[Leica] Leica Users digest V14 #21

[Frank Dernie <FrankDernie@compuserve.com>]

"Julian Koplen wrote
<snip>"I tend to use my spot meter in most other circumstances.  It is a
30-year-habit that is hard to break.  More than that, I feel much more in
touch with my exposure control, and I feel as if I have a sense of how the
brightness levels will turn out. Of course, with the night scenes under
discussion, I would be at a loss with the spot technique.

I wonder how many experienced Leica users have allowed themselves to defer
decisions to the matrix.  And I wonder if, in general usage, a
knowledgeable
photographer would get different results with the matrix than with the
spot.
I am thinking primarily of work with color slides, but I would be
interested
in hearing about all kinds of actual comparisons."

I am not as experienced as many on the list but I also have been using the
spot setting for years. No reflected meter can ever be as accurate at an
incident meter (unless measuring agrey card!) but I have found using a spot
meter and experience pretty effective. I can usually guess the correct
exposure in daylight, one of the few benefits of age! I have not shot
enough with my new R8 to be absolutely sure but so  far so good. If Ted
says it works it does - he is the man wiith the most knowledge on this
forum (in my estimation)

FWIW an article in the last 6 months in a UK mag, I forget which, compared
the exposure accuracy of most of the 35mm SLRs (no Leicas sadly)in a range
of normal and difficult lighting conditions. I do not recall the exact
results but was interested that matrix systems with the largest number of
cells in the were not necessarily the best. I guess it is the algorithm
used in the calculation which is most important. If I remember correctly 
Pentax were generally best at each price point, but not always.
Cheers Frank