Is my D500 lightmeter defect in matrix metering?

[OCD]

I have a D7500 and have been waffling back and forth between processing RAW and JPEG files.  I tend to agree with Hogan, at least in the D7500 guide he publishes, that in his opinion Nikon has matrix metering designed to not blow highlights. And this makes me want to agree with Ann that Matrix metering might work best with JPEGS, especially with Active D-Lighting set to Auto.  It makes sense to me that the metering avoids blowing the highlights, and ADL then expands the dynamic range, for JPEG files.  Nikon's Auto mode, and all the scene modes are set up with Matrix and Auto ADL. 

I only use the center focus point, and with matrix metering I will re-compose, but I never lock exposure (with matrix), and my experience is that the camera then meters on the final scene when I press the shutter release.  The idea that the focus point can change how matrix meters is a surprise to me because my understanding is matrix exposes on the entire frame, I did not know there could be any emphasis determined by the focus point.  I thought only spot metering metered on a focus point.

[charlie]

The idea that the focus point can change how matrix meters is a surprise to me because my understanding is matrix exposes on the entire frame

You would think so, but my D800 doesn't work that way. In aperture priority matrix metering just by moving the focus point on a high contrast scene I can get the meter to swing 4+ stops. When the focus point falls on the shadow area of a scene it is certainly not protecting the highlights. Perhaps they changed the way newer cameras meter?

[OCD]

You would think so, but my D800 doesn't work that way. In aperture priority matrix metering just by moving the focus point on a high contrast scene I can get the meter to swing 4+ stops. When the focus point falls on the shadow area of a scene it is certainly not protecting the highlights. Perhaps they changed the way newer cameras meter?

I believe you.  It was news to me since I'm an old-fashioned center focus point guy. 

[ianwatson]

You would think so, but my D800 doesn't work that way. In aperture priority matrix metering just by moving the focus point on a high contrast scene I can get the meter to swing 4+ stops. When the focus point falls on the shadow area of a scene it is certainly not protecting the highlights. Perhaps they changed the way newer cameras meter?

This reminds us of the virtues of centre-weighted metering. It might not be fancy but it is much more predictable.

[Bent Hjarbo]

This reminds us of the virtues of centre-weighted metering. It might not be fancy but it is much more predictable.

In the images I showed, I got better exposure using center-weighted metering, a pity that one have to go backwards in technology. Will do more experiments.

[Erik Lund]

You just have to be aware of how the metering works

[armando_m]

You would think so, but my D800 doesn't work that way. In aperture priority matrix metering just by moving the focus point on a high contrast scene I can get the meter to swing 4+ stops. When the focus point falls on the shadow area of a scene it is certainly not protecting the highlights. Perhaps they changed the way newer cameras meter?

On my D800 I'm use to spot metering he highlights, set the exposure and then worry about focus

[Frank Fremerey]

On my D800 I'm use to spot metering he highlights, set the exposure and then worry about focus

With earlier camera generations I only used spot metering to set AE, locked it, then did the AF operation.

Please note that today also the spot metering is heavily influenced by the AF mode, see Thom's guide. With AF set to S/S = sharpness priority / single focus point it still behaves like in the old days. Beware of AF tracking with group AF or 3D AF or AF-C with tracking ....

[Akira]

I'm afraid that it would not necessarily be directly related to the original topic.  But I found that the stray light entering from the eyepiece affected the metering more than I imagined.  I wear glasses, and thus there is more open space between my face and the eyepiece, which exacerbated the problem.

[Ann]

I mostly use centre-weighted metering (but with a +0.66 EV meter setting in the menus) and sometimes Spot metering. I don't normally use Matrix metering.
 
I often use 3D AF for fast-moving subjects (like birds in flight); and sometimes Group AF with certain subjects (knowing that the fore-most part of the Group will grab the focus).
Both Auto Focus modes are fast and accurate in the D5.

[Frank Fremerey]

Ann is right. If you are accustomed to center weighted and know what you are doing you got a working way to decouple metering an AF. if you also use AE hold or AE lock in situations where the chip cannot handle the full contrast anymore you are in business.

3D and Group combined with spot metering means you really have to be aware of the inner workings of the automatics

[arthurking83]

In the images I showed, I got better exposure using center-weighted metering, a pity that one have to go backwards in technology. Will do more experiments.

For your situation, if you believe the exposure to be too low, maybe use menu item B7 to adjust the metering value.
Gives you 1/6Ev incremental options between -1 and +1Ev of adjustment.
The options here are for each metering mode type too, so changing the exposure bias for Matrix doesn't affect it for the CW or Spot modes
If too low, try going higher into +ve values, until you reach an acceptable result.