Matrix metering overexposes??

[Tim]

I spent my first real day getting used to the S2 and came home with a CF card full of images. To my dismay many had the highlights blown pretty badly. Off I went to the back yard for a little experimentation and I discovered that the Matrix will overexpose quite consistently by a stop or so. I repeated the same shots with -1.0 EV compensation and now the histograms are close to perfect.

Similar tests over the same subjects showed that the spot mode is the opposite and underexposes about 1 stop consistently. Once again +1.0EV makes it right.

The strangest part is that when the ratio of sky in the frame increases, the matrix metering overexposes worse. Typically (my N80 for example) Matrix metering will underexpose in this situation quite consistently. I found this to be correct shooting several airshows.

With the S2 looking at a building about 150 yards away with a long lens I get a spot reading of 1/1500-2000th at f5.6-6.7. Without changing anything I get a Matrix reading of 1/750-1000th at f4-4.8. This building is light gray with white trim so should meter more closely, I would think. Spot makes a pretty good exposure, and Matrix blows it out.

I suspect this camera will be going back for a little calibration. Has anyone else seen this problem?

Thanks

Tim

[Tom V]

Does the Matrix Metering take into account the smaller format digital sensor? IF the Matrix Metering pattern use the full 35mm frame I can see how this might mess up exposures. I don't see what good can come from your exposure being based on light values outside the image area.

When I look up inside the S2's mirror box at the bottom of the focusing screen, it looks like there is some sort of mask that reduces the focus screen image acreage from 35mm format to CCD format. It does not look like a mask I would design (flat black), but rather like a glassy beveled contraption with bright frosty reflections doubling back on themselves in the corners. If all the metering sensors are up in that funhouse, I am amazed the S2 can meter at all.

I know that having direct sunlight shining into the viewfinder (from the back) can throw off the meter. I was shooting an interior of a dark house in Aperture Priority Mode (ƒ8, 1/30th), but when I moved my opaque noggin, direct sunlight from the window entered the viewfinder and caused severe underexposure (ƒ8, 1/500th). This caused quite a bit of confusion (and wasted time) until I realized what was going on.

I wish the camera came with a viewfinder cover instead of a useless hot shoe cover.

[Tim]

I clicked the link in the email notification to go to the thread, and it opened it about 75 times. I had a long row of very small icons along the bottom of the screen!

I don't know what has been done to the metering to compensate for the CCD vs. film issue. Thom Hogan seems to feel that the Center Weighted is unusable because of CCD overlap.

However, there must be some kind of correction made by Fuji or everyone's camera would be erratic. In theory, if the frame was filled with a gray card, they should meter similarly. The gray building is as close as I can come, and although it isn't uniform gray like a gray card, it's not too different and it's large enough to fill the frame.

2 to 3 stops is a large error, and beyond the latitude of the CCD. In the case of any subject that is above middle gray, this camera wants to overexpose it. It should try to take it down to middle gray and underexpose it.

Shooting a view of the woods, with tree trunks, shadows, and green tops actually works pretty well.

I will shoot with compensation until I establish contact with Fuji, but I can't believe it is correct. My N80 has always been GREAT for metering and consistently obeys the rules... The S2 is just a little backwards...

Tim

[Ron Green]

Tom:
Mine came with Nikon eyepiece cap NK-5. Must take rubber gadget out to make it fit.
Ron

[Topngu]

I did test both camera with "Light meter" at low,medium,and
hight light...they are accurate...consider when you choose any
kind metering system there are some error around unless you go
thru "Zoning"....in B&W photography...

Tom,
If you meter correctly..it doesn't matter 35mm or S2 CCD surface
or even you cut a hole 1/2 X 1/2 the exposure always right?
do you agree? i masked the black tape over 35mm and used
20mm lens to get (phony) panaroma picture...! the exposure
i got always come out right.

[Tim]

After making many exposures of the gray wall it's beginning to look like my Nikkor 300mm f4 ED IF prime is at fault. I hate the sound of that... I confused myself with too many variables earlier but it looks like this lens makes the camera meter about 3 stops off, and it appears intermittent. Cleaning the contacts didn't help.

In nearly 30 years of using Nikkor lenses this is the first trouble I have ever had.

I'm glad it doesn't appear to be the S2 but at least it would have been a warranty claim...


Tim