Re: [Leica] M6 Light Meter

[Carl Socolow <csocolow@microserve.net>]

A bunch of people wrote:
> 
> At 00:01 19-1-98 -0800, you wrote:
> 
> >From: Cary Conover <leicary@tdi.net>
> 
> >Tom Shea's post compelled me to finally post this to the group. This is
> >something I've been wondering: How is the M6 meter supposed to detect
> >the difference in frames? I've tried to get the meter to give off a
> >different reading by switching the frames lever (as if trying to use it
> >as a spot meter) but it doesn't seem to affect the reading at all.
> >Furthermore, frames for 28/90, 35/135, and 50/75 show up at the same
> >time...so how is the meter supposed to "know" which lens is in use?
> 
> The meter doesn't know, it's not *that* sophisticated. The metered area is
> constant, the white dot on the shutter curtain has a fixed size.
> 
> >I'm thinking it's just one meter all the time, regardless of what
> >position the frames are in.
> 
> You're thinking right.
> =========

OK, the meter measures the light hitting the white dot on the curtain.
What you can control is the amount of image area hitting that dot.
Suppose you want a spot reading of a scene: Put the 90 on and take a
reading of a select area that you consider important and comparable to
an 18% gray. Remember that reading and then put the lens of choice on
that's appropriate for your depiction of scene. Transpose exposure to
lens and make photo. 

For example, if I were basing an exposure on a caucasian skin tone in a
wide-angle scene I could either get close with the wide-angle and take
the reading (and then open up one stop) or use the 90 as mentioned
above, meter the face (using the 90 framelines as a guide), switch back
to the wide-angle and set the lens for the exposure indicated by the 90.
Again of course remembering to open up one stop since the caucasian skin
tone is approx. 1 stop brighter than 18% gray. 

Confusing? Probably. But it is a way that you can use the meter for
selective spot metering.

Carl S.