FED-2 and the light...

[Florian1234]

Hey,
as you might have noticed I'm new into RF photography with my recently bought FED-2.
Now I completed my first roll of film with it (b/w Agfa APX 400, 36er).
Being a total noob to "hand made" photos, I shot nearly every photo with 1/50 speed and only changed aperture through all possible positions (2 to 22).

I really hope that I didn't make a beginner's mistake causing nearly all photos of the first film to be rouined.

Do you guys have a hand-held light-measure instrument or do you just guess what speed you need? Is that a thing that will come with experience or am I doomed to fail after this beginning?

Please enlighten me with your wisdom 😀
Ouw, and: Guten Rutsch (meaning: have a good start into the new year!)

 

[Florian1234]

Thanks for the quick reply.

What type are good and "cheap" light meters that are also available in Germany?

 

[giovatony]

I have had pretty good results using only the "Sunny 16" rule but I think the people doing the processing are more responsible for my success than I am.
Since using a hand held meter I almost never get a bad exposure.
I also meter much less now that I`m gaining experience with lighting situations.
When and if my old GE light meter fails I`m gonna get a Sekonic 208 ($94) on Amazon. It looks to be rated well and a priced right.
John

 

[payasam]

The Sekonic L-158 is an inexpensive selenium meter, adequate except for low light.

 

[rxmd]

What type are good and "cheap" light meters that are also available in Germany?

How much do you want to spend?

For under 10 EUR I would go looking for a Weimar Lux CDS. This is the East German copy of the Lunasix. You can get them for 1 to 5 EUR on eBay. Needs a mercury battery so take care that you get one with battery. The battery lasts for ages, I bought mine four years ago and it still holds.

You can also try to get a Gossen Sixtar 2. This is probably the best "old" budget lightmeter available, it has a fast and good silicon metering cell and no battery problems. I've seen them sell between 10 and 20 EUR, but sometimes they go a little higher. There is one on eBay at the moment with six days to go, and in Bremen as well.

In addition, in the 1970s there was a whole bunch of relatively compact CdS meters under various brand names such as "F-4". You rarely see them alone on eBay, though, mostly as parts of camera lots. A good bet here in Germany are "Revue" or "Porst" brand devices, because the brandnames are not worth anything so that prices don't go up. A Porst Spezial should be available for under 10 EUR. Just browse the lightmeter category on eBay and set your upper price bound to 10 EUR, and you will find lots of interesting stuff.

You can try going with a selenium meter, such as a Weimarlux nova, a Gossen Bisix or Sixtino. They are usually very cheap, but it's a bit of a lottery to get a cheap one that still works. I wouldn't probably get one now.

If you can spend a little more money, for under 50 EUR I would go looking for a Gossen Lunasix F or Gossen Profisix. You might have to spend a while looking. They are a bit big, though. Or a Sekonic L-188, if you want the compactness; they are rare in Germany, though.

Philipp

 

[Florian1234]

Thanks for the help. I just had a look on ebay, too. But didn't know which types to look for. 🙂

 

[wolves3012]

Print film has quite a wide latitude, so mistakes aren't too serious. I have an old Ilford camera that has a fixed shutter speed and "sunny" or "cloudy" for lens apertures. Despite this, it still makes good photos in most daylight situations.

As for light meters, the Gossens and Sekonics are widely liked. I have an old Weston Master IV that I use with good results.

Taking all your pictures at 1/50th is probably not a good choice. Explore the possibilities of other speeds when you have a meter, and see what the corresponding choice of F-stop will do for depth-of-field. If you aren't experienced in holding the camera you will probably get camera-shake blur using 1/50th or 1/25, so try and go higher if possible. A little practice will easily allow 1/25 on an RF though in most cases.

Above all, have fun!

 

[brachal]

I've used a little Gossen Scout 2 for years. Love it.

 

[Ducky]

Check this thread. there's a chart for estimating light and settings.
Good luck.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34642

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

One thing being told to get a meter......and what kind, - but another....using it correctly!, as for the so-called 'sunny sixteen'......apart from some extreme close-ups, I can't remember when I last used f16, as by this setting on 35mm, lens performance is past it's best! 🙁 Here we re-affirm the wisdom of sticking to one or two film types, that we are thoroughly familiar with! 🙂

Cheers, Dave

 

[shadowfox]

Using a meter --> good
Becoming too dependent of it --> not good.

Sunny-16 rule isn't only useful for when the sun is blazing above our heads 🙂

In fact, the rule is more of like a guide to an offset-calculation that will eventually train your eyes (and brain) to be a reliable meter. There's no substitute for actually trying it, it's very cool and satisfying once you "get" it.

