Which metering mode for photographing birds?

[Pete Collins]

Thank you everybody for your comments - this has been most helpful!

I guessed there wouldn't be an easy answer that would suit all occasions. I think I will generally concentrate on using centre weighted, and will adjust the exposure as I think necessary. Hopefully with time I will get better at judging what exposure compensation is necessary.

I have already seen the problem of over-exposure, where I have 'blown highlights', so if anything I will try to err on the side of under-exposing.

And as Geoff F said, it's probably best to take a shot first before worrrying about the optimal settings, in case the bird doesn't hang around!

[RichBrew]

Originally Posted by Tormentil

"Partial" metering in a EOS350D is 9%, apparently.

It's rather like when the term "macro" is applied to zoom lens barrels: it's not strictly accurate. Canon obviously cover themselves by use of the word "partial", as it's not true spot metering, which is typically a 1% area of coverage in the viewfinder.

RichBrew

[John D]

Spot metering on the Canon 40D is 3.8% which is a bit larger than what is really accepted as 'true spot metering'.
John D

[glsammy]

I'm getting all confused here!
On the 40D there's Evaluative, Partial, around 9% with a bias to allow for bright backgrounds.(Doesn't seem to do much in my test anyway!) Spot, 3.8% of the viewfinder area, and Centre Weighted.
It doesn't seem to make much if any difference if I use partial or centre weighted.

[Geoff F]

In theory, Centre Weighted takes some account of the outlying areas but concentrates on the centre ground, so, often, more compensation is required. Partial metering ignores everything outside of its metering area, which may vary with different cameras. Spot is spot on, if you are sure that you are aiming at the correct bit. If not, you can easily be way off.

I'm still acclimatising to my new 40D and is is a bit different from my old 10D. A couple of days ago I was following a spider, using partial and clicking the shutter frequently. But failed to notice when the spider went from shade to sunshine. The camera should have noticed this but because the spider was smaller than the partial metering area the camera kept adjusting for the dark background and a CF card full of fantastic images produced a couple of iffy overexposed photos. I think spot metering would have worked better.

Admitedly, if I had stopped to look around at the scene or check a few of the images in the display screen I would have noticed. But it was a small crab spider and I was concerned that if I looked away it would disappear.

So, another lesson learnt.

[Blackbrook Eye]

To save losing that first picture, through incorect metering, have you considdered using bracketed exposures until you have time to set up properly ? it is extremely easy to set any of the Canon dslrs to do this, As I have no experience with other makes I can't be sure which have, or have not got this facility, but would assume that they have.

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by Blackbrook Eye

To save losing that first picture, through incorect metering, have you considdered using bracketed exposures until you have time to set up properly ? it is extremely easy to set any of the Canon dslrs to do this, As I have no experience with other makes I can't be sure which have, or have not got this facility, but would assume that they have.

Yes, I have thought of doing that and may give it a try. The FZ18 does have that facility (I've experimented with it once or twice). The default value is that the bracketing shots are +1/3 and -1/3 away, but you can alter those settings.