Is it the scanner or my metering?

[didotcicero]

This is what is bugging me for a while now:
I'm shooting my Bessa R with 50mm/1.5 Nokton on XP2. I get the XP2 developed at the 1 hour shop and then I scan it.

I use Silverfast software with the dedicated XP2 preset. When I scan the negs I have to set it to the darkest preset (-3.0) to get a good scan (it would be too light otherwise). Even then I need to adjust the curves in Photoshop to get a real nice contrasty pic.

There are brandnew batteries in the Bessa. Bessa's lightmeter says I'm dead on. Since it is a TTL-meter it shouldn't have to do with the Nokton, should it?

So now I wonder: Is it the scanner or my metering that is off? If it is my metering (it probably is) please tell me how I can improve on it.

What is the best way to meter with the Bessa's own meter?

 

[back alley]

my basic metering technique is pretty simple and i use it alot.

no matter what i'm shooting (usually street scenes) i aim the camera down at the ground and use that meter reading for my shooting.
i aim it at the shady and the sunny side of the street and choose accordingly.

try it for a few frames next roll.

joe

 

[vicmortelmans]

You say "When I scan the negs I have to set it to the darkest preset (-3.0) to get a good scan (it would be too light otherwise)". I assume that you refer to the positive image? So in fact the scanned negative image is too dark.

Most probably, this means that the negatives are too dense, and this is mostly related to development. For scanning, I have to underdevelop my film, in order to get thin negatives. Otherwise, the highlight detail is completely overruled by scanner noise.

Maybe you can ask the lab to underdevelop (pull) the film? That may give your thinner negs.

The best suggestion however is to develop yourself.

Groeten,

Vic