Metering
Also known as: exposure metering, light metering, center-weighted metering
How a camera measures the light in a scene to decide exposure, by averaging the whole frame, weighting the center or reading a single spot.
Updated
What it means
Before a camera can set Exposure, it has to measure the scene. Metering is that measurement. Most cameras offer several modes: matrix or evaluative metering looks at the whole frame and balances it, center-weighted metering gives more importance to the middle, and spot metering reads only a small area.
Metering assumes that the scene should average out to a middle gray. That works for typical scenes, but fails on very bright or very dark ones, which is why snow often looks gray and night scenes look too bright in auto.
Action cameras usually use a whole-frame or center-weighted approach, sometimes with face detection. Few of them expose these choices in the main menu.
How it works in practice
For helmet and chest mounts, whole-frame metering is a safe default, because the camera sees the trail and surroundings. On snow, add positive exposure compensation so the camera does not darken everything.
For a subject against a bright sky, center-weighted or spot metering on the subject keeps the person visible, though the sky turns brighter. Some cameras let you tap the preview to choose the metering point, which works well on a tripod or selfie stick.
For consistent results across a sequence, meter once and then lock exposure rather than letting the camera re-meter every moment.
What to watch out for
A metering point on a moving subject can make exposure jump as the subject leaves it. Spot metering on a rider who moves across the frame often causes visible pumping. Use a wider mode for moving action.
Strong light sources in frame, such as the sun or headlights, can drag exposure down and turn everything else dark. Reframe slightly, use compensation, or accept a silhouette as a creative choice.
Different cameras meter differently, so a multi-camera shoot can end up with mismatched brightness. Check each camera on the same scene before starting, which makes color matching easier later.
How RawClip handles it
RawClip uses your clips as the camera exposed them. Good metering gives the AI cleaner, better-balanced shots to choose from, and it combines footage from every camera into one highlight.