Metering with a compact digicam

[cysasam]

Has anyone ever worked with an FSU with a compact digicam acting as (cheapskate) meter? The digicam - Fuji F30 - was just gathering dust so I had the bright idea (or not) of making it as a light meter.

I've tried a couple of negative rolls already, and the results look underexposed. You may wish to take a look here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyril_in_cebu/

specially under the "Amsterdam" folder.

I did remember - belatedly - someone writing that digicams mimic positive film's sensitivity and so are calibrated as such. Is that correct?

Anyone else tried using a digicam with their FSU rfs?

Thanks for any input!

 

[mackigator]

Works fine for me. I have a similar setup with a Rolleicord and an LX3.

 

[MRohlfing]

Does the F30 have a histogram?

I think without a histogram it might be difficult to see on the display, whether the exposure is really spot-on

 

[cysasam]

I compared the Fuji's exposure to my Nikon D70 and my wife's Alpha 350, and both DSLRs agree with the compact's exposure settings.

Maybe it's the FED's shutter speed that's out of whack then. Guess it's time to take out the jeweler's screwdriver for some CLA? 😉

 

[climbing_vine]

Do it! The FED is easy. And I agree that this is a decent way to meter, I do it with my various vintages of Canon Elph digitals. They're nice for the purpose because they have three useful metering modes: "evaluative", which does a best-guess with all sorts of intelligence, sort of like old Program modes but better; center-weighted, and spot.

Edit: And by "do it" I mean get the shutter on track. 🙂

 

[bolas]

I had the same idea - to carry modern DC just to meter the light and then shoot with Kiev 😉 In practice it appeard that it's to heavy and to much things to do before ... so i just was trying my luck 😉 First results were quite good, then i bought Svedrlovsk-4 light meter.

 

[calexg]

Very smart idea! I'm debating whether or not I should buy the Sekonic L308s or just go for an el cheapo digicam.

 

[fretbuzzard]

I actually really like this method. As an added bonus, you can snap your "metering pic" with the digicam, and you now have a document of the aperture and shutter speed that you used on the corresponding shot in your film camera! EXIF data can be really useful in this way!

 

[cysasam]

I actually really like this method. As an added bonus, you can snap your "metering pic" with the digicam, and you now have a document of the aperture and shutter speed that you used on the corresponding shot in your film camera! EXIF data can be really useful in this way!

My thoughts exactly when I started doing it.

Well, I did the CLA dance, and now the FED seems much quiter. Of course it still doesn't have the *shhlk* of the more expensive RFs🙄

Now for a new roll!

 

[BigOwl]

I have used this approach with my Casio EX-Z60 and Zorki 4. Just carry the Casio in a belt case and it is no more trouble, nor larger, than a decent dedicated meter. It has a histogram, but I have not taken advantage of it. Results so far have been very satisfactory.

 

[Justin Smith]

I actually really like this method. As an added bonus, you can snap your "metering pic" with the digicam, and you now have a document of the aperture and shutter speed that you used on the corresponding shot in your film camera! EXIF data can be really useful in this way!

That's a great idea! I use my Canon P&S as meter; especially in low-light situations where my old GE selenium meter has trouble.