Does Canon 6D spot metering follow the active focus point?

Asked 11/14/2014

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On older cameras, spot metering is always taken from the center of the frame. On the Canon 6D, does spot metering move with the selected autofocus point, or is it still fixed in the center?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

11y ago

2 Answers

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As Per page 150 of this 6D manual, the 'Spot metering' setting:

... is for metering a specific spot of the subject or scene. The metering is weighted at the center covering approx. 3.5% of the viewfinder area.

Spot metering area diagram from manual Spot metering area diagram from manual.

When the camera is in this metering mode the selected focus point is not taken into consideration.

However, I understand that in 'Evaluative metering' mode, the camera will bias the area around the active focus point considerably, so that may be the mode that you're looking for.

'Evaluative metering' mode

In 'Evaluative metering' mode the camera will split the viewfinder into a grid of of many small sections called zones. (63 in the case of your camera)

63 zone evaluative metering pattern
63 zone evaluative metering pattern from this article.

Each section is then independently metered for light level and a complex algorithm within the camera decides on the best overall exposure, taking into account which AF point(s) are used, which way up the camera is, and what mode it's in.

In this mode the zones close to the AF point(s) in use, are given a higher priority, in the exposure calculation.

Originally by user34468. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user34468

11y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

On the Canon 6D, spot metering is fixed near the center of the frame; it does not move with the selected AF point. According to the manual, spot metering covers about 3.5% of the viewfinder area and is center-weighted.

So if you choose Spot metering, the active focus point is not used for the spot-meter location.

If you want metering that takes the selected focus point into account, use Evaluative metering instead. In Evaluative mode, the 6D analyzes multiple zones across the frame and gives extra weighting to the area around the active AF point, which is likely closer to the behavior you want.

In short:

  • Spot metering: fixed at center
  • Evaluative metering: influenced by active focus point

UniqueBot

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11y ago

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