About meters, like sitemistic said up there, just go with old, cheap, selenium light meters, I use a Sekonic L-308, more than accurate for my usage. No need to spend $400 for a Kenko for example 😀

 

[fanshaw]

Using a meter --> good
Becoming too dependent of it --> not good.

Sunny-16 rule isn't only useful for when the sun is blazing above our heads 🙂

In fact, the rule is more of like a guide to an offset-calculation that will eventually train your eyes (and brain) to be a reliable meter. There's no substitute for actually trying it, it's very cool and satisfying once you "get" it.

About meters, like sitemistic said up there, just go with old, cheap, selenium light meters, I use a Sekonic L-308, more than accurate for my usage. No need to spend $400 for a Kenko for example 😀

I agree with you. I use a meter (Weston Master IV) which I find very reliable and it cost very little, BUT, before taking a reading I aways estimate the exposure. and then compare my estimate with the meter. That way I have become quite skilled in judging light conditions.
I do the same with distances, so that I can focus by scale if necessary, with confidence.

 

[petronius]

I use cameras from full automatic matrix metered Nikons down to Dianas and other toycams, in B&W or color negative and the prints come out surprisingly constant. Modern films and labs can fix a lot exposing mistakes. Buy a cheap Gossen Sixtino or Bisix and learn, as shadowfox and fanshaw said, to expose without it!

 

[Florian1234]

Guys,
thank you very much for the kind help. I am watching some Gossen light-meters on ebay now. Auctions will all end tomorrow evening (time zone Amsterda/Berlin).

 

[Nickfed]

You really should not get spooked by all this light stuff.

You only first need to understand what is going on, rather than just trust to luck. The "Sunny-16" procedure, or the instructions inside the film box, will serve you well. It will certainly get you started and give you an appreciation of the environment you are trying to capture. Modern film has plenty of latitude, which hardly surprising when you consider the typical modern camera that is required to "take good pictures" when using it. I have an excellent little Kodak zoom camera. It takes everything at 1/125 @ f11. It has never taken a bad picture. Because I live down here in God's own where the sun shines bright, I thought I would get scientific and use 200ASA film instead of the 400 recommended on the sticker inside the camera. It made no difference as far as I can tell.

If you get a roll of your standard supermarket Superia 400 and set your FED-2 to the same settings, you will be amazed at the result. And you can work on from there.

If you must get a meter, there are plenty to be had. The Weston Master IV I have had for years is solid, reliable, servicable and can't cost more than about $10 on eBay these days, but the best thing you can learn about metering is how to keep it in your pocket. Under most lighting conditions, you will just look like an idiot, holding up a light meter.

 

[wolves3012]

The Weston Master IV I have had for years is solid, reliable, servicable and can't cost more than about $10 on eBay these days, but the best thing you can learn about metering is how to keep it in your pocket. Under most lighting conditions, you will just look like an idiot, holding up a light meter.

Don't know about that - the old Westons are getting quite collectible! I had 3 attempts before I got my IV - the 1st one got lost (!) in post, 2nd turned up non-working and the 3rd was (and is) fine. I wanted a IV specifically for the larger, uncluttered calculator dial - aging eyes are a damn nuisance! A lot of the old selenium meters no longer work now of course. Westons still have new cells available but no-one seems to bother replacing them, they get junked instead so they're getting more scarce.

 

[Nickfed]

Don't know about that - the old Westons are getting quite collectible! I wanted a IV specifically for the larger, uncluttered calculator dial - aging eyes are a damn nuisance! Westons still have new cells available but no-one seems to bother replacing them, they get junked instead so they're getting more scarce.

I didn't know that but I'm glad you managed to get one in the end. And yes, the calculator is a masterpiece of industrial desgn. I don't use mine much but I must try to get another before they disappear. The flaps on the case have worn out, as I guess is inevitable.......

 

[januaryman]

I have a Gossen Luna Pro, but for the most part, after a few months of playing around with the Sunny 16 rule BUT changing it to the Sunny 11 rule in the winter, I rarely have missed more than one shot in a roll of 36. I sometimes carry the Luna Pro, but don't use it unless I'm indoors, where my guesses aree far less correct and I feel better using a meter. Experiment and you'll find that you can meter as well as anything you get on ebay. (Unless you're indoors!) ;-)

 

[Florian1234]

Thank you all for the hints. And Pitxu for the lightmeter. A good deal, although the smell of it is a bit "special" 😀 (no offense here)...

 

[Florian1234]

Good question... a bit like old tobacco or so. But it is okay and works good. 🙂:angel: