Metering mode and histogram

[stevet1]

I haven't tested this for myself yet, but I was curious.

Does the histogram vary based on the metering mode you are using?

That is, will my histogram look different if I am using spot metering as opposed to Evaluative?

Steve Thomas

[p4pictures]

Essentially the histogram will look the same, however this does depend on where in the scene you are metering from. If the spot, at the centre of the image, is on a particularly bright or dark area then this will cause the camera to under or overexpose the frame and that might make the histogram shift left or right on the scale. 

If I fill the frame with a grey card and meter from it I get the same central spike in the histogram with any metering pattern. Hover real world subject are more complex than that.