D90 - Spot Metering Problem

[scootermcq]

Anybody else seen this....

I was shooting at a wedding on Sunday, which 90% of the guests were from Haiti. We were under a tent, and when I shot their pictures, the face was totally blacked out. I was shooting spot metering in aperture priority, and hitting them right in the middle of the face. No matter what metering mode I was trying, the bright background came out perfectly, but the guests were nothing but silhouettes even with fill flash.

When I switched to manual and took control away from the camera, I started to get perfect images out of the camera.

I have always seemed to get underexposed images in aperture priority, even with the camera settings set to bright, and setting ev comp +1 and flash +2 to +3. Up until yesterday, my light room work flow seems to start with upping exposure about 1 full stop, if not 1.5 (even outdoors when flash is not required). I shot this entire wedding (indoors and out) in manual, and I don't think I will even need to touch exposure on more than the odd picture.

Only plus side, is I thought I would not be able to do a hectic paced wedding in manual, but seems I can and do a better job of it then the camera.

Do I have a defective camera, or am I missing something.

[candleman]

what is your focus point set to? (single point or area/auto area)

spot metering is not like centre weighted.....
the "spot" will follow the selected focus point and will meter off of that.

on my d300s and D80 .. if i select single point AF, compose the subject off centre, the camera will expose for the focus point because thats where the metering spot is.
i'll be surprised if your d90 is any different.

if you are in Auto Area... the spot might remain in the centre of the frame. not sure about that though.
so, that means the camera was exposing for whatever is in the centre of the frame..

PS.
Manual +TTL is easier than aperture priority IMHO

[scootermcq]

Hey CM...

I only use single point focus, unless it is something like sports. I usually move the focus point on the face when I compose the picture. Sometimes I focus, hold the shutter halfway and then recompose and fire.

I have to agree with you about Manual & TTL being MUCH better results for indoor. Night and day difference..

[scootermcq]

Ahh. I just found my answer, and it was Candlemans post that got me thinking in the right direction. RTFM.... I just checked the manual, and center weighting or spot metering does not lock with the shutter button unless c1 is set to on. Guess what, mine was set to off. If I locked focus and recomposed even slightly, then I was off their face and the camera metered where ever the selected focus point settled.

With their dark complexion, matrix did not work, but spot metering might have with c1 set to on.

Sorry to waste peoples time with an idiot question.

[candleman]

AH, exposure lock/recompose.

theres no stupid questions.

i use the AE-L/AF-L to lock the exposure i dont like locking on a half shutter release press.

i hope the weddding went well otherwise.

[scootermcq]

Oh yeah, the wedding went well, and I got some great captures for the Bride & Groom

[justlearning]

That first one is priceless!