I read that lots of pros use Spot metering, but I find it inconsistent, especially at night. Which metering pattern is the best for night photos?

Louise Garner, Slough

BRIAN SAYS… I’m a fan of the default Evaluative metering pattern on EOS cameras, but there are times when it is not ideal. There are also some unexpected consequences that occur when choosing Spot, Partial or Centre-weighted. If you use One-shot AF, and focus with the shutter button, your exposure is locked when the focus locks. The camera doesn’t automatically lock exposure when using any of the other three metering patterns. Since the EOS 6D Mark II, several mid-range and advanced cameras have a custom function to enable auto exposure lock with any metering pattern.

If you use Spot or Partial, you need to pay attention to where the camera meters the exposure from, it’s always in the centre of the frame except EOS-1D series models where it can be linked to the active AF point.

At night, the challenge with spot and partial is choosing an appropriate area to meter from, and even then you may need exposure comp and the

Ae-lock button a lot. If you photograph people, Caucasian skin tones are often suitable places to meter from. For buildings and landscapes you may need to try Evaluative metering to establish a reference point, and then bracket the exposure from there to achieve ideal exposures. Shoot in Live View with the histogram displayed, or check the histogram on a test shot is another possibility. Choose manual exposure and take note of the exposure indicator in the viewfinder or on the LCD as the camera will still meter for you as a guide.

At night, without mid-toned subjects, it’s best to take Evaluative metering as a starting point and bracket your exposures from there

EOS R face detection AF links with metering, so this shot required no exposure comp despite much of the frame being dark