Multi-spot metering
Spot-metering is dead! Long live multi-spot metering!
Okay, this is wrong on two counts; 1) I’ve already used this phrase today; and 2) I’ve never used multi-spot metering.
I’ve used spot-metering though, and it works pretty well. I’ve been researching the OM-2S (which features spot-metering) and the OM-4 (which features multi-spot).
Basically multi-spot allows you to select n different light meter readings that the camera then averages out and makes a perfect exposure.
I have no idea how this works but judging from some of the very informed posts on forums, websites, etc. as well as people who clearly have no idea what they’re doing, I assume it must be good as both end up with “perfect” results.
How can that be?
No idea, but I want to find out. Maybe multi-spot is the one true path to perfect exposuredom? Maybe not. But there’s only one way to find out.
Annoyingly it seems that none of the Nikon D-SLRs support multi-spot. Well, that sucks. Gleefully I discover that the Canon low-end 350D and mid-range 20D don’t even do single spot metering (hah!), while the super-high-end 1D does multi-spot (and presumably single-spot too). Come on Nikon… let’s see some multi-spot in the D3x and next low-end DSLR! If not, maybe I’ve sided with the wrong Giant?
Tags: photography