HowTo Spotmeter?

[rktaylor]

I am fairly accomplished with ML but I've still yet to figure out how to use the spotmeter.  I understand the reason but with using the percentage (for example) method how can I use the figure in adjusting my exposure?

I use the Histogram and Zebras which are a tremendous help but how can I use the spotmeter when I want to meter a small area?  Please give examples ... THANKS and LOVE ML!

[Francis]

Imagine you are trying to properly expose an interview scene. You want the subjects face to  be well exposed so you use the spot meter and aim for 70% or so. Or you are trying to measure the falloff of a light source on a background, check in a couple places and you can easily calculate how many stops it falls or whatever.

[rktaylor]

I believe I understand.

It's similar to the Zebra setting for the best skin tones to set your Overexposure limit to around 70% or a little greater ... correct?

Thanks

[Francis]

70% is approximate. It's all about the scene you are trying to create. Also there are very many different skin tones.

That is just an example. The spot meter is for metering specific parts of the scene. Just like the Canon spot metering in photo mode.

[scrax]

Do you know something about zone system? Spot meter can help you figure in which zone each part of the image will be.

[rktaylor]

Thank you scrax ... the link will be very helpful.