Is it me or have built in multi segmented metering improved so much that conditions that would trick a camera's exposure system back in flim days (say 5yrs back), is no longer applicable. The processor stored lighting condition references are much larger compared to old days.
I seem to find that spot metering is required less on my DSLR as compared to my MZ5n.
Turbonetics,
No, focus points are for lens focusing. Spot metering is a way to take exposure readings from a specific area of the scene.
Its used for :
1. Situations where the lighting conditions are tricky, and you want a specific part of the scene to be exposed correctly. (ie. so you spot meter than portion, and the camera correctly exposes for that area.)
2. Checking the exposure differences of a scene (very bright and very dark areas) and deciding what exposure to use (ie. compromise of the 2 exposures; expose for bright area; expose for dark area)
3. Creative exposure (eg. silhouette)