Multi-spot Metering The T90 of 1986 was the first Canon SLR to incorporate this metering feature. Since then, no other Canon cameras, including those in the EOS System, have this feature, until the arrival of the EOS-3 in September 1998. Basically, this metering option operates on the basis of the Zone System designed by the late American photographer, Ansel Adams, for large formats (4 x 5 & 8 x 10) black and white photography where the film is individually exposed and developed separately for maximum effect. It can be used with color photography, with limitations. While the camera is able to visualise what it thinks to be the best combination of a given situation in conjunction with the lighting condition, the ISO film speed, focal length used and the maximum aperture of the lens, it will not know the limits of the exposure latitudes of the film loaded inside the camera. When this happens, the exposure recorded on the color film will not give the rendition the user has hoped for. The FEL button which serves as the Multi-spot function Shot with Spot meter aimed at highlighted area     Spot meter aimed at shadow area) Multi-spot at both highlight/shadow areas The first photo of the three shown above, was shot with the Spot meter aimed at the highlighted area. The resulting exposure, although with a slightly darker overall rendition, is nothing to complain about. When the Spot meter was aimed at the shadow area, the result was an overexposure of the highlights instead. To correct the problem, Multi-spot metering was used. The first reading was aimed at the highlighted area, and the second at the shadow. The EOS-3 then averaged out the differences of the values obtained and set the required exposure data for the needed rendition, as shown in the third photo. The difference between the highlight and shadow areas was within the film's exposure latitude to cope, though it also explains why the final rendition was okay. However, you will also find that at certain times, the Multi-spot function will not provide any differences in a situation where a single Spot reading is able to handle the job, or sometime rendering the details to be too light than required, as shown below. Spot meter used alone Multi-spot metering was used   Spot meter used alone Multi-spot metering was used The next time someone says that his camera's Multi-spot metering can do everything as required by the Zone System, you will know right away that his ignorance of the whole procedure in using this function. Text and photos by Philip Chong. Copyright 2000 by Canon Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd << Back to Main . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 .