BetterPhoto Q&A
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Is my Digital Rebel Metering Working Correctly?

I've had my Digital Rebel for the past 4-5 months. With the original lens kit that come with it, I notice that it struggles in low light (vey slow shutter speed of below 1 sec in a dim fluorescent light. How can I do a self check if the metering is correct - as in other camera will also set the same shutter speed and aperture (assume ISO is fix)? I dont have another digital camera but I have a Canon EOS 66 film camera. I want to check this and decide if I need to send my camera to store for repair? Help appreciated.

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May 03, 2005

You can use your EOS 66 to compare. Make sure you can compose the same scene in each. The film camera has a larger image frame that takes in a wider view than the Digital Rebel. To equalize the scene being metered, the film camera lens needs to be 1.6x longer focal length than that on the Digital Rebel. Example, if you are using 18mm focal length on the digital, you need to use ~28mm focal length lens on the film camera. Set both cameras for the same ISO, 0 exposure compensation, and the same lens aperture value (use Av mode). When you half-press the shutter button to meter the scene, both cameras should give the same shutter speed.

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May 04, 2005

Target was the same and I used the Av mode as u adviced. Is this a camera to camera variation or is it because of the metering mode etc. (i thought both the eo66 and DG sets to the same metering mode under Av mode)

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May 15, 2005

I am using EOS 66, while I took pic of portrait in night at 8.30pm, completely dark. It took time for Autofocus the subject and it showed "2 Sec" Shutter Speed.
I read from the manual came along with it, came to know why it was so slow.

1.It finds difficult to get the contract/brightnesss to do Autofocus.
2.It uses three metering modes.
a.Evaluative metering
b.Partial metering
c.Centerweighted averaging metering.
3.It chooses one of them by locating the subject, firing flash 1 or 2 times.
4.It allows me to release the shutter completely.

Huhuhuh! it was a night scene. Now I understand why a tripod is very much helpful.

Have you tried your EOS 66 for "Night Scenes" either portrait or lanscape? Did you get the same experience with this camera?

With Regards,
Siddhun.M.Karthik

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May 16, 2005

The bottom line is that dim light will require a slow shutter speed. If you turn on more lights and the camera suggests a faster shutter speed, then the meter is probably working.

How do the images from your camera look? Are they properly exposed? Basically, if you take a picture of a dark room, and it comes out looking like a dark room, then the camera is working. If you want a dark room to look like a well-lit room, you need to add some more light.

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May 16, 2005

Hi Siddhun,
I've actually not really explored the eos to that extent. I've used it for basic dayligh shots and turned on the flash at night for most of my use. I got the DRebel and since then have been spending time exploring the meterings and exposures in it - ability to instantly check the picture after shooting helps in learning really fast. Nevertheless, I shall try some night shots with the eos.

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May 17, 2005