Any modern digital camera will have camera measurement modes, which are fundamental to getting right exposure in your images.
Also referred to as exposure estimation or just “estimation”, camera estimation constitutes one of the key steps required before capturing an image, and recognizing the different camera estimation modes will permit selecting the best settings for your shot.
In this guide to camera metering modes in photography, we’ll dive not only into what are the different metering modes, but also how to use metering modes according to the genre and subject that you are shooting.
I’ll also break down the differing camera metering modes and symbols by manufacturer, as well as offer some camera metering mode tips and examples so you can confidently choose between matrix metering vs. spot metering or any other metering mode.
Are you prepared to comprehend metering modes in digital photography?
- What is a metering mode?
- Matrix/Multi/Evaluative focus mode
- Center-Weighted exposure mode
- Spot metering mode
- Adjusting your camera metering mode
- Camera metering mode symbols chart by manufacturer
- What is the most effective metering mode? Examples of camera metering modes
Table of Contents
What is a metering mode?
Metering modes are defined as the approaches your camera uses to measure the light of the scene.
Today, DSLR and mirrorless cameras’ exposure determination systems are based on an intrinsic exposure meter that, when you point your camera at your subject, aids you in assessing the available light to decide which are the best exposure settings. The process of measuring the light is a topic that we delve into in depth in our guide to comprehending light metering in photography.
Depending on the camera metering mode you select, your camera will use larger or smaller areas of your frame to determine the exposure value according to your aperture,shutter speed, and ISO settings.
If utilizing an auto or semiauto mode, your digital camera will mechanically configure the exposure settings, regarding the calculation of the light meter, so it’s vital to opt for the ideal metering mode so your camera auto modes can formulate the best exposure calculation.
However, it’s also extremely important when you are shooting manually since it will indicate if your photo will be underexposed or overexposed prior to actually taking the picture, which helps you set the proper settings.
Additional details about the optimal shooting modes for digital cameras.
Throughout this article, we’ll see the main camera metering modes plainly clarified in-depth, but to name them, these are the primary camera metering modes utilized in photography:
- Multi/Matrix metering: This exposure mode assesses light across zones of the full frame.
- Center-weighted calculation: The camera uses the core of the frame to determine the light of the scene.
- Spot metering: This metering mode is the most specific, where the camera uses a single focus point to gauge the light.
Now we’ll see in greater depth how metering modes function and when you should employ them.
Camera metering modes – How to use metering modes
In addition to the primary camera metering modes explained above, additional modes are available depending on the manufacturer and even the camera model.
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The aim is to comprehend how to utilize the various DSLR and mirrorless metering modes and, if you don’t know which designation or image is employed in your model, don’t worry. Below, you’ll locate a chart where you can conveniently discover the metering modes on your digital camera.
Matrix metering mode/Evaluative metering/Multi Metering mode
Matrix reading technique is the most popular metering system. It’s the simplest to comprehend yet also the most puzzling relating to names since each manufacturer uses diverse terminology for this mode.
Apart from Matrix meter, it’s also known as “ Zone metering mode” or “ Multi-segment metering”
What is matrix metering mode?
The way matrix metering mode operates is by evaluating the light by dividing the frame into various areas or zones.
The camera measures the brightness of each zone and provides the final exposure value, calculating an average of the different analyzed areas.
Each camera employs different parameters and algorithms to perform this process, analyzing various values like lighting and shadows, colors, distance, etc. All of them take into account the focus point as an important factor in the averaging calculation.
When to use matrix metering?
Matrix/Multi metering is the automatic light metering mode included as standard in most digital cameras and it generally performs well in ordinary lighting scenarios.
The primary downside of this metering mode is that your camera can underexpose or overexpose the scene when there’s a predominance of black or white.
It’s the most typical metering mode for performing landscape photography, cityscapes, and scenes where there are different individuals, like in group shots.
