Exposure

Metering

The metering method determines how the camera sets exposure:

Method

Description

 

 

1,005-pixel RGB sensor sets exposure based on variety of information from all

 

areas of frame. With type G or D lens, camera uses 3D color matrix metering II

3D color

for natural results even when frame is dominated by bright (white or yellow)

or dark (black or dark green) colors. With other CPU lenses, 3D range informa-

matrix II/

tion is not included; instead, camera uses color matrix metering II. Color matrix

Color

metering is available when focal length and maximum aperture of non-CPU lens

matrix II/

are specified using Non-CPU Lens Data item in shooting menu (

93; center-

Color

weighted metering is used if focal length or aperture is not specified). Matrix

matrix

metering will not produce desired results with autoexposure lock (

70) or ex-

 

 

posure compensation ( 72), but is recommended in most other situations.

 

Camera meters entire frame but assigns greatest weight to area in center of

Center-

frame 8 mm (0.31 in.) in diameter, shown by corresponding 8-mm reference

circle in viewfinder. Classic meter for portraits; recommended when using fil-

weighted

ters with an exposure factor (filter factor) over 1 × ( 181).*

 

 

Camera meters circle 3 mm (0.12 in.) in diameter (approximately 2.0% of frame).

 

Circle is centered on current focus area (in group dynamic AF, on center focus

 

area of current group; 54), making it possible to meter off-center subjects (if

Spot

non-CPU lens is used or if dynamic-area AF with closest subject priority is in ef-

 

fect, camera will meter center focus area). Ensures that subject will be correctly

 

exposed, even when background is much brighter or darker.*

 

*For improved precision with non-CPU lenses, specify lens focal length and maximum aperture in Non-CPU Lens Data menu (93).

Before shooting, rotate the metering selector to choose a method suited to the composition and lighting conditions, and confirm your selection in the viewfinder.

b6—Center Weight ( 155)

This option controls the size of the area assigned the greatest weight in center-weighted metering.

b7—Fine Tune Exposure ( 156)

Optimal exposure can be fine-tuned separately for each metering method (note that the exposure compensation icon is not displayed when exposure is fine-tuned).

Reference—Exposure

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Nikon D200BODY, D70-series, D200KIT Exposure, Metering method determines how the camera sets exposure, B6-Center Weight