Another question for you experts / exposure

[ggenet]

First thanks fore the good information found on this forum

As I am new to "old" range finder (just got a Canon IIIA)

How do you manage exposure (besides adjusting aperture and speed) ?
How do you manage (without an external tool) good exposure with out
build in meter ?

I just figured that all my previous and actual camera do have a builtin light meter ...

Is ther a simple rule of thumb ?

Thanks for your help !

Gilles

 

[FrankS]

Yep! The Sunny 16 Rule, and a separate handheld light meter.

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Welcome Gilles,
As you learn to interpret light with your fully manual camera you will acquire skills that will be very useful with your automatic cameras, as well. You may want to pick up a light meter -- there are many good ones to choose from and lots of good advice on this forum.

 

[rover]

I am not good enough to guess myself. I use a handheld meter to measure the light falling on my subject or the light falling on a subject in the same light as my subject, and then shoot away.

 

[ggenet]

OK I see ... then I need to practice and run some rolls !

I'll get back to my books to help a little

Thanks to all of you

 

[pvdhaar]

On many cardboard boxes that film comes in, there's an exposure guide. Sometimes it's on the inside, sometimes on the outside. It may serve as a starting point.

However, nothing beats a handheld light meter. You can use it without even making a single exposure to practice.

 

[ChrisN]

Yep - light meter. I'm getting into the habit of playing with a light meter when I go for a walk, even if I don't intend to take a picture. Look at a scene, make a guess at what the exposure should be (from the "sunny 16" rule) then check what the meter says. Good practice.

 

[richard_l]

Get a good light meter. If you are still determined to do without a meter, use the Ultimate Exposure Computer.

 

[ggenet]

Well I must say it worked fine (close to perfect for a first attempt)

I've run 2 rolls using the "Ultimate Exposure Computer" and I am impressed with the result

I have ordered a light meter but I'm not sure to take it with me at all time ...

It's a lot of fun !!!

Thanks !!!

 

[djon]

Thanks to various repeated online-urgings I've got a Gossen Digisix...beautiful, *tiny* accurate (vs several other good meters) and sensitive down to much lower light than my Canon F1's meter.