Evaluative metering is a metering mode that measures light in many zones across the frame. The camera compares these readings with stored data from many types of scenes to choose an exposure. It may also use information about focus distance and the active focus point to find the likely subject.
Canon calls it evaluative metering, Nikon calls it matrix metering, and other brands use names such as multi-segment metering. It handles most scenes well. But because the camera does not show how it decides, it can be hard to predict when it will be wrong. Compare spot and centre-weighted metering.
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