fleetwoodjazz
Established
Hi,
I would like to see your opinions about Automatic Exposure on range-finder side of course. Why you want it? Similarly why you only care about fully manual rfs?
Thanks
I would like to see your opinions about Automatic Exposure on range-finder side of course. Why you want it? Similarly why you only care about fully manual rfs?
Thanks
wintoid
Back to film
I don't care about battery independence, I just like to take control of the exposure, that's all.
PlantedTao
Well-known
Well, I would not say I'm desperate for it...
but it is a handy tool and when shooting street or any fast action with the rf, I prefer the AE. For me it is one less thing to worry about and I can concentrate on composition or if shooting from the hip, it gives a pretty good exposed neg (havent got the aiming down on that one yet )
I have noticed that you can rely on it too much and become lazy... I have fallen into that trap before... the AE lock on the ZI is handy and can compensate for tricky lighting.
AE has it's place and it is a handy feature to have on your camera when you know when and why you want to use it.
but it is a handy tool and when shooting street or any fast action with the rf, I prefer the AE. For me it is one less thing to worry about and I can concentrate on composition or if shooting from the hip, it gives a pretty good exposed neg (havent got the aiming down on that one yet
)I have noticed that you can rely on it too much and become lazy... I have fallen into that trap before... the AE lock on the ZI is handy and can compensate for tricky lighting.
AE has it's place and it is a handy feature to have on your camera when you know when and why you want to use it.
fleetwoodjazz
Established
If I'm not mistaken, rfs with AE still give you control of the exposure right? At first I thought of the same thing but then I realised I bought a fully manual rf because I know it will serve me well for decades. As for AE rfs, I'm not so sure about the electronics inside
oscroft
Veteran
None of the above
ferider
Veteran
Hey, if an M3 had AE I would use it
dazedgonebye
Veteran
Very handy. I keep it on ae and override as necessary.
gregg
Well-known
I have to admit my DSLR is almost always set to some version of AE whether shutter or aperture priority.
On the M6 bodies this is not an option - it forces me to think about the scene more.
On the M6 bodies this is not an option - it forces me to think about the scene more.
Sam N
Well-known
AE is great, especially when it's easy to override it, set compensation, or turn it off. Experienced shooters can know from memory what settings to use based on conditions, but humans cannot measure light on their own. 2 interiors may feel equally bright to someone whose eyes have adjusted, but they could be a couple stops apart.
Battery dependence is pretty much a non-issue in almost all cases. The shelf life of LR44s (and the like) is extremely long and you can just attach a couple of them to your camera strap and always have a backup. It's much more likely that you'll run out of film.
On the other hand, many people prefer the feel of mechanical shutters to electronically controlled ones. It's nice to know that you could theoretically use a camera 50 years from now without having to worry about finding some obscure type of battery.
Battery dependence is pretty much a non-issue in almost all cases. The shelf life of LR44s (and the like) is extremely long and you can just attach a couple of them to your camera strap and always have a backup. It's much more likely that you'll run out of film.
On the other hand, many people prefer the feel of mechanical shutters to electronically controlled ones. It's nice to know that you could theoretically use a camera 50 years from now without having to worry about finding some obscure type of battery.
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drewbarb
picnic like it's 1999
I find aperture priority AE to be useful at times, but more to the point, for me it's the only reason to have an in-camera meter; I wouldn't choose a metered body without it.
When I look through the camera, the only thing I want to pay attention to is the subject. By that point, the time to be making decisions about the exposure is over. I don't want blinking diodes or needles in my finder distracting me from my subject. I'll put up with that crap if it gets me AE- otherwise, I'd rather work without it. I use a hand-held meter and set my exposure before I shoot, no matter what equipment I'm using. Whether I'm selecting aperture and shutter speed or (with AE) just aperture, I prefer to do this before I shoot.
