V1.02
Thom Hogan’s Complete Guide to the Nikon D300
Page 247
many subtle and not-so-subtle changes to the system over the
years.
Nikon used to call this system 3D Color Matrix II. However,
starting with the D3 and D300, Nikon is now touting it as a
Scene Recognition System. That’s because the CCD in the
viewfinder is more integrated with the other components in
the camera:
The 1005-cell CCD covers
virtually all of the image
frame. The grid is 15 rows of
67 columns, and consists of
alternating color sensors
(RGB; but it’s not the Bayer
pattern described in the
section on the sensor).
If a D-type or G-type lens is used (with or without flash),
matrix metering also takes into account the focus distance to
help guess where the subject is and what kind of shot you’re
taking.
Example
: normally, the pattern recognition portion of
the matrix meter would discount brightness in the upper half
of the scene, as it thinks this is sky and unimportant; however,
