Rebel T1's metering system

[Eagle355]

I have been using my Rebel T1 camera for some practise shots. In the user's manual i have read that the metering mode (with values of -2...-1...0..1...2) indicates the correct exposure of a photo before pressing the shutter button. For example when focusing on a subject and pressing the shutter button half way the metering system should point at 0, if it points towards a negative - value then the photo will be dark, if it points to -2 the photo will be very dark, and if it points to a positive value the photo will be too bright. So for the best exposure the metering system should point to 0.

However i took a few photos for practise in my room, using Manual focus and MF in the lens and i was trying to follow the metering system. I noticed however that the photos i took with the metering system pointing at 0 were a bit too bright, a bit overexposed. A few photos that the metering system was at -2 (and the photos should have been all black and very very dark) and i took them they were well exposed with the correct amount of light etc. I was taking the photos in exactly the same zoom and exactly the same shooting angle.

Does that mean that the metering system is just indicative and it should not be taken into consideration?
p.s. i have posted the photos in the Share shots forum

[Doug Pardee]

Originally Posted by Eagle355

In the user's manual i have read that the metering mode (with values of -2...-1...0..1...2) indicates the correct exposure of a photo

There is no such thing as "correct exposure". Exposure is a matter of artistic intent.

In the manual (M) exposure mode, the meter indicates what the Exposure Compensation value would be to get the same exposure settings if you were using auto-exposure. If all you're going to do is to center the meter, you might as well use auto-exposure with no Exposure Compensation. It'd be a lot faster and a lot less work.

Do not use M mode with Evaluative metering, unless you're going to totally ignore the in-camera meter. Evaluative metering is a "smart" metering system that tries to guess what type of scene the camera is seeing, and then make an automatic Exposure Compensation for that kind of scene. It's unpredictable.

You should use either Centerweighted Average—for full-scene metering—or Spot or Partial (if you know how to use those). Those will meter consistently for a mid-tone brightness.

It is then your responsibility to consider the actual brightness of what is being metered, and to set the exposure accordingly. If you're metering, say, caucasian skin, the general rule of thumb is that it's about one stop lighter than mid-tone so you'd want the meter to indicate +1. If you're metering a snow scene, that's more than two stops lighter than midtone so you'd want to move the meter to +2 and go another click or three past that point. If you do a Web search for "zone system", you'll find lots of information on this. (Pedantic note: it's not really The zone system, but nobody much cares any more.)

Does that mean that the metering system is just indicative and it should not be taken into consideration?

It's your decision how much weight to give the in-camera metering. Pretty much the whole point of shooting manual exposure is that you don't want to trust the camera's auto-exposure system. But when the meter is used along with a "zone system", you can get pretty good results.

p.s. i have posted the photos in the Share shots forum

I don't see where you've posted any photos at all.

[TerryMC]

Originally Posted by Eagle355

I have been using my Rebel T1 camera for some practise shots. In the user's manual i have read that the metering mode (with values of -2...-1...0..1...2) indicates the correct exposure of a photo before pressing the shutter button.

0 implies averaging 18% gray (work in most cases). Adjust aperture or shutter speed in manual mode or exposure compensation according if you want to see white as white and black as black.

[sk66]

Most cameras require a minor underexposure from the camera default metering. -.3 to -.7 on my Canon and Nikon in most situations.

[Eagle355]

The photos am talking about are now at the SYS section under Others