Metering
Image: To preserve highlight detail, the evaluation metering produces a dark exposure here, so brightening for the subject of
+0.5EV is necessary
The Lumix DMC-GH3 uses the same 144-segment multi-pattern metering system as its predecessor, which is no bad thing. In a number of situations the intelligent metering is reliable and predictable. For example, in bright conditions it is rare that any exposure changes are necessary.
In overcast conditions, however, where the difference in tone between the sky and landscape is greater than in bright conditions, the camera usually meters for the brighter sky area, maintaining highlight details and producing overall dark exposures.
At low ISO settings, it is then possible to ‘brighten’ the exposure up to +3EV before shadow noise becomes an issue. In the higher ISO settings, though, there is little room for manoeuvre with shadow noise, so one must be wary of dark exposures.
In a standard DSLR system, the D-pad or control wheel is used to scroll through the available metering points for spot metering. With a touchscreen that has 100% coverage, touch spot metering in the GH3 is a vastly more intuitive and quick method for achieving an accurate exposure for the subject. There is also an AF and exposure-lock button that resides next to the viewfinder, but this requires recomposing after the reading has been taken. So even though intelligent metering is reliable, touch metering ensures the subject is metered for quickly and correctly.
Image: In this very high-contrast scene, the evaluative metering wisely errs to the highlights. The JPEG exposure can then be brought back up to +2EV to reveal noise-free detail
