The last time I used center weighted was back in '92 when I was shooting with a Nikon FA. The FA only had center weighted metering!
A shot like this might be a good candidate for center weighted:
Late afternoon light coming through trees. With center weighted the metering would come up with a good exposure for the subject's face while not paying much attention to the dark shadow areas in the background or the highlight areas in direct sunlight.
Although it's not the best example, here is a photo I used spot metering on:
I went with spot metering because I was using flash inside a trailer where the floors, walls and ceiling were stark white. Even better, the walls were covered in the material used to make dry-erase boards. I figured all the light bouncing back from the walls and ceiling would cause the meter to under expose the shot. With spot I was able to force the meter to come up with an exposure based on Duane's Santa Claus-esque head.
Digital ESP is similar to the Matrix metering on my D70. For 95% of my shooting I use matrix metering. But here is a situtaion where the matrix meter really earned its keep.
Bicycle racers going by at a roundabout. When they first apear they are almost backlit. As they ride past the angle of the light completely changes. I'm sure someone could get good results using center (or even spot) in this situation, but it's just sooooo much easier just to let the camera sort it all out!
If you want to just point and shoot with your camera, Digital ESP (which I assume is a brand of matrix metering) is going to be the right choice as that is what it is designed for.
While Center Weighted Average will make more mistakes in metering, it has the advantage of being more predictable so if you are good at riding the exposure compensation it can give better results.
Spot Metering is best when there is somthing in the scene of predictable brightness. The easiest use of it is when there is something white in the scene. Spot meter on it and push the exposure 2-3 stops depending on how much detail you want to retain.
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A shot like this might be a good candidate for center weighted:
Late afternoon light coming through trees. With center weighted the metering would come up with a good exposure for the subject's face while not paying much attention to the dark shadow areas in the background or the highlight areas in direct sunlight.
I went with spot metering because I was using flash inside a trailer where the floors, walls and ceiling were stark white. Even better, the walls were covered in the material used to make dry-erase boards. I figured all the light bouncing back from the walls and ceiling would cause the meter to under expose the shot. With spot I was able to force the meter to come up with an exposure based on Duane's Santa Claus-esque head.
Bicycle racers going by at a roundabout. When they first apear they are almost backlit. As they ride past the angle of the light completely changes. I'm sure someone could get good results using center (or even spot) in this situation, but it's just sooooo much easier just to let the camera sort it all out!
While Center Weighted Average will make more mistakes in metering, it has the advantage of being more predictable so if you are good at riding the exposure compensation it can give better results.
Spot Metering is best when there is somthing in the scene of predictable brightness. The easiest use of it is when there is something white in the scene. Spot meter on it and push the exposure 2-3 stops depending on how much detail you want to retain.