Camera Glossary

The process of measuring the amount of light in a scene to determine optimal exposure settings.

Detailed Explanation

Metering is how your camera determines the correct exposure for a scene. Modern cameras offer several metering modes: Matrix/Evaluative metering analyzes the entire frame, Center-weighted prioritizes the middle area, and Spot metering measures a small specific point. Understanding metering helps photographers achieve proper exposure in challenging lighting conditions, such as backlit subjects or high-contrast scenes. The camera's light meter suggests exposure settings based on making the measured area appear as middle gray.