| The
exposure metering system
The
exposure metering system of the F5 is also pretty majestic.
It provides you with three different systems:
1.
3D Color Matrix Metering
2. Center-Weighted Metering
3. Spot Metering
| |
May
1999 - caught the sun rising at 05:30. It had been raining
heavily in the night, hence the interesting clouds.
Nikon
F5, Nikkor AF 20mm/2,8D on Fujichrome Velvia. Bilora
tripod.
|
3D
Color Matrix Metering
If
you are like me, i.e. lazy, you will likely use the 3D color
matrix metering 99.9% of the time. With D-type AF lenses, the
distance information from the lens is included in the metering
(true 3D Color Matrix Metering). Using non-D-type lenses, you
can still use this mode, but you must live without having the
distance parameter being used by the camera (i.e. you would
use Color Matrix Metering without the "3D"). Only
AF, AF-S and AI-P lenses can be used for the color matrix metering
mode.
The
F5 uses a RGB chip with 1,005 elements in this mode, using the
contrast, brightness and color of the motive and compare it
against a "database" to achieve the correct exposure
compensation. This "database" is the result of the
evaluation of over 30,000 different types of motives in all
kinds of surroundings and light situations. This is then a sort
of a "knowledge base". The Nikon F90X has a similar
system.
You
select the metering mode with the "metering system selector",
located at the right hand side of the DP-30 finder. You must
press in a button in the center of the selector to be able to
move it. It's close to impossible to change the metering mode
without leaving your eyes from the viewfinder.
The
selected metering mode is displayed in the viewfinder with a
small symbol. The DP-30 is the only finder for the F5 supporting
the 3D color matrix metering mode.
Center-Weighted
Metering
In this mode, approximately 75% of the meter's sensitivity
is in use within the 12mm circle which you can see in the viewfinder.
The other 25% are used outside of the circle. The 75% sensitivity
can be located to be used within a 8, 15 or 20mm diameter circle
too. You would then use the CS #14 to change this. As I never
have been using this mode, I won't review it.
Spot
Metering
Close to 100% of the meter's sensitivity is located to a
small circle having a diameter of 4mm in this mode (about 1.5%
of the entire frame) using the EC-B screen. Using another screen
than the standard one, and the spot metering uses a circle with
a 6mm diameter (about 3.3% of the entire frame). As I never
have been using this mode, I won't review it either.
I
am totally happy with the 3D color matrix metering of the F5.
So far, the only pictures I have taken which has not been correctly
exposed, are the ones when I have been using Fujichrome Velvia
on a very bright day, not having a UV-filter on the 20mm/2.8
AF-D lens. I blame this on the UV rays. And yes, very sloppy
of me, but I only had a "skylight 1B" filter on the
lens :-(
So,
I won't play around much with the other metering modes I guess
- there seems to be no reason to. |
