Those with meterless rangefinders: how do you set your exposure?

[ruby.monkey]

I'll admit it - I wander around muttering things like 'Sunny 16' and 'looks like medium shade, perhaps light', while twiddling the shutter speed dial randomly; and then whip out the L-208 when nobody is looking.

 

[chrismoret]

I use a M4p, so there is a Kenko lightmeter in the bag.

 

[_larky]

I guess. - I am 10 characters long.

 

[roboflick]

Voigtlander vcmeter
Nik

 

[Paul Luscher]

Have one of those Voigtlander meters mounted on the camera. Take a reading and stick with it, until the light changes.

 

[Ariefb]

Sunny 16 most of the time. I don't have pocket meter.

 

[meanstreetshooter]

Meter

Meter

I use a Unittic Sunset Model 65 hand meter (ca.1972). I keep one eye on the ground for shadows to monitor the light. I use it with color negs, B/W, and chromes'. I also use it with my TLR and Hassy. I have it on an adjustable strap which can be worn around the neck or around the right wrist.

 

[thegman]

Sunny 16, but I've got a pocket meter if I feel it's required. I found in bright sunshine, Sunny 16 really does work perfectly, in darkness, I just shoot wide open at 30th second, and hope for the best. For in between, I may meter.

 

[tlitody]

when printing or editing we make judgements on brightness and contrast all the time without a meter, so why not when out taking pictures.

 

[sdotkling]

I've been doing it by eye. Black-n-white can be pretty forgiving, and when I blow it completely, so be it. We ain't talking great art here.
Lately I discovered a lightmeter app for my iPhone, which--while cumbersome--gives me a confirmation or refutation of my last few exposures. I find that I'm usually no more than a stop off, which is well within my printing abilities.

 

[andreios]

I am new to meterless rangefinder cameras, just couple of rolls through my M2, although I've been using other meterless for some time already. With TLRs I tend to meter almost before every exposure,sometime twice. Weirdly, with the M2 I usually find myself sunny-sixteen-guesstimating despite carrying the lightmeter in the bag - and with most of the films and in most of the situations the exposures are brilliant. Only indoors and with slow films it seems to be a bit trickier..

 

[andredossantos]

I estimate 100% of the time with M's and Rollei's. Don't own a meter. Once you practice enough, it's not necessary to use a meter. Even with slides (which I shoot mostly) or in low light.

 

[yossarian123]

Sunny 16 & the iPhone Light Meter app.

 

[Nokton48]

I habitually give myself a choice of negatives. If outside in full sun with Eastman XX, I set the shutter to 1/250, and make an exposure at F11. If I feel strongly about the subject, and it is static and not changing, I will make a second exposure, at 1/250 at F8.

Good to have a choice of negatives, when I get to the printing step.

 

[reiki_]

Anyone here finds they shoot more with meterless cameras? That's my case and I don't really understand why ; maybe it's more fun.

 

[cinemakyle]

I usually grab a couple of ballpark meter readings (sun, shade, open shade etc.) for wherever I am. Then adjust by eye as I go.

I might take a more careful reading if the situation is tricky, or I'm spending more time working on a particular subject.

But for general street, grab a few readings and then play it by ear... err... or by eye.

Yup. same here. It's taken a bit of getting used to for me coming from digital, but I'm always surprised at how accurate the sunny 16 rule is. 3-4 stops less for shade, etc. I use the Pocket Light Meter app on my iPod touch when I start to second guess myself. I'd highly recommend this app. It acts as a spot meter on the iPhone/ipod touch4G. I've tested it against a calibrated Sekonic L-758 and found it to be accurate within 1/3 a stop! And it gives you the option of adjusting +/- EV too, so you can compensate for any discrepancies.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I use more than one of the methods mentioned (and including not mentioned) above, which is why I couldn't vote.

 

[hausen]

I spot meter the brightest point and the darkest point and using zone system decide from there what I am looking for relating to where I put shadows and highlights.

 

[tunalegs]

Look at the sky, then look at the shadows. Adjust for the subject. And bingo, no meter needed.

The sky gives you a starting point (ie, sunny, overcast, evening/morning whatever) - look at shadows to see how much light is falling where you are (more contrast = more light, less contrast = less light) - and judge the relative lightness of your subject.

I've even shot rolls of slides this way and rarely missed a frame. When in doubt bracket.

 

[KenR]

It's surprising how dark "deep shade" can be. I was hiking in the Giant Forest in Sequoia N. P. over the summer - at noon it can be 5-7 stops darker than in full sunlight. Only a meter can tell you this.