Shutter speed advice.

[Stephanie Brim]

I have no meter. I'm taking the P with me to the amusement park (along with the Canonet to take on actual rides) and I'm going to be using some Velvia. Most likely lots and lots of Velvia. I'm also planning to use a couple rolls of Pan-F for some night shots and some Fuji 100 film. Anyone have advice as to how to get shutter speeds correct? Is there a resource online that I could use to make sure that I'm using the correct speeds?

 

[wlewisiii]

http://www.fredparker.com/ultexp1.htm is the best I know of.

William

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Yeah, that should help. I just want to make sure I'm right on, especially using the slide film.

 

[wlewisiii]

Hope it helps. There are quite inexpensive old selenium meters out there. You might want to invest in one. I've had good luck with old GE PR-1 meters.

William

 

[BJ Bignell]

From my experience, street scenes on well-lit streets at night work out to 12-16 seconds at f/11 w/ISO 100 film. Brightly-lit rides will likely call for much less exposure if you're trying to keep details in the lights, and aren't concerned about seeing much on the ground. At ISO 100, f/11 at 4 seconds is where I'd start.

If at all possible, bracket bracket bracket and take a tripod. Good luck, and show us your results!

BJ

 

[JoeFriday]

that must be the same meter I have.. not very good for indoors or other low light situations, but very good for outside shots

the thing that might get tricky for amusement parks is if you plan to do evening shots to get the lights.. hard to use Sunny 16 in that case

 

[captainslack]

Get yourself a copy of the Kodak Pocket Photoguide. It's got lots of handy guidewheels for every type of exposure situation you can find yourself in. First time I went out with a camera with no meter it saved my butt.

 

[back alley]

are those still in print?

 

[Stephanie Brim]

I'm using the guide that William gave me. 😉 It'll be fine. I'm about ready to leave my boyfriend in the dust and go get something to eat...take the camera with so that I can shoot things if I see them. Hungry photographers aren't good things.

 

[jlw]

I have no meter. I'm taking the P with me to the amusement park (along with the Canonet to take on actual rides) and I'm going to be using some Velvia. Most likely lots and lots of Velvia. I'm also planning to use a couple rolls of Pan-F for some night shots and some Fuji 100 film. Anyone have advice as to how to get shutter speeds correct? Is there a resource online that I could use to make sure that I'm using the correct speeds?

Girl, one of these days you need to get an exposure meter!

I thought of you Saturday when I was at a camera show in Kansas City, pawing through a box of '50s and '60s selenium meters. I found a Norwood Director that looked to be right up your alley, and nearly splurged the $5 asking price... but alas, the film-speed lock on the calculator dial was broken, and I wasn't sure I could fix it, so decided I'd better pass it up.

Still, you should be keeping an eye out for a meter you can live with. Intuition and instinct are fine things for a photographer, but an occasional incident reading as a starting point for further intuitive adjustment isn't gonna hurt anything...

 

[captainslack]

are those still in print?

That's a good question!!! I looked them up on Amazon, but they wanted $52!!!! 😱

I only paid $15 for mine!!

 

[jlw]

Okay, here's something else you can try... it's a little complicated, but:

First, go to the Black Cat Photo Systems site and find the "scene letter" of the type of thing you're going to photograph. It's divided into pages; "Fairs, amusement parks and rides" are on page 4, and the magic letter is K. Il Linkus Clickatus

With your magic letter in hand (or in head) you can go to this page, whereupon entering your magic letter and film speed in a Javascript gizmo will suggest an exposure for you.

Example: Magic letter K and ISO speed of 100 with an f/2 lens suggests a shutter speed of 1/15 for good exposure.

Obviously, Black Cat doesn't want to make this TOO easy, since they sell a dial-type calculator that gives you this information without having to leap about all over the Internet. If you think you're going to remain permanently allergic to exposure meters, you probably should contemplate getting one. (Although at $19.95 it may be more expensive than a decent used meter!)

 

[VictorM.]

After several weeks of ebay abstinence, I had a look at some items, including Calcu Light meters. Two recent auctions went for less than $30.00. August is a good time to buy.

 

[wlewisiii]

Here's a couple of PR-1s going dirt cheap.

http://cgi.ebay.com/GE-PR-1-Light-M...ryZ88670QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-General...ryZ88670QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

William

 

[Bertram2]

Pan F anf Neopan 100 without meter ? Maybe, if you are really experienced. But Velvia ? No , this will get a disappointment I am afraid. You can mess this film up with a half stop too much.
I would not dare to try that. Haven't you got a camera with a working meter which you could abuse for this purpose as a light meter?
If not go and get you a used one somewhere for some bucks, that's the piece of equipment you need most now.Would be a pity to mess up a complete roll of Velvia.
Regards,
Bertram

 

[JoeFriday]

it'll be interesting to see the result, but I have the same thoughts as Bertram.. Velvia is probably the least forgiving film I know of

 

[FrankS]

Great minds think alike: I cringed when I read that too.

 

[Sam66]

Yeah, that should help. I just want to make sure I'm right on, especially using the slide film.

Steph,

Will's link is exceptionally useful, follow the "Exposure Value Chart" & "Exposure Factor Relationship Chart, decided a certain film speed and aperture value as a starting point, and make your own version!

I made my own version of "credit-card-size EV card" and keep it in my wallet. I use ISO 100 and f/2.8 as node, and practice to work out the shutter speed i need for a different aperuture in brain, and it works well. I merely shot Slide only (Kodak EB or E100) and the over/under exposure are always within my tolerance 😛

IF you want a pocket size meter, I recomment the VC meter (which I am using ... over-priced but worth it) or a Gossen digisix.

 

[djon]

Gossen Digisix meter.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

I didn't shoot the Velvia. I saved it for the fair next weekend. And I do have a meter now. 😉