Typically film cameras have either a metering switch, or it's linked to some other control (film Rebels will switch metering patterns when set to Manual or using the AE Lock, my old Nikon FA switched metering modes when set to Manual, when a button was pressed/locked or when a AI-converted lens was mounted). Low-end DSLR's usually have a menu option instead.
I prefer the switch. The best I've found is on my Mamiya 645 AE Prism, it's easy to use without moving the camera away from the eye. The Nikon F100 isn't bad. The MZ-5n had a good location for the switch, but I had to look at the camera to know what mode I'm in. -Adam Glen Tortorella wrote: > Thank you Godfrey, et. al... > > Godfrey: when you say that good modern cameras allow for both CW and > multi-segment, do you mean this in terms of a setting (a switch) made > on the camera body? I ask because my ZX-M goes into CW mode when > using an older lens (i.e. an M-series lens). Is this what you had > meant, or were you referring to a body setting? I have not noted a > body setting on my ZX-M for CW metering. I just love the ZX-M-- > especially with the added weight of the battery pack--and I would not > want to have to part with it (in fact, I am thinking of getting > another ZX-M body)...unless it were inhibiting my skill development > in some way. Advice is welcome. > > Thanks again, > Glen > > On Sep 4, 2007, at 11:39 PM, Godfrey DiGiorgi wrote: > >> Glen Tortorella wrote: >>> Is multi-segment metering always better than center-weighted >>> metering? My ZX-M has TTL multi (2)-segment metering, while my Super >>> Program has open aperture, TTL center-weighted metering. From what I >>> know about the matter, multi-segment is more precise, but I thought I >>> would inquire about this, as I am not an expert. >> Multi-segment metering generally is evaluative: camera makes light >> readings of several areas and compares a "signature" of the >> distribution of metered values to some reference signatures, develops >> an exposure setting based on that comparison. >> >> Center-weighted metering is simpler: it is integrating the brightness >> across the whole screen but biasing the center-most area as being >> most important, without regards to individual area measurements. >> >> There are times and reasons for the use of both metering options. If >> you want to use exposure automation to it's fullest capabilities in a >> hands-off manner, multi-segment metering generally does a better job >> since it is looking for scene signatures and trying to do a best fit, >> one way or another. However, exactly what it's doing is sometimes not >> easy to predict. If, on the other hand, you want to meter manually >> and stay in complete control of the exposure setting, CW Averaging is >> simple enough that you can generally understand precisely what the >> meter is doing and make your own judgments as to where to place the >> exposure. >> >> This is why any good modern camera worth using that allows manual >> settings has both .... >> >> Godfrey >> >> -- >> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >> PDML@pdml.net >> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
