Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/01/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Carl, Does opening up one stop work for b/w, color negative AND color reversal? Bud Cook - -----Original Message----- From: Carl Socolow <csocolow@microserve.net> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Date: Monday, January 19, 1998 4:42 PM Subject: Re: [Leica] M6 Light Meter >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. >