When I look through the camera, the only thing I want to pay attention to is the subject. By that point, the time to be making decisions about the exposure is over. I don't want blinking diodes or needles in my finder distracting me from my subject. I'll put up with that crap if it gets me AE- otherwise, I'd rather work without it. I use a hand-held meter and set my exposure before I shoot, no matter what equipment I'm using. Whether I'm selecting aperture and shutter speed or (with AE) just aperture, I prefer to do this before I shoot.
infrequent
Well-known
AE rocks. seriously.
grainy_shadows
Established
i like to use ae on my manual slrs, its just easier and more convenient for getting the shot, not wasting time on setting exposure values and missing it
pvdhaar
Peter
I'm not sure I understand the distinction AE vs. not being battery dependent..
There are cameras out there that have no AE, heck, not even metering, and that still rely on a battery to operate (thinking along the line of the electronically timed Bronica leafshutter SLRs)..
Then what's AE? It's a pain and it's a blessing all in one go.. It's a pain because it requires compensation to get good exposure for anything that's not middle grey.. And it's a blessing because it can get you decent exposure if you're concentrating on something else like capturing action..
Isn't this more about a particular choice you have between the attractions of the alternate Bessa models (R2/3/4 A vs. R2/3/4 M)? In that case, and if you're undecided, get the AE model. Cameras that don't have autofocus and motorised film advance tend to go for very long on a single set of batteries..
There are cameras out there that have no AE, heck, not even metering, and that still rely on a battery to operate (thinking along the line of the electronically timed Bronica leafshutter SLRs)..
Then what's AE? It's a pain and it's a blessing all in one go.. It's a pain because it requires compensation to get good exposure for anything that's not middle grey.. And it's a blessing because it can get you decent exposure if you're concentrating on something else like capturing action..
Isn't this more about a particular choice you have between the attractions of the alternate Bessa models (R2/3/4 A vs. R2/3/4 M)? In that case, and if you're undecided, get the AE model. Cameras that don't have autofocus and motorised film advance tend to go for very long on a single set of batteries..
ampguy
Veteran
don't really care, but if AE is there, I need an AE lock, button to press so I can quickly meter on the subject (or equivalent lighting nearby), while excluding extraneous highlights, and frame and shoot while holding the button. It's just habit, not better or worse than anything.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I have two cameras with AE ... Hexar and Ikon but tend not to use it a lot unless there is no real option and that situation is rare in my opinion. I far prefer to meter a scene manually and if you are out and about taking pics you can generally step out into the light take a reading then base your shooting on that reading and adjust exposure to suit where you actually are regarding shadow etc.
The AE lock button on the Ikon is a good idea but I wish they had positioned it better!
The AE lock button on the Ikon is a good idea but I wish they had positioned it better!
fleetwoodjazz
Established
Nahh, I got over that dilema long ago. I own a M6 and a Zeiss Ikon myself. As a long time user of Pentax K1000, I was skeptical about AE but ZI was really nice camera that somehow surprised me with how accurate AE can be. However, part of me still in love with guessing the exposure so I bought myself a M6 but for pratical use, ZI is more convenient.
A frien of mine is thinking about the Leica M7 and I lent him my two rfs to try out. We sat together and figured out that at current UK price for a new M7, he could actually buy one new ZI, one mint M6 and perhaps one new Bessa. Shocking to see how Leica manage to charge soooo much for AE.
Cheers
pesphoto
Veteran
I have a Bessa R for when I want all manual, but I do enjoy taking out my GSN for some fast street shooting without having to worry about my camera settings so much.
alan davus
Well-known
I use my Hexar RF on AE almost exclusively and find the meter to be astonishingly accurate ( allowing for the usual suspects that require exp. compensation.) My M6 ttl took a little time to learn how to use the semi spot meter accurately but then I hadn't shot manually for nearly 20 years. Bit like riding a bike, once learned never forgotten. But I love the RF on AE. At the moment I'm using a new ZM18 Distagon on both cameras metering manually and with AE.
Damaso
Photojournalist
For the life of me I can't understand why someone would use AE. Under tough conditions AE is rarely as good as a well trained eye. It always baffled me why many of my pro friends would shoot with AE...
froyd
Veteran
I used to be in the non-AE camp. Then I had kids. Can't do kids without either AE, AF or sometimes both