The Digital Photography Companion

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TIMED VALUE TV MODE

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Spot Meter

e spot meter pattern enables you to read the exposure for a small area or spot in the

viewfinder, usually 5% or less of the center of the frame. Not all cameras include a spot

meter option, but those that do allow the photographer to set the exposure on an ele-

ment in the composition rather than on the scene as a whole.

e most practical method for spot metering is to point the metering area at the object

in the scene that is most important to you, and then to use exposure lock. You can then

recompose the scene in any way you want, knowing that the most important element

in the picture will be exposed properly.

Some cameras have partial metering instead of a true spot meter. Partial metering

behaves the same way as a spot meter, but the metering area is bigger. Spot meters usu-

ally read 5% or less of the viewfinder, whereas partial metering patterns typically read

about 10%.

TIFF

TIFF is the acronym for Tagged Image File Format. See File Formats (Still Images) earlier

in this chapter.

Timed Value (Tv) Mode

Often referred to as shutter priority, this setting is commonly available on advanced

amateur and pro-level cameras. is setting is designated by Tv or sometimes simply

“T” or “S”. Tv enables you to set the shutter speed and lets the camera figure out the cor-

responding aperture setting. A common use for Tv is for sports photography, in which

the action is frozen with a fast shutter speed.

Tv is also useful for situations that demand a very slow shutter speed, such as to create

a soft, dreamlike effect with running water. Here are a few scenarios where you might

want to switch to Tv mode:

Sports events A fast shutter speed of 1/500 or 1/1,000 of a second will “stop the

action.” You’ll need plenty of ambient light to use these settings. In a pinch, you can

increase your ISO speed setting to 400 to make your camera more light-sensitive, but

remember that you’ll also gain image noise as part of the bargain.

Children playing outdoors A fast shutter speed of 1/250 or 1/500 of a second will

help you record children at play. If you feel like you’re missing good shots because

of shutter lag (delay from the moment you press the shutter to when the picture

is actually recorded), try using focus lock to shorten lag time. You may also want to