Use a Lightmeter with a Shutter Priority-only Rangefinder? Yep, tellya why.

[NickTrop]

Using this method effectively allows you to shoot aperture priority. The problem with the shutter priority mode most of these cameras had is that for this kind of photography, aperture priority is more important. AP allows you to blur the background giving a dimensional quality to scenes and have subjects stand out, or shoot at the lens's optimal aperture - f8, say etc. Yashica capitalized on this problem with their Electro lines - the only aperture priority (save that Himatic which leased the technology from Yashica) rangefinder.

Using a shutter priority camera results in you "hunting" for the aperture by adjusting the shutter speed ring on the lens. There are gears, springs, and other mechanations attached to it so they tend to require effort to budge, and do not glide like aperture rings. So, getting a desired aperture in these cameras is a clumsy process requiring you to use "stop down" needle chasing method with a firm shutter dial that was designed to be "set" not rotated continually like an aperture ring. Worse, it's time consuming.

I'll cut to the chase:

1. Bring a hand meter.
2. Meter Scene
3. Set the shutter speed ring at the shutter speed setting on your shutter priority camera that aligns with the f-stop you want to shoot at.
4. Take picture.

Using a meter speeds up the process. You don't need to "stop down" or "chase the needle" if you're looking to shoot at a desired apertuer. Use a hand meter, set it and forget it.

In fact, this is quicker than all manual cameras since you only have to set the shutter dial, not both the shutter and the aperture. Your shutter priority camera is now virtually shutter and aperture priority. Alls it takes is a meter.

 

[Roger Vadim]

A really good idea, need to take my GSN out again (the lack of aperture information is really annoying - if you are a control freak like me 😉)

In the end the old street shooting idea - meter the scene if you start to shoot, then forget about it and let the cam do the rest. simple and convincing.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[NickTrop]

A really good idea, need to take my GSN out again (the lack of aperture information is really annoying - if you are a control freak like me 😉)

In the end the old street shooting idea - meter the scene if you start to shoot, then forget about it and let the cam do the rest. simple and convincing.

Thanks for sharing!

Hey, Roger glad to see you get it. It's a simple-stupid idea which never dawned on me but I think it makes sense. I never thought of doing this with a GSN but - sure, it doesn't give you shutter speed. Now you have it. I find shutter priority really, really annoying because - while I love the Konica S3, I find I chase the aperture needle in the viewfinder to get the right aperture. Why not pre-meter the scene with a light meter, old-old school, see what shutter speed aligns with the aperture you're looking for, set ONE ring (quicker than an all manual camera where you have to change BOTH setting), snap the pic. Bingo - you got the aperture you're looking for, you're able to set-up more quickly, no "chasing needles" in the viewfinder, and your shutter priority (or aperture priority) camera is now effectively a "manual" camera and you have complete control assuming that your camera's meter and your hand meter are w/in a reasonable tolerance (which they should be...).

 

[btgc]

This method works, assuming in-camera meter and automatics will set same aperture, provided by hand-held meter.....wait, that's what you say in your last sentence.

 

[NickTrop]

This method works, assuming in-camera meter and automatics will set same aperture, provided by hand-held meter.....wait, that's what you say in your last sentence.

Thanks, btgc. Yes - you hear it all the time on this forum from the "manual only" crowd as a reason why they dislike automactic cameras, and I agree to an extent. But I think using a meter works nicely with these cameras in most situations. In the case of the GSN, you know your shutter speed. In the case of shutter priority, where I stared doing this, you don't have to needle chase and can premeter, just like an all manual camera where you're forced to. The two (automated cameras and hand meters) compliment each other nicely. And, it's quicker! You can premeter and change only one setting before you shoot, get the exact aperture you're looking for (or know your shutter speed if using an Electro), with your camera quickly set by setting one instead of two dials, all you have to do is focus when you raise the camera to your eye.