Lynn Scott's Digital Camera Macro Photography Exposure Metering Page



Lynn Scott's Lepidoptera Index		Camera Light Level Metering for Macro Photography Many SLR cameras from Canon, Pentax, Sony, Olympus and Nikon, provide settings that determine how the camera's internal light meter measures the brightness of the scene, in turn controlling the camera's exposure aspects: ISO, shutter speed and the lens aperture. Different camera manufactures may use different terms to describe these settings, but settings typically available include: Scene average, where measurements essentially include the whole image area. This approach is useful for scenery and other large variable expanses. Center weighting, where the brightness values of about the center third of the image are taken. This approach is useful for photos of people, animals and architecture. Spot metering, where just the center spot area of the image is used to set the exposure. This is most suitable for photographing small subjects such as our moths, where the brightness of the subject may be considerably different than that of the surrounding background. Some cameras provide additional choices as to the number of exposure-measurement areas and their shape. Generally, for macro work involving three-dimensional subjects, the smallest spot in the middle is most appropriate.
Contact: Site created by: Acleris		Page last modified 1 March 2008 Copyright © 2001-2008 D. Lynn Scott

Camera Light Level Metering for Macro Photography