Light Metering Quiz: Incident vs Reflected and Zone System

Master the science of measuring light. This quiz covers incident vs reflected metering, the zone system, EV values, and how to use light meters for precise exposure control in any situation.

Quiz 36: Photometry, Incident vs Reflected Metering

Reflected metering measures:

Light falling on subject

Light reflected from scene into meter

Flash duration

Color space

Incident metering measures:

Reflected light from background

Light falling on subject at subject position

Histogram shape

ISO invariance

Reflected meters are biased by:

Aperture only

Scene reflectance (bright/dark subjects)

File format

Lens distortion

Incident metering is useful because:

It guesses reflectance

It ignores subject reflectance and measures illuminance

It increases dynamic range

It reduces rolling shutter

A handheld incident meter is most common in:

Wildlife

Studio/controlled lighting

Astrophotography only

Street only

18 percent gray relates to:

ISO calibration

Typical reflected meter target

White balance standard

Flash sync

Specular highlights represent:

Diffuse reflectance

Mirror-like reflection of light source

Noise

Shadow detail

Spot metering a specular highlight will:

Underexpose overall scene heavily

Overexpose overall scene heavily

Give perfect exposure

Change WB

In the zone system, "placing" exposure means:

Choosing which tone falls on which zone

Picking lens brand

Choosing file format

Choosing flash power

A reliable way to meter skin in consistent light is:

Metering the darkest shadow

Metering skin and applying known placement offset

Metering the sun

Using auto WB

EV is:

Exposure value representing combinations of shutter/aperture at ISO 100

File format

White balance mode

Focus mode

"Sunny 16" is:

A studio rule

A daylight exposure rule of thumb

A flash duration measurement

A color space

Reflected meters tend to:

Make everything white

Make everything middle gray

Make everything black

Ignore brightness

Incident metering in backlit scenes helps because:

It measures the background

It measures subject illumination not background brightness

It changes lens contrast

It reduces noise

A light meter does NOT directly measure:

Focus

Light level

Exposure settings suggestion

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