Greetings Canon Forum.

Here is the scenario. I shoot nikon and Nikon has a metering mode called 3D Matrix II and its really the only metering mode that I shoot in. The colors seem to be accurate and it "just works"

I have partnered with an outfit that shoots canon 20ds and 70-200 f4 lenses. It was unreasonlable both equipment wise and fincincally to change them to Nikon. So.. I decided to upgrade the bodies.

I have since purchased 3 40ds with grips and well as 1 50d with grip. These are all like new low shutter count bodies and I think they are gonna work out great.

My question to the 40d and 50d users. Is what metering mode are you guys usually using. I am having issues with blown out backgrounds (tents etc)

Do I need to dummny down the contrast on the bodies. I have seen great images that these bodies take. and I know how to take photos I just don't know what I am missing. Do I need to underexpose.

Any help with settings for these cameras would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

The basic dilemma of exposure outdoors is that the scene range usually exceeds the range of the sensor. Exposing for highlight detail results in the middletones and shadows being rendered darker than normally seen by eye. Exposing perceptually for normal midtones will result in some blown highlights and lost shadow detail.

The only solution to the dilemma is to reduce the contrast of the scene, at least in the more important foreground with flash by:

1) Shooting into the shadows of the ambient
2) Exposing via shutter speed to keep the ambient highlights below clipping
3) Raising the level of illumination on the shadow side with one or two flashes.

The first flash added to the shadow side actually perform as key light, not fill because it creates highlights over the ambient fill from the sky. To create a highlight pattern and get lighter shadows (and creative control over ratio) its necessary to use two flashes - one for fill over the camera and one off axis as key light, just as with indoor lighting.

All TTL exposure control represents an educated guess on the part of the camera about what is important. Canon uses 35 zones on the viewfinder for metering and compares ambient and pre-flash in the time between the shutter button is fully pressed and the shutter opens. I find the overexposure warning in the playblack the most useful feedback because it shows when and where overexposure is occuring. EC is used to keep the ambient highlights below clipping an FEC the flash lit highlights below clipping.

See this thread on exposure: http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/821629/1#7660408

Also click the WWW button below and read my Canon flash tutorials. One on TTL includes a comparison of all the metering combinations of a 20D. The 40D adds spot metering. Also in the Concepts section there is a tutorial on shooting outdoors which you may find useful.

Chuck

Hello,

My 50D just starting to "blow out" the metering as well. I have it coupled with excellent glass, 70-200 IS 2.8, but the images that come out of it look worse than a point and shoot. I am ready to bail out and switch to nikon

Evaluative in Canon merely emphasizes the zone(s) used for focus and puts greater emphasis on the metering taken in those zones, but it still uses adjacent zones in computing the exposure.

Evaluative with focus on 18% gray card...