Nikon N80 - Manual (Page 32)

About Metering System and Exposure
Metering systems and exposure are important factors for taking
pictures. Knowing the characteristics of each factor heips you
widen your photographic expression.
■ Metering System
As the proper combination of shutter speed and aperture for correct
exposure is determined according to subject brightness and film
sensitivity, measuring subject brightness is very important,
in generai, brightness inside the viewfinder is not uniform. The N80/
N80QD provides three metering systems: Matrix Metering, Center-
Weighted Metering and Spot Metering. With Matrix Metering, scene
brightness data is detected by the 10-segment Matrix sensor. With
Center-Weighted Metering, most of the meter’s sensitivity is
concentrated on the 12mm-diameter center circle in the viewfinder. Spot
Metering sensitivity is concentrated in a small, selected focus area from
five available focus areas. Using D- or G-type Nikkor lenses, the
N80/N80QD camera performs 3D Matrix Metering by adding distance
information to determine correct exposure. See page 48.
■ Exposure
Light from the subject passes through the lens and exposes the film.
Shutter speed and aperture control how much light reaches the film. The
combination of shutter speed and aperture appropriate for subject
brightness and film sensitivity results in correct exposure—a result
provided by the N80/N80QD's four exposure modes: Auto-Multi
Program (page 50), Shutter-Priority Auto (page 52), Aperture-Priority
Auto (page 54) and Manual (page 56) exposure modes.
When a highly reflective or very low reflective object is within a frame,
correct exposure may not be obtained. In such situations, exposure
compensation is required. The N80/N80QD offers auto exposure lock
(page 58), exposure compensation (page 60) or Auto Exposure
Bracketing function (page 61) allowing a photographer greater control of
exposure than that afforded by Auto exposure modes.