Metering modes in camera nomenclature:
- Metering mode used by Nikon: Matrix metering method
- Canon metering mode: Evaluative metering mode
- Sony metering mode: Multi-segment metering mode
Center-weighted metering mode
The second measuring system is Center-weighted measuring mode. This name and icon are comparable across the primary manufacturers, and it’s a beneficial measuring mode in some circumstances.
What is center-weighted metering mode?
Center-weighted utilizes the center of the frame as the reference zone to calculate the lighting of the scene.
When contrasting center-weighted measurement vs. matrix measurement, our focal point is irrelevant in this mode; the camera will always utilize the center of the frame to assess the light, offering more uniform outcomes from image to image.
When to use center-weighted metering mode?
There are some scenarios where center-weighted is advisable, such as when your subject is in the middle of the frame.
A relevant example is a headshot portrait where the lighting in the background is significantly different from the subject. If the goal is to attain the best exposure value for the subject, center-weighted will likely provide the most accurate calculation.
Spot metering mode
Spot metering mode is the last and most specific metering mode in photography. Just like center-weighted, the name and icon are very similar in most cameras.
What is spot metering mode?
Spot metering mode applies a solitary focal point to compute the light. The measurements of this spot fluctuate depending on the camera model but usually extends between 1-5% of the full scene.
The majority of cameras permit manually picking the spot metering mode simply by shifting your concentration point. Some cameras also enable choosing the dimensions of the spot, such as in recent Sony camera versions where one can decide between Standard or Large spot metering.
When comparing metering modes for precision, spot metering surpasses center-weighted or matrix.
When to use spot metering mode?
Spot metering is the least utilized camera metering mode but there are some scenarios where using it is necessary, like when your subject (or the most important area of your subject) takes up a very small space in the frame.
To best grasp the spot metering mode concept, envision photographing the moon at night. Unless utilizing a telescope, the moon will occupy a small portion of the frame against a dark or dimmer background, so to ensure the exposure is accurate, we must employ spot metering mode and focus on the lunar body.
Partial metering mode (Specific Canon metering mode)
Partial metering mode is a Canon metering technique employed specifically for their camera models.
It’s essentially a “larger” spot measuring mode, where the target area to calculate the light is around a 10-15% instead of the 1-5% most cameras use in spot measuring.
If you’re utilizing the Canon reading modes, you can see details of how limited reading mode works in this text.
How to change your camera metering mode
Modifying the camera metering mode not only varies relating to the maker but in addition depending on the brand as well as design based on what we said within our post on camera setups.
In entry-level cameras, one has the ability to opt for the camera metering approach from the main menu.
Propelled cameras normally offer fast metering mode catches on the camera body to rapidly change the mode.
In any case, I suggest checking your camera manual and getting acquainted with how to vary your camera metering mode.
Camera metering modes symbols chart by manufacturer
As we’ve observed so far in this metering modes tutorial, each manufacturer uses different names and symbols to characterize the singular camera metering modes.
To recognize your camera metering modes beyond the standard Nikon metering techniques or Canon symbols, I created the following chart presenting camera metering mode symbols categorized by manufacturer:
What is the best camera metering mode? Metering mode examples
To help you understand not only the significance of camera metering modes but also how they function, I’ll demonstrate which metering mode to employ depending on the genre you’re shooting as well as some examples of metering modes:
Best general metering mode
The most effective default metering mode is matrix/multi metering. It`s the pre-selected metering mode in most cameras for good reason, as it performs well in most lighting scenarios.
I stick to this mode in 90% of my images, and one of the best photography tips for beginners is to start applying this mode.
Best metering mode for landscape photography
The prevalent general exposure mode for landscape photography is the matrix metering/multi metering function.
When shooting wide and vast landscapes, this metering mode allows you to calculate the average light of the main elements in your frame so you can obtain the perfect histogram.
There are some specific landscape views where utilizing a center-weighted scale, particularly when your subject is in the center of the framework with a distinctive kind of lighting, can be useful.
