Long before we get to P mode there's a fundamental question in my mind
about the efficacy of the various matrix metering systems. I remember
being constantly amazed by my first digital camera, a small P&S Nikon
CoolPix 800 with all of 2MP. Despite it's lowly specifications it also
boasted a 256 element matrix metering system and almost always seemed to
nail the exposure.
Let's say you were to take that Coolpix 800, or my Canon 5D or Bob's
Nikon D3 into a slot canyon at match them up against an OM-3/4 with
multi-spot metering (and the requisite skills to use it). I've never
been in a slot canyon but I understand that exposure measurements there
are about as tough as they come. That would seem to be so from these:
<http://www.google.com/search?q=images+%22slot+canyon%22&hl=en&lr=&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=jrekTamlGNOG0QHxhs3uCA&ved=0CCYQsAQ&biw=1018&bih=630>
The question is how much difference might there be in a sophisticated
matrix metering measurement vs. the OM-3/4 and multiple spot metering?
Enough that we should care? I don't know but I'd like to.
Chuck Norcutt
On 4/12/2011 11:20 AM, Bob Whitmire wrote:
> I really do intend to get into this in some depth this summer. I have
> pretty steadfastly avoided P mode since the days of my Olympus
> C-6050. (Did it have a P mode? I know it had something similar.)
>
> But if you suppose the image is the thing, then how you arrive at the
> image you perceived is less important. If I get what I want by
> lifting and shooting a $5000 camera in P mode, then so be it. Getting
> the same thing through laborious computations seems a bit drastic,
> though truth to tell, knowing how to make the laborious computations
> invariably makes deploying P mode more, ah, efficacious.
>
> Even Picasso painted realistic fruit in realistic bowels before he
> started coloring outside the lines. Or, more accurately, drawing
> bizarre lines and then coloring inside them.
>
> --Bob
>
>
> On Apr 9, 2011, at 6:43 PM, Ken Norton wrote:
>
>> Bob, here's the rub about the P(ark your brains) Mode on the D3.
>> The metering system is that 3D-color matrix thingamabob as first
>> expoited in the F5. Well, even that is a variation of the one in
>> the F4, but the F4 was very hit and miss as to success rate.
>> Regardless, the F5's metering system was very stout and the camera
>> could be used in any auto mode without fear. The D3 not only
>> carries on that tradition, but has further evolved where the camera
>> really slices up the bacon when it's frying time.
>>
>> This all reminds me of the ansel adams hyper-picky metering. Every
>> wannabe AA with a view-camera is using the pentax spot-meter to get
>> 30 readings, consults a pocket noteboook, writes down a bunch of
>> stuff, stares at the scene some more, repeats the whole process two
>> or three times and then ends up with the same exposure as if they
>> would have just stuck in incident meter in the air to begin with.
>
--
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