Whether you’re a hobbyist or a pro photographer, one of the most important camera settings that you should be able to master is camera metering. If you’ve ever been disappointed that your photo looks too dark or too bright and you couldn’t figure out why, this setting is most likely the reason. If you haven’t nailed metering yet, today’s featured video is for you!
Above, we have street photographer Pierre Lambert breaking down everything we need to know about camera metering — what it is, what it does, and how to get the right setting for your camera. First, he reminds hybrid camera (those with features usually seen in both still and video cameras) owners to turn on the Live View setting if their camera has it. This ensures that they can see the results of changes in their ISO, shutter speed and aperture straight on their camera screen.
Lambert proceeds to explain the different metering modes and what they are usually used for. For those who are curious about what he usually uses, he also talks about his metering mode of choice and why it works well for him, especially for shooting in manual mode.
Lastly, Lambert shares a bonus tip for those who get overexposed scenes despite dialing in the correct settings. If you’re using a newer model, your camera most likely has the Face Priority setting turned on. He suggests turning off this feature so you don’t get blown out backgrounds when you’re shooting street or outdoor portraits. Instead, use exposure compensation to get your subject’s face properly exposed.
Got any camera metering tips to add to Lambert’s tips? Drop them in the comments below!
