Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/05/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> Date: Fri, 24 May 2002 11:48:36 -0500 > From: "Steve LeHuray" <icommag@toad.net> > Subject: Re: [Leica] How does the Leica R8 calculate exposure in matrix metering mode? > Message-ID: <200205241553.g4OFr6P22445@hermes.toad.net> > References: > > ......not meaning to be facetious here, but somebody please help me > understand all these different metering modes that are available on > state-of-the-art modern cameras. > > As I understand it, for example, you make an exposure, let's say 250th at > f8.0. What confuses me with so many different internal metering modes, how > does any of those different modes improve upon 250th at f8.0?? I am grateful > for any explanation. > > sl > - -- Well, they don't really improve on 250th at f8.0. They just improve the camera's ability to determine that a 250th at f8.0 is the correct exposure. They are less fooled by tricky lighting situations with areas of shadows and highlights. My understanding is that they take all those independent zone readings and compare them to databases built into the camera to determine the exposure more reliably. They are not as easily fooled by a very bright spot or a very dark spot because only one of the zones senses that, where an averaging meter will be influenced by those areas. The matrix meter can say, ok, so there is one really hot spot out there, but I know the rest of the image will be fairly evenly lit so I'll just ignore that one hot reading. Then again, I could be all wrong. My R8 seems to be very good at metering, however. Aram - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html