Product Description

Let's talk about photographic exposure and spotmetering: All types of metering systems used in different cameras (with the exception of the on-camera spotmeter operated by a skilled photographer) use a "cookie-cutter" approach to photographic exposure. What this means is the camera meter measures the various tones of your subject, and then averages all of the tones in order to come up with an overall exposure. Sometimes the overall exposure works and sometimes it doesn't. With this approach, the ball is in the camera's court and in many instances the photographer has no hand in the final look of the image. With on-camera spotmetering, the photographer uses a "tailored" approach to find the correct exposure for a very specific subject. With this approach, the skilled photographer interprets the spotmeter readings from the subject and establishes the correct exposure that captures the desired image on film. The consistency and flexibility of the narrow-angled spotmeter makes it the most powerful and versatile exposure tool in the world. The only catch in using a spotmeter is that the photographer must have the skill in order to use this powerful tool correctly and effectively. The Confused Photographer's Guide to On-Camera Spotmetering does just that! It is simple, easy-to-follow, and uses a common-sense teaching approach to the material. With more than seventy full-page illustrations, it is designed to get the beginner and the intermediate photographer started in a couple of days. I assume that you have a camera with a built-in spotmetering (partial metering) feature. I also assume that you have a ninth grade education and are willing to learn. To facilitate your learning process, I have included a two page cheat sheets for each of the following cameras: Nikon CoolPix 990/995 (Digital), Nikon F4, Nikon F5, Nikon F100, Nikon N65, Nikon N6006, Nikon N70, Nikon N80, and Nikon N90; Pentax PZ-1p, Pentax ZX-5N, Pentax 645N (Medium Format),! and Pentax MZ-S; Minolta 500si, Minolta 700si, Minolta Maxxum Stsi, Minolta Maxxum 7; Canon EOS Rebel G, Canon Rebel 2000, Canon Elan II E, Canon Elan 7 E, Canon A2/E, and Canon EOS 3. If your camera is not listed here (like Olympus OM-2000), you will still be able to learn the technique and apply it successfully.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #231370 in Books
• Published on: 1998-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Outdoor Photographer Magazine Book Review
"Farzad offers simple solutions to the sometimes complicated light metering issues of the modern equipment."

Dick Watkins: Nature Photographer Magazine
"Using simplified text, drawings, and examples, Farzad makes this difficult subject (exposure) comprehensible."

Elinor Stecker-Orel: Popular Photography Book Review
"Farzad's wealth of analogies should certainly alleviate the confusion all photographers have in understanding how to expose their subjects correctly”

Customer Reviews

Too much paper for too little concept
I know spot metering is becoming a luxury in many consumer grade cameras and only true hobbyist would acknowledge its value in existence. However, this book simply uses too much real estate to decribe a concept that could have concisely decribed in half of the space provided. There isn't enough color examples to illustrate how to take readings in real life situations. A substantial section to describe individual camera operation is not that useful since it duplicates what should have provided from the owner manual of the camera.

THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ!
Bahman Farzad is a marvelous teacher. If he can teach me he can teach anyone. I have been taking photos for 20 years and never knew how to do it correctly. I bought high end cameras and used them in Programmed Auto mode. I went digital a few years ago and did the same thing....Programmed Auto. I recently purchased a Nikon 5700 and have been stuggling with it. I was ready to give up. Then someone told me about this book. It has made all the difference imaginable. I had to reread some but finally the "lights went on". For taking digital or film photographs this is a book that everyone who picks up a camera should read. Actually I bought both of his books and don't regret it for a moment.

You can have all the camera technology money can buy but if you don't know the basics.......why bother.

Don't get me wrong...I am not Ansel Adams. But I do know how to take photos in Manual mode, spot meter and make correct exposure decisions all because I read these books.

Great book!
This is a great book. It teaches step by step and with good examples and exercises in every chapter. Before reading the book I knew almost anything about sportmetering and kept using centerweighted and matrix metering, both are Ok and have their own particular uses but now spot is my choice. Worth the price and highly recommended!