R-D1 metering woes

[andyturk]

The metering on the R-D1 bit me again yesterday. I had a subject ready to go and unfortunately, the framing had a couple of small patches of sky in the corners. I let the camera pick the shutter speed and the shot was underexposed by two stops. I rescued it in PS, but the shadows are a little gritty.

This happens regularly and you'd think I'd learn to compensate, but in the heat of the moment, I seem to forget. I think the problem is that the meter is quite sensitive to what's happening at the edges of the frame and possibly beyond.

I did a little test a while back with a 60W light bulb and a black background. I put the camera on auto shutter and took 25 different readings with the bulb on a 5x5 grid within the frame. The meter was most sensitive at the center, but dropped by at most 4 stops at the corners.

I ran my M6 through the same test. It too was most sensitive at the center, but was down by at least 7 stops at the "brightest" corner. The Epson looks at the whole frame, while the Leica pays attention only to the center. For me, the M6 works better.

Any suggestions?

 

[Aurelius]

No idea, but is it possible that the metering has something in common with the Bessa R Metering Pattern as described at http://cameraquest.com/voigrf.htm
scroll down.

I am very pleased with this metering method on my Bessa R. But so far only about 20 rolls through, so my critical eye might be blinded! The R is so fun to use!

 

[pfogle]

On my R-D1 the central shutter blind is much lighter than the others, so it favors the horizontal stripe more than the top or bottom. In a vertical picture such as the one above, the bright sky, headdress and tepee in the cental (vertical) third of the frame will certainly fool the metering by at least a stop if not two.

If I'm using the camera outside, I often keep it set at +1 on the compensation dial, and find that's usually ok.

It does seem though, from the postings here, as though there might be calibration differences between some cameras. Given the variation in other areas, I wouldn't be surprised if some cameras underexpose more than others.

 

[boilerdoc2]

Yes, the Epson tends to 'protect' the highlights I guess you would call it. I.e. it tends to underexpose especially in contrasty lighting. Watch the histogram and as suggested dial in some + compensation. It is an awesome camera. I have my second one on order from R White.