Selecting The Metering Mode - Sony DSLR-A700 User's Manual / Troubleshooting

Selecting the metering mode
You can select a metering mode (a method whereby the camera measures the brightness of a
subject).
Set the metering mode lever to the desired mode.
~
(Multi segment)
This divides the whole screen into 40 segments to measure light (40-segment honeycomb
pattern metering). This is suitable for general shooting, including shooting into direct sunlight.
~
(Center weighted)
While emphasizing the central area of the screen, this mode measures the average brightness
of the entire screen. If you shoot directly into the sunlight or the subject is not in the center of
the image, you must use exposure compensation (page 45).
EI (Spot)
This mode measures light only in the spot metering circle in the center of the frame. This is
suitable for shooting a subject with strong contrast or measuring the light of a specific area of
the screen. If the area to be measured is not in the center of the screen, use AE lock to take the
picture (page 46).
Spot metering area
Position
of
the subject.
48
'Q'
Multi segment metering
The screen of this camera is equipped with 39 honeycomb sharped metering
elements and one metering element that covers the surrounding area. These
elements work in sync with auto focus, allowing the camera to accurately
measure the position and brightness of the subject in order to determine the
exposure.
• In multi segment metering, if the focus is locked, the exposure (the shutter
speed and the aperture) is locked simultaneously (only when _ (Single-
shot AF) or
rJIJ
(Automatic AF)).