Only "Evaluative" exposure uses the focus point.

PajamaGuy
Enthusiast

I shot a Little League baseball game (8-year-olds).  I had shifted the focus points group to the left so I could have focus on the batter, yet plenty of space in front of him for capturing the incoming ball.  (and I use a quick tap on the DOF button to shift back to the center group after the hit).

 

A lot of the shots were overexposed Smiley Sad so I re-read the manual again and found out why.  Unless you're on "Evaluative" metering, the exposure areas are based upon the center of the frame, NOT where the focus is - AND - exposure is derived at the instant the shutter is tripped.  Since the center of the frame was aimed at the dugout (where it was darker), the batter was overexposed.

 

So I learned another lesson!  Yippee!  (I wasn't using "Evaluative" because it was dusk, under the lights)

From what I read, I assigned the "*" button to AE. That allows me to position the center of the viewfinder over the subject then press & hold the “*” while I re-frame to position the left-shifted focus points group over the subject and half-press the shutter. Once I tap the DOF button to reposition the focus point(s) to center, I release the “*” and allow the shutter activity to establish the exposure. It works just fine in my living room – next games (4 of them) are on Saturday.

 

(Before you start in on me, I'm @ f/2.8 with my 70-200, and about 12-15 ft from the batter.  My DOF is somewhat less than 6", so I can't lock focus/exposure and re-frame - the kids bob & weave too much.) 

PJ
(Grampy)



"Photography is a money-sucking black hole, and I'm approaching the event horizon"
2 REPLIES 2

Well, it's not as though that behavior was any sort of secret. The primary alternative to "Evaluative" metering is called "Center-Weighted" for a reason.

 

Actually, I might even suspect that you were inadvertently using "Spot" metering before you switched. Even Center-Weighted metering should have noticed that the dark dugout was atypical of the scene.

Bob
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA

ebiggs1
Legend
Legend

One thing I think most new people believe is changing a focus point or metering mode will enable the camera to get multiple things in focus or multiple exposures in a single frame.  Not matter how you focus or meter just one exact spot is perfect.

I suggest you select the main most important thing and concentrate on it. However you set the camera to accomplish that.  Let the rest fall where it may.

 

I almost never take my camera off of single center focus point (and I have 45, 39 cross-point ).  I do switch the metering modes a bit but center weighted is probably my most used.

EB
EOS 1D, EOS 1D MK IIn, EOS 1D MK III, EOS 1Ds MK III, EOS 1D MK IV and EOS 1DX and many lenses.
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