Does your minolta TC-1 work like mine?

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hamish_gill

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Jul 27, 2008
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Have just bought a Minolta TC-1, what a lovely thing it is, superb lens

Anyway, starting to gather my thoughts on it for the blog and decided I'd try and get a proper grasp of the cameras metering pattern.

Ive noticed something odd, and just want to make sure they are all like it and not just mine.

When using the normal meter (not spot), if I point it at a small light source framed in the centre that takes up less of the frame than the spot meter circle, I get a lower reading than with the light source just outside the circle.

Equally with a dark object just taking up the area of the centre circle I get a higher reading than if it's just outside the circle

Ie it seems the "centre weighted" meter, actually is a doughnut shaped metering pattern with the circle of the spot meter being the inside edge of that doughnut

Can anyone else who has one just see if theirs does the same or if mine is a bit wayward...

Cheers

Hamish
 
I don't have a TC-1, but you may get some replies when the folks in Asia wake up. It's about 3 AM there right now.

Here's an older thread on the TC-1, but no one mentions the metering.

Best Regards,
 
Thanks, I posted it a day or so back ...
I'm not worried really, I'm getting well used to how mine works even if it's not how they all do... Though I suspect it probably is normal.
Cheers
 
Spot Metering
The TC-1 is equipped with the same spot metering system as some of today’s SLR cameras. The diameter of the spot meter circle is 5.5mm, and the EV range is 2.5 - 17 (at ISO 100). Spot metering is very helpful in unusual lighting situations where accurate subject exposure is critical, since it allows the user to base the exposure on a small and specific area of the scene. To take a spot meter reading, place the viewfinder’s spot meter circle on the subject, press and hold the spot button, and press the shutter-release button down to take the picture.
 
G'day from Australia Hamish.

My TC1 does the same as yours. - Normal metering with the spot circle near a light source = 1/60th (shown as 1/30th -1/125th remembering they don't have a 1/60th display). Move the spot circle over the light source = 1/30th. Turn spot on over the light source and it is over 1/500th. My Gossen Digisix reads 1/30th off light and 1/125th on the light...

I don't quite understand its readings, but when I use it the camera produces beautiful images using transparency film. One of my fav compacts in my collection which includes RicohGr1s, Oly MjuII, XA, XA4, Fujifilm Tiara, NIkon 35Ti, Nikon AF600, Rollei 35se, Yaschica T4 Konica Big Mini, and a few others.

Oh and thanks for the blog - straight to the favourites.
 
jmilkins said:
G'day from Australia Hamish.

My TC1 does the same as yours. - Normal metering with the spot circle near a light source = 1/60th (shown as 1/30th -1/125th remembering they don't have a 1/60th display). Move the spot circle over the light source = 1/30th. Turn spot on over the light source and it is over 1/500th. My Gossen Digisix reads 1/30th off light and 1/125th on the light...

I don't quite understand its readings, but when I use it the camera produces beautiful images using transparency film. One of my fav compacts in my collection which includes RicohGr1s, Oly MjuII, XA, XA4, Fujifilm Tiara, NIkon 35Ti, Nikon AF600, Rollei 35se, Yaschica T4 Konica Big Mini, and a few others.

Oh and thanks for the blog - straight to the favourites.
Click to expand...

Thank you, exactly the answer I was looking for! Good to know mine isn't faulty! :)

It is an odd meter isn't it!? I'm not sure it's entirely worth dissecting it's function to the extent we have, especially when for the most part, as you say, it produces great results... It's just part of enjoyment for me with cameras like these. Their idiosyncrasies, foibles and limitations become part of the challenge of mastering them I think!

Glad you enjoy the blog, sounds like you are an idea candidate for submitting a "fanatic" post to it!? - http://www.35mmc.com/category/are-you-a-35mm-compact-fanatic/ :)
 
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