Leica Q2 Focus Metering question

[gerdawright]

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Hi all,

am new to Leica and enjoying my Q2, I have a question, when trying to take a landscape photo is there any way to focus in the center but the metering is all around? at present it seems if the focus is on the middle or where the main object is the sky is always white and hardly get to see the blues. Whats the best way to compose a shot where the sky would be visible also with proper colors.

Same picture on the new iPhone gets the color right for all areas in the shot.

Thanks!

Edited June 21, 2021 by gerdawright

[jaapv]

Just underexpose a bit by EV compensation and pull up the shadows in postprocessing, or pull down the highlights on a standard exposure.

[Leica28]

Or another way is to use a graduated neutral density filter for the sky

[luetz]

Or use the zoom/lock button to pre-meter a highlight and then recompose and focus with the shutter.

[Cheesehead]

On 6/21/2021 at 1:56 AM, jaapv said:

Just underexpose a bit by EV compensation and pull up the shadows in postprocessing, or pull down the highlights on a standard exposure.

Still learning my camera.  

I have a partial neutral density filter which I seldom use because I have I don't always have time to put it on and off.  Often I will underexpose to get the image I want.  How do I pull down the highlights in the standard exposure?  If I premeter the highlight do I have to hold the zoom/lock button down or does it stay premetered until the exposure, or even until I hit zoom/lock again?

[luetz]

If the Zoom/Lock button is set up for AEL, you can pre-meter ON and OFF with the push of that button.  You should also see a AEL lock symbol in the lower left corner of the viewfinder.  To have the intended result of bringing down a Highlight, you should be in Spot Metering Mode.

[_Michael]

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The sky will often be too bright, but I am curious what metering mode you are using? I tend to use center-weighted, but there is also multi and spot. If you are in one of the latter 2 modes it could be impacting the metering and how it "sees" it. Spot mode especially could cause big swings in exposure for other areas. 

[PhotoCruiser]

Am 29.9.2021 um 19:06 schrieb _Michael:

The sky will often be too bright, but I am curious what metering mode you are using?

mostly Center weighted if not needed spot or multi.
I always he EV correction at -1/3 - 1/2 to avoid/reduce blown out lights

 

Am 21.6.2021 um 04:19 schrieb gerdawright:

Whats the best way to compose a shot where the sky would be visible also with proper colors.

Landscape at noon on a sunny day, blue sky and dark parts have a huge dynamic difficulty to capture without tweaking.

As JaapV wrote, underexpose a bit and correct later.
 

Chris

 

[marchyman]

Rule of thumb: northern blue sky is an approximate 18% gray card.   I typically use center weighted metering.  If lots of sky is in the image I'll meter off the sky and lock exposure before recomposing and taking the image.  That usually stops blowing out all but the specular highlights.  Dark parts will need to be brought up in post.  I use a Q, not a Q2, but I don't think that changes anything.