Bessa R metering

[itf]

I've just acquired a Bessa R from RXMD, and I'm very happy with it. I believe a few others on here have owned it too. It will be going to SE Asia with me shortly 😀.

One thing I'm quite curious about is the metering. It won't meter in line with 'sunny 16' (which I usually use), it's usually a stop under (erring towards over-exposure). I noticed the shutter curtains (from which the meter takes its reading) are grey, which seems odd; the meter is essentially taking its reading from a grey card, so unless you're pointing the camera at the sky, you're taking a reflected light (greycard) reading from already reflected light (the subject).

It's not a problem for me, I use print film anyway (and maybe it's me thats out), but does anyone else think this odd?

 

[fishtek]

The meter is bottom-center weighted. If you do a search on Stephen Gandy's site, you'll find an explanation of the metering.

Seems to work well for me.

Regards!
Don

 

[tedwhite]

Me too. I have no trouble (unless I ignore the meter) and virtually every exposure is spot on.

 

[hobbim]

Meters can be calibrated differently. For example some Seconics and some Gossens have about 2/3 stop difference. Both brands meter exactly right the way the manufacturer thinks middle gray should be (12% and 18% being common choises). Throw in different color temperatures and you'll see difference even in the same meter!

My Bessa R meters tends to over exposure by about 1/2 stops when compared to my other cameras or my Minolta spotmeter (in daylight). It is just a matter to get used to, nothing to worry about. I think it actually allows you to include more sky on the metering zone than a "properly" calibrated meter would.


There is nothing wrong with the spot on the curtains being gray. It's reflectance is irrelevant as long as meter is calibrated for the reflectance it has. Lighter color would reflect more light and would allow better low-light metering though (assuming the same electronics).

 

[itf]

Yeah, just feeding my curiosity because the meter seemed different to what I was used to and was wondering if there was something behind it. I figured the colour didn't matter because the meter would be calibrated to it.
Cheers.

 

[Lemures-Ex]

I had an R for a while and in my experience the meter was pretty accurate. On a sunny beach with Velvia 50 I'd open up 2 stops from the meter reading and the esposures would be perfect, and they were just as accurate in situations where I use the meters reading exactly. I figure if it will be accurate enough to shoot slide film it will work fine for anything else...

Jared

 

[spiderfrank]

I have a Bessa R too, and the light meter is perfect... Even compared with my Canon Eos. So don't worry about it !

 

[Bertram2]

I I noticed the shutter curtains (from which the meter takes its reading) are grey, which seems odd; the meter is essentially taking its reading from a grey card, so unless you're pointing the camera at the sky, you're taking a reflected light (greycard) reading from already reflected light (the subject).

Wrongy thought. Decisive in this context is only one thing , and that is to get the right value, no matter how. It works with the reflection from a dark grey Elephant butt too, if the calbration is set right. 😎
Compare it to a lightmeter, metering the palm , with the camera and the meter.

Regards,
bertram

 

[tedwhite]

Hobbim:

Mine does the same thing, but only outside, so when I meter I compensate. As you say, it's not much, and doesn't seem to affect the image. Inside, or in open shade, it does a proper job.

Ted