2. D850 Online Manual
  3. Exposure
  4. Metering

Metering

Metering determines how the camera sets exposure. The following options are available:

L
Matrix: Produces natural results in most situations. Camera meters wide area of the frame and sets exposure according to tone distribution, color, composition, and, with type G, E, or D lenses (0 Compatible Lenses), distance information (3D color matrix metering III; with other CPU lenses, camera uses color matrix metering III, which does not include 3D distance information).
M
Center-weighted: Camera meters entire frame but assigns greatest weight to center area (if CPU lens is attached, size of area can be selected using Custom Setting b6, Center-weighted area, 0 Center-Weighted Area; if non-CPU or AF-S Fisheye NIKKOR 8–15mm f/3.5–4.5E ED lens is attached, area is equivalent to circle 12 mm in diameter). Classic meter for portraits; recommended when using filters with an exposure factor (filter factor) over 1×.
N
Spot: Camera meters circle 4 mm (0.16 in.) in diameter (approximately 1.5% of frame). Circle is centered on current focus point, making it possible to meter off-center subjects (if non-CPU or AF-S Fisheye NIKKOR 8–15mm f/3.5–4.5E ED lens is used or if auto-area AF is in effect, camera will meter center focus point). Ensures that subject will be correctly exposed, even when background is much brighter or darker.
t
Highlight-weighted: Camera assigns greatest weight to highlights. Use to reduce loss of detail in highlights, for example when photographing spotlit performers on-stage.

To choose a metering option, press the Y button and rotate the main command dial until the desired setting is displayed in the viewfinder and control panel.

Y button

Main command dial

Control panel

Viewfinder

Non-CPU Lens Data

Specifying the focal length and maximum aperture of non-CPU lenses using the Non-CPU lens data option in the setup menu (0 Non-CPU Lenses) allows the camera to use color matrix metering when matrix is selected and improves the accuracy of center-weighted and spot metering. Center-weighted metering will be used if highlight-weighted metering is selected with non-CPU lenses or if matrix metering is selected with non-CPU lenses for which lens data have not been supplied. Note that center-weighted metering may also be used if highlight-weighted metering is selected with certain CPU lenses (AI-P NIKKOR lenses and AF lenses that are not of type G, E, or D; 0 Recognizing CPU and Type G, E, and D Lenses).

See Also

For information on:

  • Choosing whether matrix metering uses face detection, see A > Custom Setting b5 (Matrix metering, 0 Matrix Metering).
  • Making separate adjustments to optimal exposure for each metering method, see A > Custom Setting b7 (Fine-tune optimal exposure, 0 Fine-Tune Optimal Exposure).