Kozhe
Well-known
Sunny f16 is the funniest way for me 🙂 I just don´t feel like using a meter at all...
M2users : how you guys meter ?
- Thread starter proenca
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noah b
Established
I like old gossen luna pro's, just because they go to f/90. The voigtlander VC meters are fantastic as well.
hans voralberg
Veteran
What on earth has f90 ??
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
proenca, the easiest way is to standardize on your film (and pick one that will stay around, nothing worse than having to "relearn" every 6 month). Once you got your film and processing down pat, just shoot and guess - and try to remember when things did not work out and why.
It is not "illegal" to carry a small hand held meter (Gossen, Sekonic or VC) as a reference when you are not sure. In most cases your guess will be close and after a while you will be able to ignore the meter and just shoot. If it is a critical shot - meter (and bracket!!!), but for fast action - a meter slows you down and thats when it sometimes is better to concentrate on focus and speed than fiddle with the meter!
It is not "illegal" to carry a small hand held meter (Gossen, Sekonic or VC) as a reference when you are not sure. In most cases your guess will be close and after a while you will be able to ignore the meter and just shoot. If it is a critical shot - meter (and bracket!!!), but for fast action - a meter slows you down and thats when it sometimes is better to concentrate on focus and speed than fiddle with the meter!
calexg
Established
I look at my scene, and guess the exposure in my head. Then I use a Kodalux L meter to check my reading with the meter's. If I'm wrong, I try to remember to write down my initial thought, and the meter's. I try to recall previous lighting conditions to determine the proper exposure. I shoot Tri-X so if I make a mistake, the film is rather forgiving.
I try to write everything down so I can learn from my mistakes. Trial and error.
I try to write everything down so I can learn from my mistakes. Trial and error.
Al Kaplan
Veteran
You can also use "guide numbers" just like you'd use with flash.
If you know that the exposure five feet from a lamp is 1/30 at f/4 then for that film and shutter speed you have a guide number of 20 ~ f/stop times distance equals 20. Thus:
3.5 feet you need f/5.6
7 feet you need f/2.8
10 feet requires f/2
14 feet requires f/1.4
A single reading and a quick look around the room to see what lights are on and where they're located and you should be able to figure exposure anyplace in the room. In places like offices, drugstores, super markets, etc., lighting is pretty standardized. Know the lighting in one Walgreens and you'll be on target at all the other Walgreens stores. Probably CVS too. Target, Walmart, K-mart, same thing. Make up a cheat sheet and carry it with you, maybe tuck it under the meter in its case or tape it to the back of your camers..
If you know that the exposure five feet from a lamp is 1/30 at f/4 then for that film and shutter speed you have a guide number of 20 ~ f/stop times distance equals 20. Thus:
3.5 feet you need f/5.6
7 feet you need f/2.8
10 feet requires f/2
14 feet requires f/1.4
A single reading and a quick look around the room to see what lights are on and where they're located and you should be able to figure exposure anyplace in the room. In places like offices, drugstores, super markets, etc., lighting is pretty standardized. Know the lighting in one Walgreens and you'll be on target at all the other Walgreens stores. Probably CVS too. Target, Walmart, K-mart, same thing. Make up a cheat sheet and carry it with you, maybe tuck it under the meter in its case or tape it to the back of your camers..
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Close to my modus operandi. My meter is a clip on Sekonic CDS meter. I have found that using the same speed film for a prolongued period of time helps to estimate more accurately. Once you have managed that, it's easier to compensate for a different speed film.
I'd estimate f2.8 @ 1/50th (using old DS M3, old scale shutter speeds) while using 100Asa film, so I know I can up aperture or speed one stop when using 200Asa.
And, when in low light or indoors, I meter. Or use the M5 🙄
