Addition: In manual mode is metering mode used to determine the camera's best guess of your exposure in the meter reading?..

In modes such as AV and TV, is it the metering mode that basicallydetermines what shutter speed or aperture is required to properlyexpose the photograph because this is how I have come to understandit and I want to make sure I'm correct. If so, is the meteringmode practically irrelevant in terms of exposure when shooting inManual, or are there other factors it affects that I am missing?.

When you say metering mode, I presume you mean things like 'center weighted' or 'spot'..

If so, they work just the same no matter what shooting mode you're in - manual, Av, Tv or Program..

The metering mode just determines which part of the scene the exposure should be read from..

Androohttp://Androo.smugmug.com..

That I understand, but if you are shooting in manual, in which you determine the exposure by setting your shutter and aperture, what effect does Metering mode have on the outcome of your shot?..

Atroc wrote:.

That I understand, but if you are shooting in manual, in which youdetermine the exposure by setting your shutter and aperture, whateffect does Metering mode have on the outcome of your shot?.

When shooting manual the metering mode is irrelevant..

When you set the apature, shutter speed and ISO (with digital cameras there are 3 things you can set!) you have set the exposure..

Typically cameras will still give you an indication of the metered scene, telling you that you are either over or under exposed, but in manual mode that is only a suggestion and will not effect the exposure..

Clear as mud?A member of the rabble in good standing...

In program mode, aperture priority, shutter priority or any of the preset modes, there is a direct link between the metering system and the exposure. You can adjust this by changing the metering mode or adjusting the exposure compensation, but the link between the two sections of the camera remains intact..

In manual mode, the link between meter and exposure is severed. The meter still triggers, but the responsibility to take the meter reading and input the aperture and shutter speed values into the camera falls to the person operating the camera, not the camera itself..

I still maintain that the best way to learn how the different metering modes affect an image is to use them in manual mode. By actively understanding how the different metering modes reacts to a variety of lighting conditions - and then by manually putting those changes into the camera - you learn a fundamental understanding of the advantages, disadvantages and characteristics of the individual modes..

Once you have that understanding down pat, you need not stick to manual. There's a wealth of difference learning these concepts in the abstract and applying them in a real-world situation.You name it, I've broken it...

Atroc wrote:.

That I understand, but if you are shooting in manual, in which youdetermine the exposure by setting your shutter and aperture, whateffect does Metering mode have on the outcome of your shot?.

When in manual mode, you would generally at least start by adjusting the aperture/shutter speed so that the indicator shows a correct exposure in the viewfinder. You'll get different readings from the indicator in different metering modes I guess but it's the meter that tells the camera where to put the indicator..

Androohttp://Androo.smugmug.com..

On my D50 it advices me. It shows me if it thinks my shot will be over or under exposed.Don't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/..

Andrew and LM1 are, of course, both correct. The metering mode has the same effect on exposure regardless of the shooting mode, yes, even manual, if you are using the camera's meter reading to help determine your exposure. If you disregard the camera's meter when shooting in manual exposure mode (e.g., determining exposure by the sunny F/16 rule or a handheld meter), then naturally the camera's metering mode is irrelevant...

Hard to understand your question..

'TV' and 'AV' are what nikon and everyone else calls 'apeture priority' and 'shutter priority' Auto. I think. My camera has four settings; P (Program), A (APeture Priority) S (shutter Priority) and M (manual). I have always got TV & AV mixed up and Canon have lost me permanantly as a result. ( I belong to the Canon loathers club for that and other reasons, some purely personal.)anyway..

In Apeture priority (AV?) YOU select the apeture and the camera selects the Shutter speed based upon what the meter reckons..

In Shutter Priority (TV?) You select the shutter speed and the Camera selects the Apeture (within reason) based upon what the meter reckons..

In Manual (M) !!! You select Both the apeture and shutter speeds and tell the camera to get stuffed, but still have a good look at what it's meter says, just in case you didnt bring your own..

The meter ....just reads the light intensity in various ways from simple to bloody complicated and it's up to you whether you trust it based on past experience.Nikons seem pretty good. My Sigma's meter is hopeless. (so I use M a lot)ThanksAndy.

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C'est La vie..

Thanks for everyone who replied.. Just wanted to make sure I understood correctly and apparently I was on the right path! Thanks again!..