Matrix metering is a good option for sports photography. For most photographers, their metering modes depend on what camera they are using, which sport they are shooting, and under what conditions they are shooting.
Metering modes are used according to the photography genre and the subject you are shooting. Most cameras have matrix metering mode set as default as it works effectively in most light situations.
To understand the metering modes better, we have mentioned the importance and types of metering modes. Which metering mode you should use for indoor sports? And which to use for outdoor sports?
What metering to use for indoor sports?
You can use center-weighted metering mode for indoor sports. It will give you the best exposure value in your subject.
Although, if you are skeptical of using the center-weighted metering mode, you could always shoot in the manual metering mode.
What metering to use for outdoor sports?
Matrix metering is good for scenes that are evenly lit and for outdoor sports, where you will need to capture shots quickly.
You can also use spot metering for outdoor sports. It is very good for shooting subjects at a distance, especially when the subject is not filling the entire frame. However, while shooting a well-exposed subject, you may lose the rest of the shot.
Importance of metering
Camera metering modes are essential for getting the proper exposure to your images. Setting the metering mode is one of the crucial steps you need to do before taking a picture and knowing the different camera metering modes will help you select the best settings for your shot.
The metering modes system helps you read the available light so you can decide the best exposure settings. Depending on your metering mode, the camera will use bigger or smaller areas of your frame to determine the exposure value according to your aperture, ISO and shutter speed.
So let’s get into it!
Types of metering modes
Matrix or evaluative metering
In this mode, the meter divides the scenes into grids and then analyzes each grid for highlight and shadow, based on that it determines the exposure.
Center-weighted metering
Center-weighted metering gives the most importance to the light that is concentrated in a circular area in the center of the frame. The corners are not given such importance.
This metering mode is often the default metering system used by many point-and-shoot cameras since most photographic subjects are near the center of the frame and rarely in the four corners.
Spot or partial metering
In Spot or partial metering, the light is focused on a much smaller part of the scene and the exposure is set on that reading.
Spot metering is most useful for shooting high-contrast scenes where the subject may otherwise fall into a shadow or be washed out by bright highlights.
Conclusion
Understanding the different metering modes and learning when to use them is important to get the best exposure and capture the best picture. Experimenting with different metering modes will give you an idea of which metering mode you prefer the most.