Understanding Nikon’s Three Light Metering Systems
Darrell Young (DigitalDarrell)
Keywords: nikon, camera, bodies
Nikons use a 3D Color Matrix II metering system that is one of the most powerful and accurate automatic exposure meters in any camera today. It uses the symbol shown in Figure 1. Look in your manual to see how to set the camera to Matrix metering. This is the default setting from the factory.
There are characteristics for many thousands of images stored in the camera. These characteristics are used—along with proprietary Nikon software and complex evaluative computations—to analyze the image that appears in your Viewfinder. The meter is then set to provide very accurate exposures for the majority of your images.
A simple example of this might be a picture where the horizon runs through the middle of the image. The sky above is bright and the earth below is much dimmer. By evaluating this image and comparing it to hundreds of similar images in the camera's database, an exposure setting is automatically input for you.
The Matrix meter examines four critical areas of each picture. It compares the levels of brightness in various parts of the scene to determine the total range of exposure values. It then notices the color of the subject and its surroundings. If you are using a G or D CPU lens, it also determines how far away your lens is focused so that it can figure the distance to your subject. Finally, it looks at the compositional elements of the subject.
Once it has all that information, it compares your image to tens of thousands of image characteristics in its image database, makes complex evaluations, and comes up with a meter value that is usually right on the money, even in complex lighting situations.
Originally written on May 29, 2013
Last updated on August 24, 2016
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16 comments
Sudheer Dattatray Dharmadhikari (ESSDEEDEE) on May 31, 2016
Great well explained .my doubts cleared Thanks Darrel
User on May 19, 2015
This Article nailed it! Thanks...The point where it mentioned that moving the AF point in Spot Metering, acquires metering reading based on the point, threw up an interesting qn - "In a situation, where im using BBF, and am lets say Single Point AF, and I'm trying to keep an object in Focus, but dont want to use the Metering from that Point" How do i achieve it? It might sound illogical in a practical scenario, but I'm just being curious! Or if I can RE Frame my question - Which button the AF ON or the Shutter activates Metering?
Adam Lumia (Ada3m) on January 22, 2015
Thank you, I have been "playing" with the metering modes and somewhat struggling to find the differences and how to use them creatively.
Ian Ross (Dadorian) on June 15, 2013
Thank you for this, it never occurred to me that I could meter by moving the AF point, simple thing but so useful, great article thanks
Rachel Garafola (rachelg2013) on June 12, 2013
Thank you Darrell, very helpful!
Mike Bell (mickeyb48) on June 9, 2013
Thanks Darrell, I sure do enjoy how you explain these topics
Gerry Gingell (Gerry Gingell) on June 8, 2013
Thank you so much for demystifying this. Much appreciated. Gerry
Robert de Jonge (RobertS46) on June 5, 2013
Thank you, Darrel, it's a very useful tutorial. I use Centre-weighted metering most of the time with a very long lens when I shoot birds. That gives me always good results.
User on June 1, 2013
Keep up the tutorials. I use the Quantum trio flash for weddings and Quantum recommends using matrix metering for their best flash results.
Robert Kim Holwick (hillsidekim) on May 31, 2013
Thanks Darrell, Once again an excellent explanation that everyone should be able to understand.
Kaya Corabatir (fotokaya) on May 31, 2013
Clear, concise explanation. I like to add that selection of metering is critical in flash photography. When using i-TTL balanced fill flash during daylight for backlit subjects, matrix metering should be used. However, if the background is very dark and the emphasis is on the foreground subjects, spot metering should be selected. Using matrix metering under such circumstances will result in underexposed shots.
Richard Luse (DaddySS) on May 30, 2013
Thanks Darrell, good write up and very helpful as usual!
Tom Ferguson (tekneektom) on May 30, 2013
Clear, concise explanation of metering. Thanks.
Chuck Szuberla (Chuckster902) on May 30, 2013
Like your clear concise explanation. Very helpful. Always good to go back to the basics.
Gary Wigle (wiglegb) on May 30, 2013
Spot metering is also a must in stage theater shots when flash is usually not used. I always put the spot on the face of the primary subject so the lighting is best where the focus will be.
Larry S (larsch01) on May 29, 2013
I tried spot metering on a difficult composition and as you pointed out, I gave up someting --intentionally blew out the background in order to capture the detail in the head of a bison. I remembered this section of your D800 book, which guided me to make that decision. Excelent advice!