Photographing White Birds - Spot Metering vs Highlight-Weighted Metering

[pochito]

When photographing white birds (Swans, Egrets, Gulls...) I usually take a (spot) measure of an equivalent white bird under the same lighting conditions, set the values (manually) two stops+ and take photos without blowing the (plumage) highlights.
Usually it works.

Nikon has a method "Highlight-Weighted Metering". Would this accomplish the same?
Are ther Pros and Cons?
Thank you in advance.

 

[ruley74]

I personally find highlight metering to be awesome for white birds so long as they are a good size in the frame and the metering can pick off it. You just don't have to think. However if the bird is smaller in the frame or partially white it will still blow it out if your metering is not over the white portion.

I pretty much have this set as my norm and work around with exp comp. However when you are competing with a brighter background on a non white bird is will under expose badly.

 

[ruley74]

Here's what Highlight protection allows you to do very easily...

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

 

[ruley74]

Nice pic and the optimal scenario for HLW metering, but if the Highlights aren’t that large in the frame, it will still need some compensation.

Like I said it’s primairely intended to prevent wash-out.

A quick search

D810 TIPS | Technical Solutions | Nikon Professional Services

I think we're saying the same thing... prevents blowing too far to the right, and if you read what I said above regards frame size vs subject... yes, it will still blow if not careful.

 

[pochito]

I understand that this is not spot metering but some special kind of matrix metering.
The symbol is "Spot" with an asterisk, which was a little confusing at first.
Yes I observed that if the area is small it does as ruley says and the blinkies blink.