No light meter.....liberating???

[FrankS]

Hey, Taffy. The ground could be ashalt, grass, dirt, or concrete. Concrete would be a bit lighter than 18% grey, just like your palm is a bit lighter than 18% grey. Open up a stop from your palm or from light coloured concrete. The bright blue sky (with no sun) is 18% refectance too, but then if you're seeing bright blue sky, that's simply sunny-16.

 

[taffy]

Hey, Taffy. The ground could be ashalt, grass, dirt, or concrete. Concrete would be a bit lighter than 18% grey, just like your palm is a bit lighter than 18% grey. Open up a stop from your palm or from light coloured concrete. The bright blue sky (with no sun) is 18% refectance too, but then if you're seeing bright blue sky, that's simply sunny-16.

Thanks a lot Frank! I'll try this right away 🙂

 

[Bertram2]

Would I shun an external meter in favor of an estimate based on prior experience? No. I just don't currently own one. It does seem like a good compromise though. Use an external meter for the original reading. Get confirmation of correct exposure early on and make any subtle changes based on experience.

The external meter is even more than a good compromise for me, if it can read incident light.

Holding it up over my head, the diffusor pointing backwards, gives me a reliable basis value for the given illumination which can be adjusted from frame to frame if necessary.
This way of of exposing often produces more hits than the reflecting metering of the camera does. One has to be attentive tho , the light changes fast sometimes, two little clouds can make a full stop or two and it's time for a new basis value then.

If I got time enuff I prefer this way of metering too. If there is no time I prefer to rely on AE and knowing the pattern and considering the deviations of reflective metering I correct it from frame to frame with the +/- button.

Bertram

 

[Ken Ford]

Taffy, I wouldn't use the back of your hand - most people lighten and darken as the seasons change. Your palm is relatively stable.

When I'm using a TTL meter like this (like I do with my DSLRs), I actually dial the 2/3 stop correction needed for my palm right in to the camera - it's easier than always remembering to stop down! The danger, of course, is that you have to remember not to meter a scene directly.

 

[Paulbe]

Hi Barry and congrats!! That was/is some nice camera! A beauty but my GAS had gotten out of hand and I had to recluctantly watch it sit in the case for a few days....painful! It was certainly one of the nicer M2s around.
Mike and crew are a pleasure to deal with.
They have the "tent event" on 1 April---might be an ominous date--but Rob and Walker and I are talking about meeting there sometime during the day. Please bring the new M2 so we can oooo and ahhh some more!
Paul

 

[Paulbe]

OOPS! To answer your question Barry---no that wasn't my camera..no idea where it came from.
Paul

 

[barry]

They have the "tent event" on 1 April---might be an ominous date--but Rob and Walker and I are talking about meeting there sometime during the day. Please bring the new M2 so we can oooo and ahhh some more!
Paul

Let me know when you will be over there. It would be nice to meet some forum members.

 

[Paulbe]

It will indeed and we'll try to set a time good for everyone.
Enjoy the M2..
Paul