Exposure

Metering

(P, S, A, and M Modes Only)

Choose how the camera sets exposure in

P

,

S

,

A

, and

M

modes (in other modes, the camera selects the metering method automatically).

Option

a

Z b h

Description

Matrix

: Produces natural results in most situations. Camera meters a wide area of the frame and set exposure according to tone distribution, color, composition, and, with type G, E, or D lenses (

0

429), distance information (3D color matrix metering

III; with other CPU lenses, camera uses color matrix metering III, which does not include 3D distance information).

Center-weighted

: Camera meters entire frame but assigns greatest weight to center area (if CPU lens is attached, size of area can be selected using Custom Setting b5,

Center-weighted area

,

0

335; if non-CPU lens is attached, area is equivalent to circle

12 mm in diameter). Classic meter for portraits; recommended when using filters with an exposure factor (filter factor) over 1×.

Spot

: Camera meters circle 4 mm (0.16 in.) in diameter

(approximately 1.5% of frame). Circle is centered on current focus point, making it possible to meter off-center subjects (if non-CPU lens is used or if auto-area AF is in effect, camera will meter center focus point). Ensures that subject will be correctly exposed, even when background is much brighter or darker.

Highlight-weighted

: Camera assigns greatest weight to highlights.

Use to reduce loss of detail in highlights, for example when photographing spotlit performers on a stage.

139

To choose a metering option, press the

Z

(

Q

) button and rotate the main command dial until the desired setting is displayed in the viewfinder and control panel.

Z

(

Q

) button Main command dial

Control panel Viewfinder

140

A

Non-CPU Lens Data

Specifying the focal length and maximum aperture of non-CPU lenses using the

Non-CPU lens data

option in the setup menu (

0

236)

allows the camera to use color matrix metering when matrix is selected and improves the accuracy of center-weighted and spot metering.

Center-weighted metering will be used if highlight-weighted metering is selected with non-CPU lenses or if matrix metering is selected with non-CPU lenses for which lens data have not been supplied. Note that center-weighted metering may also be used if highlight-weighted metering is selected with certain CPU lenses (AI-P NIKKOR lenses and

AF lenses that are not of type G, E, or D).

A

See Also

See Custom Setting b4 (

Matrix metering

,

0 335) for information on

choosing whether matrix metering uses face detection. For information on making separate adjustments to optimal exposure for each metering method, see Custom Setting b6 (

Fine-tune optimal exposure

,

0

336).

Autoexposure Lock

Use autoexposure lock to recompose photographs after using center-weighted metering and spot metering (

0

139) to meter

exposure.

1

Lock exposure.

Position the subject in the selected focus point and press the shutterrelease button halfway. With the shutter-release button pressed halfway and the subject positioned in the focus point, press the A

AE-L/

AF-L

button to lock focus and exposure (if you are using autofocus, confirm that the in-focus indicator

( I ) appears in the viewfinder).

While exposure lock is in effect, an

AE-L

indicator will appear in the viewfinder.

Shutter-release button

A

AE-L/AF-L

button

2

Recompose the photograph.

Keeping the

A

AE-L/AF-L

button pressed, recompose the photograph and shoot.

141

142

A

Metered Area

In spot metering, exposure will be locked at the value metered in a

4-mm (0.16 in.) circle centered on the selected focus point. In centerweighted metering, exposure will be locked at the value metered in a

12-mm circle in the center of the viewfinder.

A

Adjusting Shutter Speed and Aperture

While exposure lock is in effect, the following settings can be adjusted without altering the metered value for exposure:

Mode

P

S

A

Setting

Shutter speed and aperture (flexible program;

Shutter speed

Aperture

0

89)

The new values can be confirmed in the viewfinder and control panel.

Note that metering can not be changed while exposure lock is in effect.

A

See Also

If

On

is selected for Custom Setting c1 (

Shutter-release button AE-L

,

0 336), exposure will lock when the shutter-release button is pressed

halfway. For information on changing the role of the A

AE-L/AF-L

button, see Custom Setting f4 (

Assign AE-L/AF-L button

,

0

361).

Exposure Compensation

(P, S, A, M,

h

, and

%

Modes Only)

Exposure compensation is used to alter exposure from the value suggested by the camera, making pictures brighter or darker. It is most effective when used with center-weighted or spot

metering ( 0 139). Choose from values between –5 EV

(underexposure) and +5 EV (overexposure) in increments of

1 /

3

EV. In general, positive values make the subject brighter while negative values make it darker.

–1 EV No exposure compensation

To choose a value for exposure compensation, press the

E

button and rotate the main command dial until the desired value is displayed in the control panel or viewfinder.

+1 EV

E

button

Main command dial

±0 EV

(

E

button pressed)

–0.3 (–

1 /

3

) EV +2.0 EV

143

At values other than ±0.0, the 0 at the center of the exposure indicators will flash (modes

P

,

S

,

A

, h

, and

%

) and a

E icon will be displayed in the control panel and viewfinder after you release the

E

button. The current value for exposure compensation can be confirmed in the exposure indicator by pressing the

E

button.

Normal exposure can be restored by setting exposure compensation to ±0 (adjustments to exposure compensation in h

and

%

modes will be reset when another mode is selected). Exposure compensation is not reset when the camera is turned off.

144

A

Mode M

In mode

M

, exposure compensation affects only the exposure indicator; shutter speed and aperture do not change.

A

See Also

For information on choosing the size of the increments available for exposure compensation, see Custom Setting b2 (

EV steps for exposure cntrl

,

0 333). For information on making adjustments to

exposure compensation without pressing the

E

button, see Custom

Setting b3 (

Easy exposure compensation

, 0 334). For information

on restricting the effects of exposure compensation to the background when using a flash for foreground lighting, see Custom Setting e4

(

Exposure comp. for flash

, 0 353). For information on automatically

varying exposure, flash level, white balance, or Active D-Lighting, see

page 202.