Douglas L wrote:
I have a question for you BIF experts, what exposure metering do you use, in general? Does anyone use spot metering (linked to focus point) at all? I usually use "multi", with exposure compensation if desired. Sometime I blow the highlights on the mature bald eagles when the background gets dark even with exposure compensation at -1. I am wondering if spot metering linked to focus point would work better? But then I saw this from Sony's help guide:
"Focus Point Link:
The spot metering position coordinates with the focus area.
Note
Even if the spot metering position is coordinated with the [Tracking] start position, it will not be coordinated with the tracking of the subject.
When [Focus Area] is set to the following parameters, the spot metering position is locked to the center.
[Wide]
[Zone]
[Center Fix]
[Tracking: Wide]/[Tracking: Zone]/[Tracking: Center Fix]"
Does this mean, when using "spot tracking" mode and the spot metering linked to focus point, the exposure setting won't change once the subject starts moving?
I use a custom recall hold with spot metering, auto ISO, med flex spot tracking (not for birds in flight though). To answer your question, when using spot tracking and spot metering linked to the focus point, the metering seems to change depending on whatever is in the center even if your subject is no longer. The focus point will stay with the subject due to tracking. Hopefully I remember it correctly, and explained it clearly.
Some thoughts on the issue.
I don't use the metering too much since I usually shoot fully manual including ISO. I use the zebras set at 107+ (I know some people say 109+). If it doesn't look right with live view on, then I adjust something. If the subject is in constant light with changing backgrounds, full manual including fixed ISO is perfect.
If the subject itself is in and out of shadows while flying, auto ISO helps. In the case of auto ISO, I use highlight metering a lot of the time. Many birds have a lot of white and this helps prevent blowing them with auto ISO. Highlight metering is overly conservative (jpeg based?) so you could probably dial in a positive value for compensation.
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 9:31 AM.
Looking at the Lorenzo Bartolini marble statue, "Carità Educatrice" (Educating Charity) probably completed between 1830 and 1834,
Hand Held relying on Camera IBIS, A1 and Voigtlander 50mm f2 Apo-Lanthar Asph. lens; silent shutter.
ISO 1600, F2.8, 1/125 Second.
Exposure Corrected +0.09 Stops.
March 24, 2022
At Palazzo Pitti (Pitti Palace), Firenze (Florence), Italy.
Yes, there is a little blue in the folds of the clothing in the shadows. I gave up trying to figure out how to get the white color in those areas as no fill was used.
Colin, Tyler, thank you very much for chiming in ref my spot metering question. I just did a simple experiment myself: manual shutter speed and aperture, auto ISO, large spot focus area with tracking, large spot metering linked to focus point, I pointed the camera at a lit up light bulb right in the center, the exposure was perfect, no blinking zebra, then I moved the camera around so that the light bulb was not placed in the center of the frame, the zebra indicated it was over exposed. Then I placed the light bulb outside the center of the frame to start, the exposure was still correct in the beginning, but when I started moving the camera around, it was over exposed. It only works with the initial position. That's a bit shocking to me.
So in the Sony help guide, "Even if the spot metering position is coordinated with the [Tracking] start position, it will not be coordinated with the tracking of the subject." really means the spot metering linked to focus point only works in the very beginning, as soon as the subject moves away from the initial position, it's useless.
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 3:52 PM.
Looking at Autumn Color and a conifer on the far side of Jordan Creek.
Tripod mounted A1 and Voigtlander 110 f2.5 Macro Apo-Lanthar FE mount; silent shutter.
ISO 100, f5.6, 1/250 second.
Exposure Corrected +0.35 Stops.
October 27, 2022
Along Jordan Creek, near the Pedestrian Bridge and Ford, Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, PA.
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 1:24 PM.
Looking at some wood work in the interior of the Pisa Cathedral.
Hand Held, relying on Camera IBIS, A1 and Voigtlander 50mm f2 Apo-Lanthar Asph, FE mount; silent shutter.
ISO 1600, f2, 1/50 second.
March 25, 2022
At Piazza del Duomo (Pisa's Cathedral Square), Pisa, Italy.
Looking out across the frosty morn at the trees in autumn color, homes, and Post Office beyond the retention ponds behind my home bathed in early morning golden sunlight.
Hand Held, relying on IBIS, A1 and Voigtlander 50mm f2 Apo-Lanthar Asph lens; silent shutter.
ISO 100, f4 1/250 Second.
Exposure Corrected -0.09 Stops.
October 19, 2022
Looking out my Kitchen sliding door, across the frosty grass, retention ponds, farmers corn field at the trees in autumn color homes and Post Office.
Sony A1 with 200-600
Hi setting (20FPS) with v90 SD cards
XFine JPGS with S-Cinetone
52,000 photos to make a slow motion video
Lessons:
1. Zone AF hit rate is very very good at around 95-98% as long as the locked on AF is set to 5 (less lock on)
2. V90 card is still too slow, need the Type A card ($$$$).
3. S-Cinetone is excellent for skin tone.
4. IBIS is irrevelant when shutter is 1/250 or higher.
5. APSC mode is awesome to jump to 900mm as needed with the Sony 200-600 zoom.
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 1:45 PM.
Looking at the Oil (?) painting on Wood Panel painted about 1505 by Raffaellino del Garbo entitled "Resurrection of Christ".
Cropped from left and right, Hand Held, relying on Camera IBIS, A1 and Voigtlander 50mm f2 Apo-Lanthar Asph lens; silent shutter.
ISO 1600, f2.8, 1/125 second.
March 26, 2022
At the Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze (Gallery of the Academy of Florence), Firenze (Florence), Italy.
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 1:57 PM.
Looking at a portion of the sculpting of a doorway into the next gallery, and the paintings on the wall around the doorway at the Palazzo Medici Riccardi or Palazzo Medici.
Hand Held, relying on Camera IBIS, A1 and Voigtlander 50mm f2 Apo-Lanthar Asph FE mount lens; silent shutter.
ISO 1600, f2.8, 1/160 second.
Exposure Corrected +0.09 Stops.
March 27, 2022
At the Palazzo Medici Riccardi or Palazzo Medici, Firenze (Florence), Italy.
