Compensating exposure with fast film?

[zdav]

My camera is a Yashica minister-d. When I use a shutter speed slower than 1/30 the shutter tends to be a bit sticky. In order to avoid these slow shutter speeds I want to buy faster film ( I now shoot bw400cn ). Via the net I found a shop in my neigbourhood that sells fujifilm BW neopan 1600.

The minister-d has a built in lightmeter with an ISO dial. The dial only goes upto 400. As far as I understand with 1600 film, I should set the dial to 400, and add +2 stops to get a correct exposure ? ( 1 stop for 800 iso , 2 stops for 1600)

Is that a correct assumption ? I read somewhere the ISO of fast film like 3200 is just a number on the box and that the sensitivity isn't really that high.

Staf

 

[pvdhaar]

If you load 1600 ISO film and set the ISO dial to 400, the metererd value will lead to an overexposure of 2 stops. To get proper exposure, you'd have to set 2 stops underexposure from the metered value (that is use -2 EV).

When it comes to ISO values, the values on the box tell about how the film can be used given the processing choices given for the film (often printed on the inside of the box). You can perfectly expose a 3200 ISO film as 3200 ISO, as long as you develop it using the instructions given for that sensitivity..

 

[Ben Blacket]

That's right, you need to underexpose by two stops if your meter is at 400 asa.
Have you considered getting the camera fixed, or getting another camera?
Don't always trust your meter either. You might want to grab a photography book & read up on it.

 

[mfogiel]

Your best option is to buy Tri X and process in Diafine. Anything exposed between EI 100 and 1600 will be usable.

 

[zdav]

thanks guys,

I was confused by the terminology, on the minister-d there's one ring that simultaneously sets aperture and shutter speed, a higher number on that ring gives you less exposure. So underexposing is done by using a higher number on that ring.

I tried fixing the camera myself by cleaning the shutter blades with alcohol but there isn't the slightest improvement. I don't think getting it fixed will be worth the cost as I bought it for 40€. If I come across another RF with manual settings for less than 50€ it will be hard to resist 🙂

For now, I have my films processed in a shop so I'll just shoot the film at correct ISO.

thanks!