Metering with/for ND filter

[SolaresLarrave]

Dear Folks,

My most recent acquisition is an Ultron 28mm f2. I'd like to use one ND filter I have (I believe it's a 0.30, so it's very "weak"). How do I go about metering? I'm using it with a meterless camera (M4-2) and ISO 400 film.

Do I simply give the exposure a 1/2 stop compensation (say, open the lens half stop)? I could also set the meter to read light at... ISO 200, 320?

How do you do it? Just wondering... Thanks a lot!

 

[rpsawin]

Metering thru a nd filter is straight forward. Graduated nd's are another matter. Anyway, nd's come in various strengths so I use the following workflow:

Metering with an external meter I determine my exposure and then adjust for the nd filter factor. If you are using a camera with an internal meter try metering with the nd on the lens. Now take the filter off and take a reading. Adjust that reading with the filter factor and then compare the reading with the first reading. If there is a major difference I would go with the reading using the filter factor adjustment. The Lee Filter website has some great videos on it done by Joe Cornish.

 

[sevo]

0.3 on the logarithmic density scale (of 0.3 units per stop) would be a full stop, same as "2x"!

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Thanks, guys! I will do the necessary one stop compensation. The whole thing is to shoot my Ultron 28mm as open as one can.

Again, thanks a lot! 🙂

 

[noisycheese]

You can also meter through the ND filter.

Using your handheld reflective light meter, hold the ND filter closely in front of the opening where the light enters your meter. This gives you the same metering effect as putting an ND filter on a SLR lens and using the meter that is built in to the camera.

One caveat - avoid having a direct light source fall on the ND filter when using this technique. A direct light source hitting the filter can cause reflections and throw off your meter reading.

Oh, and once you get your meter reading, don't forget to put the ND filter back on to your camera lens. 😉

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Good tip! 🙂 Thanks a lot!