I have EOS5/A2E body. I read the manual of the camera and I find it inadequate regarding spotmetering. I want to know how big is that 3.5% spot, when I am looking through the viewfinder, and what is the shape of it. When I look through the viewfinder at the very bright light, I can (hardly) see bigger circle around the middle focus point rectangle. Is this circle in any connection with spotmetering? I read on the net thet actual spotmeter is rectangular and "slightly" (?) off the centre?! Isn't knowing the size and position of the spotmeter essencial for accurate exposure metering and why is this not covered in the manual of the camera?

-- Alen Borovicanin (al@gi-zrmk.si), January 20, 2002

Answers

Alen comments, "is this circle in any connection with spotmetering?

It's easy to distinguish the border of the 3.5% spotmetering area: engage spotmetering and point your camera at a flat surface of half black and half white (even lighting of course). As you move the camera, note the exposure changes and the "sweet spot" in the viewfinder. On my A2 it is squarely in the center of the focusing screen and corresponds closely with the circle. By the way, the spotmetering works great. After thousands of rolls of chromes it has never failed me since 1992.

He goes on, "I read on the net thet actual spotmeter is rectangular and "slightly" (?) off the centre?! Isn't knowing the size and position of the spotmeter essential for accurate exposure metering and why is this not covered in the manual of the camera?"

Be careful with internet information--there's a lot of BS on web pages! The manual states that the spotmeter is in the "central 3.5% of the image area" on p. 24. That is pretty dad burn specific. I'd find black borders for partial and spot metering distracting, but I bet you could have a custom screen cut if you're willing to pay.

-- Puppy Face (doggieface@aol.com), January 20, 2002.

There is a full test review of the EOS A2 in November 1993 Popular Photography. On the lab test page they have a detailed diagram/graph showing the size and shape of the spot metering pattern. The reviewer's comment, "spotmetering is well centered and tight" indicates, at least in the review sample, that the spot is centered. The diagram also shows the pattern shape as halfway between a square and a circle. A square with round corners would be a good description! In my experience--and the Pop Photo review concurs--the spot, for all intents and purposes, operates perfectly in the center circle of the focusing screen.

However, the review has a diagram illustrating the 5 AF sensors are very slightly to the left of the AF retangles. Could that be the source of the internet myth of the shifted spotmeter area?

-- Puppy Face (doggieface@aol.com), January 20, 2002.

Puppy Face, Alen posted this same question on the photo.net moderated forum, where it was answered with a mix of mis and partial information. Would you consolidate your two excellent responses and post them there? It would be a service to the many, many of us who think the A2/A2e/5 still has the best combination of capabilities/cost of any Canon body.

-- Dave Jenkins (djphoto@vol.com), January 21, 2002.