Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/12/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Well, I can handle the first question. Develop a light meter in your head and you won't need one in your camera UNLESS you're shooting primarily transparancies or landscapes, perhaps. Really, since working with my M-4P I've been able to get by with eyeballing a situation 95% of the time. Here's how: At first, using ISO 400 b/w or color neg. film, limit yourself to two shutter speeds -- one for indoors (1/60) and one for outdoors (1/250). Learn that indoors, comfortable reading light is f/4 -- that is your indoor benchmark; make adjustments from there. Outdoors, bright sun is f/16 and deep shadow can take you down to f/4 or more. Now as you walk around with these benchmarks in mind, carry a small incident light meter, like a Sekonic 308B, make guesses at various times, check to see how far off you were, figure out why, and remember. In no time you'll train yourself to be within 1 stop no matter where you are. You'll be in the scene looking THROUGH the viewfinder, not into it for a light reading. And once you learn to pre-focus and set the ring and shutter without looking you'll really be in fat city. And the next time you see someone in harness to one of those big automatic pieces of Tupperware out there, well, you'll just smile. Regards, Bruce Feldman On Wed, 10 Dec 1997, Howard Kelly wrote: > have a few basic questions about Leica's. > > One huge benefit of the cameras seems to be their simplicity and compact > size. Would a light meter be required on for example an M2 for daytime > shooting? If so, would this not detract from the portability? > > I am unfamiliar with range finders and a novice photographer, so please > pardon any stupid questions. Is the main difference between a range > finder and an slr the viewing/focusing mechanism? With a range finder > you focus based on supposed distance as opposed to clarity of image? Is > a fair price for a used M2 body with some dings in it $650? > > thanks for you patience. > > Howard Kelly > hkelly@dti.net > > >