X 11574 =
596,782,407 = 597 MegaPixels
11X14" (Inch) Film - 279 X 356
X 11574 =
1,149,583,333 = 1.15 GigaPixels
Where
11574
is pixels/sq. mm.
PS: This has nothing to do with spot metering! Thought someone
may be interested
Site
Tags: digital exposure techniques spot meter usage, digital spot meter
application, how to spot meter, spot meter technique, spot
meter techniques, how to user spot metering, when to use spot
metering, using a spot meter, how to use a spot meter, what
is spot metering, how to spot meter, what is a spot meter,
what is spot meter, camera metering, how to user spot meter mode,
when to use spot meter mode, Spot Metering in Photography, Light
Metering, Metering System, Exposure, Correct Exposure,
Correct exposures, using spot meter, spot metering technique,
Photographic Exposure, Spot Meter, understanding metering,
Spot Metering, metering your subject, spot metering with manual
camera, spot meter technique, metering, photography metering,
35mm metering, digital camera metering, metering digital
photography, spot metering digital slr, digital slr, digital,
metering with digital camera, digital cameras spot metering,
exposing, digital photography metering, what is spot metering,
spot metering with digital slrs, with spot meters, using spot
meters, in camera metering camera metering, exposure digital
photography, metering with a camera, how to use a spot meter,
what is spot metering, understanding exposure, understanding
photography metering, what is spot metering, exposing digital
images, spot meter examples, photography metering, metering,
understanding metering, why spot metering, metering photography,
photography metering, how to use a spot meter, spot metering for
correct exposure, photo metering, photographic metering, How
to use spotmeter, how to use a spot meter, digital camera exposure,
digital photography metering.
