Exposure metering: basics

In short: Exposure metering determines how much light is needed for a correctly exposed shot and forms the basis for sharp, well-lit photos. Modern cameras offer various metering methods for different shooting situations.

In more detail: Cameras measure reflected light and by default assume a middle grey tone for the scene.

In detail

• Matrix metering: This method analyses the entire frame and calculates a balanced exposure value from it, suitable for most everyday situations.
• Centre-weighted metering: Here the centre of the frame is weighted more heavily than the edges, often producing better results for centred subjects.
• Spot metering: Only a very small area of the frame is measured, allowing precise control over the exposure of a specific part of the subject in difficult lighting.
• Exposure compensation: With very bright or dark backgrounds, manual correction may be needed to expose the main subject correctly.
• Using the histogram: The histogram shows the brightness distribution in the image and helps spot over- or underexposure even before you can see it with the eye.
• Bracketing: Several shots with different exposures let you later pick the most successful one or combine them into an HDR image.
• Manual exposure: In complex lighting situations, manually controlling aperture, shutter speed, and ISO offers the greatest control over the result (blende-und-schaerfentiefe, iso-und-bildrauschen).