Nikon D3body D3 User's Manual - Page 140

Metering Metering determines how the camera sets exposure. The following options are available: Method Description a Recommended in most situations. Camera meters a wide area 3D color matrix II of the frame and sets exposure according to distribution of brightness, color, distance, and composition for natural results. Camera meters entire frame but assigns greatest weight to area in center of Z frame (defaults to 12-mm circle in Centerweighted center of viewfinder; if CPU lens is attached, area can be selected using Custom Setting b5, [Center-weighted Z area], pg. 315 *). Classic meter for portraits. † Center weight area Camera meters circle 4 mm (0.16 in.) in diameter (approximately 1.5% of frame). Circle is centered on current focus point, making it possible to meter b off-center subjects (if non-CPU lens is Spot used or if auto-area AF is in effect (pg. 76), camera will meter center focus Spot metering area point). Ensures that subject will be correctly exposed, even when background is much brighter or darker. † * When non-CPU lens is attached, average for entire frame will be used if [Average] is selected for Custom Setting b5; otherwise, center-weighted metering for non-CPU lenses will use 12-mm circle in center of viewfinder, regardless of setting selected for [Non-CPU lens data]. † For improved precision with non-CPU lenses, specify lens focal length and maximum aperture in [Non-CPU lens data] menu (pg. 220). 114