Poll: Do you use hand held meter or built-in?

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Bobonli

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I am curious how many RF forum members use a hand held light meter in conjunction with or in place of the meter in their camera.

So the question is: Do you use a hand held meter, even though your camera has a built-in meter?
 
Pretty much the way it is for me; if the camera has a built in meter that I trust, there generally is no reason to use a hand held meter.

BTW, if you meant there to be a yes/no or some other poll response, I'm not seeing it.
 
Yes, I fouled up the poll by using the "back" button on my browser just before posting. I apologize for that. Since people responded before I could delete and re-post, I'll just leave it as is.

The options were:

1. I don't use any meter
2. I prefer using the camera's meter
3. I prefer using a hand held meter
4. I use both
 
I prefer using an in-camera meter if possible. It might be my relative lack of experience, but I haven't been able to get the hang of smoothly pulling out a handheld, taking readings and getting it stashed again.
I like wrist straps on my M3, though, which probably doesn't help :)
 
For everyday B/W shooting with my Leica M and Barnack, I use no meter. When I do use light meter, I much prefer external incident light meter.
 
Spleenrippa said:
I prefer using an in-camera meter if possible. It might be my relative lack of experience, but I haven't been able to get the hang of smoothly pulling out a handheld, taking readings and getting it stashed again.
:)
Click to expand...

This is part of what prompted my question: developing smooth workflow. My M6 has a meter, of course, but I'm finding that I get a little bit better images when I use the incident meter then relying on the in-camera meter. For some reason, I get caught up in looking at the arrows and fine tuning, which seems much longer than what I'm accustomed to with my DSLR (which had the effect of turning me into a P&S practitioner:eek:)

With the hand held, I try to meter inconspicuously ( it looks like I'm checking my cell phone or blackberry), pre-set the camera and then just raise it and trigger the shutter. It's not perfect for tricky (mixed lighting) situations but I can appreciate the benefit of this method of shooting.
 
Bobonli said:
I am curious how many RF forum members use a hand held light meter in conjunction with or in place of the meter in their camera.

So the question is: Do you use a hand held meter, even though your camera has a built-in meter?
Click to expand...
Hi, My cameras don't have meters, so I carry a hand-held.

My small sensor digital has a meter, but we disagree on exposure - (darn know it all camera thinks it knows everything)
 
I just bought a digital handheld meter.
I am seriously thinking of removing the battery from my camera.
It annoys me because i do the reading and then the build in says i'm overexposing or underexposing and i get confused.

edit: since i want to shoot for example 400ASA films on 200ASA, i set my handheld on 200iso right? :S
 
bizarrius said:
I just bought a digital handheld meter.
I am seriously thinking of removing the battery from my camera.
It annoys me because i do the reading and then the build in says i'm overexposing or underexposing and i get confused.

edit: since i want to shoot for example 400ASA films on 200ASA, i set my handheld on 200iso right? :S
Click to expand...
Hi Bizarrius,

I agree, and also I find I can be quicker with a hand held - I don't have to use it all the time, Im quicker adjusting exposure on camera as I walk indoors, or into shade or if the light changes. It makes one more observant, and also much more connected to the subject, the surroundings etc.

Not to say there is no place for an in camera meter - a great tool, even the centre weighted metering of the original Nikon F with Ftn finder was quite amazing. Just personally for most of the photography I do, I'm faster this way.
 
I prefer a hand-held incident meter, but there are times when that just isn't practical. At those times, I'll use the built in metering, set the camera on manual, and meter on the grass. I find the meters in Canon DSLR's always try to underexpose.
 
Bobonli said:
This is part of what prompted my question: developing smooth workflow. My M6 has a meter, of course, but I'm finding that I get a little bit better images when I use the incident meter then relying on the in-camera meter. For some reason, I get caught up in looking at the arrows and fine tuning, which seems much longer than what I'm accustomed to with my DSLR (which had the effect of turning me into a P&S practitioner:eek:)

With the hand held, I try to meter inconspicuously ( it looks like I'm checking my cell phone or blackberry), pre-set the camera and then just raise it and trigger the shutter. It's not perfect for tricky (mixed lighting) situations but I can appreciate the benefit of this method of shooting.
Click to expand...

I found the same when I was shooting an M6, where I would get distracted by those little red metering arrows.

An M3 and M4 have now taken the place of the metered M6, and I slip a Sekonic L-208 in my jacket or jeans pocket when shooting with either. Its a jacket pocket if I feel I may be taking more frequent meter readings, or a jeans pocket if I'm comfortable with the general light levels. Either is easy for me to take a general incident reading when I feel the need.

I also have a Sekonic L-758 for more involved metering, and namely the spot meter. I find I'm only likely to bring this out with me with bigger cameras, in particular with the Hasselblad, and when I do so I sling it across my chest in the same fashion as I carry my M's.

I feel both meters cover my needs perfectly, and would defy anyone to go past a small incident meter such as the Sekonic L-208 for quick and dirty metering. Perfect for my style of M shooting, and in fact I would prefer if it were even a little smaller, or rather not as thick (~1 inch)
 
400 asa shot at 200, set meter to 200 & process accordingly

400 asa shot at 200, set meter to 200 & process accordingly

edit: since i want to shoot for example 400ASA films on 200ASA, i set my handheld on 200iso right? :S


Hi - yes set the meter at 200 and expose that way - over exposing (or "pulling") by 1 stop. Remember to process accordingly if shooting film.
 
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