01 What is Metering?

02 Core Concept: 18% Neutral Gray

03 Main Metering Modes

Evaluative Metering (Canon) / Matrix Metering (Nikon) / Multi-segment Metering (Sony)

Working PrincipleThe entire frame is divided into multiple independent zones for separate light metering. Combined with data including focus point position, color tone and composition, the camera adopts complex algorithms to calculate a balanced overall exposure value, ensuring sufficient detail retention in both highlights and shadows.

Applicable Scenes

Landscape photography: Scenes with even overall lighting.

Daily snapshot & travel photography: Suitable for most evenly lit environments.

Beginner use: The default camera mode, delivering balanced results in most shooting conditions.

FeaturesHigh universality, stable and hassle-free. However, it may produce exposure errors in high contrast scenes such as strong backlighting.

Center-weighted Average Metering

Working PrincipleIt measures brightness across the entire frame, while assigning dominant weighting (approximately 60%–80%) to the central area, with moderate consideration given to peripheral regions.

Applicable Scenes

Portrait photography: Ideal when the subject is positioned in the frame center.

Group portraits: Ensures accurate exposure for centrally located people.

Still life photography: Shooting scenarios with centered main subjects.

FeaturesClassic and highly reliable. Widely used in the film era, perfectly suited for compositions with a clear central subject.

Spot Metering

Working PrincipleIt only measures an extremely tiny area of the frame (generally 1%–5% of the total view, usually linked to the active focus point), while ignoring the brightness of all other areas.

Applicable Scenes

Backlit portraits: Meter for the subject’s face to guarantee proper facial exposure regardless of overexposed backgrounds.

Stage photography: Meter exclusively on spotlight-lit performers.

Moon photography: Precise spot metering on the moon avoids overexposure and preserves surface texture details.

Macro photograph

05 Division & Cooperation Between Metering Modes and Exposure Compensation

Metering modes and exposure compensation are an inseparable and perfect combination.

Metering modes represent the "strategy": they determine how the camera judges scene brightness, namely where to meter and which area to prioritize.

Exposure compensation serves as "fine adjustment": after the camera calculates exposure values based on the metering mode, photographers make manual adjustments according to their own judgment of brightness and darkness. It tells the camera to brighten or darken the image on the basis of the automatic result.Therefore, exposure compensation only works in automatic and semi-automatic shooting modes, such as Av, Tv and P modes.

Application of Exposure Compensation Under Different Metering Modes

1. Evaluative / Matrix / Multi‑segment Metering + Exposure Compensation

This is the most commonly used combination and the one that relies heavily on exposure compensation.

Working principleThe camera automatically balances the overall scene brightness to 18% neutral gray and performs well in most evenly lit environments. However, it tends to produce exposure errors in special scenarios, requiring manual compensation.

Typical scenarios

Shooting snowfields or large white subjects: The camera misjudges bright scenes as overexposed and darkens white tones to dull gray. Increase exposure compensation (+EV) following the rule of bright whites need extra exposure to restore pure white.

Shooting black subjects or night scenes with large dark areas: The camera brightens dark tones to gray. Reduce exposure compensation (‑EV) following the rule of dark tones need less exposure to retain deep, rich black details.

Backlit portraits: Even with advanced algorithms, overly bright backgrounds often darken human faces. Properly raise exposure compensation (+0.3 ~ +1.3 EV) to brighten facial skin tones.

Exposure compensation is the most frequently used tool in this metering mode.

2. Center‑weighted Average Metering + Exposure Compensation

Working principleThis mode prioritizes the central frame area while taking the surrounding environment into account. It delivers more reliable results than evaluative metering when the central subject has a large brightness contrast with the background.

Typical scenarios

If the central subject is pure white or pure black, follow the bright white / dark black rule to adjust exposure compensation.

When the central subject is properly exposed, use exposure compensation to brighten or darken the background for better atmospheric expression.

In this mode, exposure compensation precisely calibrates exposure for centered main subjects.

3. Spot Metering + Exposure Compensation

This combination offers the highest precision, with a different logic for using exposure compensation.

Working principleSpot metering gives photographers full exposure control by measuring only a tiny targeted area — such as human skin, highlights

or shadows — to set the core exposure reference.

Typical scenariosIn most cases, additional exposure compensation is unnecessary, as exposure is locked to the metered spot (e.g., accurate skin

tone when metering on a person’s face).

Exposure compensation is only applied for creative purposes:

Silhouette photography: Meter on the bright sky for natural sky exposure and darkened subjects. Further lower exposure compensation (‑EV) for

purer, more layered silhouettes.

High‑key photography: After metering on skin, raise exposure compensation (+EV) to create fairer, cleaner skin tones.

In spot metering, exposure compensation acts as a creative fine‑tuning tool, rather than a correction for metering errors.

AE Lock (AE‑L)When using spot metering or center‑weighted metering, first meter on the target area that requires accurate exposure, then press

the AE‑L button to lock exposure. This ensures the subject’s exposure remains stable regardless of compositional changes.

06 Practical Shooting Workflow

The standard shooting procedure for non‑M manual mode is as follows:

Step 1: Select a metering modeChoose a suitable metering mode based on the scene and main subject. Beginners are recommended to start with evaluative metering.

Step 2: Compose the frame and half‑press the shutterThe camera completes metering, and the exposure indicator scale is displayed on the

viewfinder or screen.

Step 3: Check the exposure indicatorThe pointer defaults to the zero position, which is the camera’s standard for "correct exposure".

Step 4: Adjust exposure compensation

For bright scenes such as snow, turn the exposure compensation dial toward the plus (+) direction (e.g., +1 EV, +2 EV).

For dark scenes such as night photography, adjust toward the minus (‑) direction.

Step 5: Shoot and reviewCapture the image and check the histogram (a core exposure reference, usually activated via the Info button).

 Adjust the exposure compensation value and reshoot if the result fails to meet expectations.

07 Summary

Metering lays the foundation; compensation realizes fine adjustmentMetering modes define the core exposure strategy, while exposure

compensation refines the final visual effect.

Master the universal rule: bright add, dark subtractNo matter which metering mode is used, increase exposure for large bright areas and

reduce exposure for large dark areas.

Core characteristics of each modeEvaluative metering relies most on compensation, as its average exposure logic easily washes out pure white

and deep black.Spot metering provides maximum manual control, turning exposure compensation into a professional creative adjustment tool.