Best metering mode for wildlife photography
Wildlife photography benefits from employing all the camera metering modes contingent on the scenario.
For general scenes where there are different animals in the frame, matrix metering mode is the most recommended.
If your subject is in the middle of the frame and the illumination is significantly not the same as the background, don’t wait to employ center-weighted.
Moreover, spot metering proves highly beneficial for nailing exposures when subjects occupy a minute space in the frame, as in bird photography.
Best metering mode for Portrait photography
Corresponding to wildlife, the optimal metering approach for portraits is contingent on the quantity of subjects, their location, and the accessible light. You can employ any of the three fundamental metering modes as per each scenario.
Best metering mode for astrophotography
For capturing pictures of the Milky Way and the stars, multi-metering is the best mode. If you’re shooting the Northern Lights, it can be more difficult since the illumination alterations moment to moment, so unless the Aurora is “moving” across a particular region, I’d advise keeping to matrix metering.
Lastly, for capturing aspects like the moon,spot metering mode is the best way to achieve the best exposure.
Best metering mode for sports photography
In sports photography, the best exposure mode for general team sports is matrix metering.
If there’s a primary subject or grouping of subjects in the center of the frame, center-weighted is highly advised 
If your subject is in a specific area against a bright or dim background, apart from center-weighted, you can use spot metering.
Best metering mode for Macro photography
The optimum exposure mode for macro photography is typically spot metering. In close-up shots, especially macro photographs, focusing on important areas of the subject, such as the eyes, aids spot metering in calculating the best exposure over those elements.
Camera metering modes F.A.Q
Wondering if Helicon Focus performs better than Adobe Photoshop for focus stacking photos.
Camera light measuring techniques utilize different approaches to calculate the average illumination of diverse areas within the frame. Digital cameras apply various methods to gauge the light of the scene.
What are the different light metering techniques utilized by cameras?
The primary methods used to assess the general level of illumination in a scene are Matrix/Multi/Evaluative metering which analyzes the entire frame, center-weighted metering which bases the exposure off the central region, and spot metering which measures a restricted portion of the scene.
Which metering mode should I employ?
Determining the most suitable exposure measurement is reliant on various considerations such as the subject, its position within the frame, and the lighting of the scene.
For general use cases, matrix/multi-zone metering serves as the optimal exposure measurement mode.
Discussion on importance of light meter settings when using full manual camera controls
Metering pertains importantly in manual mode since it’s the way you can quantify the light in a particular scene. You can always decide to over or underexpose your image on purpose, but adjusting the right metering mode is crucial both in automatic and manual mode.
What are the different light metering options in Nikon cameras?
The primary metering modes in Nikon cameras are matrix, center-weighted, and spot metering.
What are the different light metering options in Canon cameras?
The basic exposure modes featured in Canon cameras are evaluative, center-weighted, spot metering, and partial metering.
What are the various exposure modes on Sony cameras?
The accessible metering modes in Sony cameras are Multi, centre, spot, and entire screen average.
Conclusion
I hope this metering modes tutorial has assisted you comprehend the major metering modes and metering mechanisms in photography.
Gaining knowledge of how to apply the metering modes is as crucial as comprehending the definition of metering modes, and the only way to make certain that you’re selecting the best settings on your camera to obtain the best exposure.
To better comprehend camera exposure modes as well as the difference between the main styles such as spot metering versus center-weighted, I recommend assessing the prime metering mode examples defined above and to rehearse shooting diverse subjects as frequently as possible.
If you can`t find your settings, within our metering process demonstration you`ll find not merely the metering methods inside Nikon, Canon, and Sony, but furthermore the metering methods in other electronic camera brands like Fuji, Panasonic, and Pentax.
Checking our guide covering light metering in photography and downloading our PDF guide for photography beginners are recommendations.
If you have any questions related to camera metering modes, please leave them in the comments below!
