Spot Meter

Why did Canon have to add a spot meter to the 30D?!

 

I'm all ready to buy an XT, and have just been saving my pennies while

waiting to make sure that they didn't introduce a replacement at PMA.

I didn't expect them to, and they didn't, but it only meant waiting a

few extra weeks, so I waited.

 

I rented an XT for a long weekend to make sure that I'd be happy with

it, and had a blast. I got some great shots of my new son, loved the

ergonomics (small hands), etc.

 

Comes PMA, and the 30D has a spot meter. I currently shoot film with

an EOS 5, and use the spot meter almost exclusively. It's the one

feature that I was really going to miss on the XT, but the cheapest

digital body with one was the 5D, and that's far enough out of my

price range that it wasn't a consideration.

 

Consider this a rant, since I've already decided I cant afford the

$600 - $700 the spot meter would cost me, but it's close enough that

I'll probably find myself regretting the lack when I should be just

enjoying my new camera.

When you tried the camera, how many times did you find yourself regretting the lack of the spot meter? Did you try the partial metering mode? While it's not quite a spot meter, it can provide at least some of a spot meter's precision control (and it's $600-odd cheaper).

 

I find that the evaluative metering mode is amazingly accurate most of the time. When it isn't, it's usually with the sort of classic scenes that need manual exposure compensation rather than spot metering (think white sand or black lava). Also, you can increase the exposure latitude somewhat by shooting in raw mode, which might be enough to compensate for any lack of spot-metering precision.

 

If you're going to spend the extra money for the 30D, I would think that the quick-control dial and larger LCD would be more compelling reasons than the spot meter. But if you really think you'll miss the spot meter, it might be worthwhile to wait until you saved up the extra pennies. The Rebel XT offers great value for money, but if it's missing a feature you really can't live without, I think it might be better to spend the extra money.

I am a firm believer in spot meters for film (and carry a separate handheld one for use with my MF camera), but I find I rarely use them with digital cameras. I think the combination of excellent automatic exposure and the possibility of immediate visual feedback renders them less important with digital. I also rarely bother with manual on digital cameras--usually, it's Av or Tv--except when I'm taking a series of shots whose exposure needs to be consistent, or when taking pictures of fast moving subjects under specific difficult lighting conditions.

 

So, in particular if you like the size and handling of the XT, I'd stick with that.

 

Note that if you want a spot meter, you can always get a handheld one for use with the XT as well; personally, I prefer handheld spot meters anyway.

In addition to the other respondents, the ability to use a histogram to evaluate your exposure trumps even the use of seeing the picture (and its degree of exposure) on the LCD screen.

 

That being said, a spotmeter is still great because there are some opportunities where you only have a few seconds to make an exposure; you don't have time to check the histogram to see if you were off.

 

Ask yourself, how many pics do you get that you need spotmeter at that particular moment? I.e. photo-finishes at races and such (not to be too arch; there are countless situations where one shot is all you have). I think you'll find that you'll be just tickled with the XT, even with lack of spot. And hey, you already handled one, so you know how good it could be!

 

And hey, if you shoot RAW, you'll be in that much better shape to work with your pics afterward and produce a more optimal exposure.

 

Good luck! Your son is adorable.

Joe, listen to yourself: you're complaining about a feature you need and use, and that now comes standard in a prosumer DSLR. Hold on to your pennies, add a few more, and get the 30D. Yes, it's a better camera.

I often used a spot meter with film but not for digital where you can use the histogram to get a very good idea of the exposure and use compensation to deal with dynamic range issues and reshoot. Of it is an action shot you shoot a trial shot beforehand.

Hi all,

 

Well I for one am very happy that a spot meter was added to the mid-range cameras. It was one of the few advantages I considered Nikon mid-range SLR's to have over Canons. As I do a lot of theatrical (during the show) shooting, and don't have time for the handheld meter, the spot meter is very welcome indeed.

 

-Ian