Re: [Leica] M6 metering question

["Joe Codispoti" <joecodi@thegrid.net>]

Jean-Claude, mon ami.

I was referring to the second test against a gray card where the M6 gave a
reading of1/500 @ f/11 and the Nikon
1/320 @ f/9 (ASA 400).  Vive la différence.

Joe



- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Jean-Claude Berger" <jcberger@jcberger.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Saturday, May 06, 2000 1:27 PM
Subject: RE: [Leica] M6 metering question


> Joe wrote:
>
> > If you had a clear sun behind you during the test, I would say that the
> > Nikon meter is off.
>
> Hello Joseph,
>
> IMHO, I don't think so. In his first post, Simon told that he took a
measure
> against a white wall. The M6 gave 1/1000 at f/11 and a half. With a 400
ISO
> film, this is an impossible value: but a specular reflect, nothing needs a
EV18+
> exposure. Let's say that Simon wants to have a white textured wall. He
will have
> to open 1 and a half to 2 stops depending on the density he wants to get.
The
> Nikon's matrix saw a large white area and opened one stop. The F5 was off,
yes,
> but because it did not open enough! This is consistent with the results I
get
> with my F5. He compensates underexposures of very bright area but a little
less
> (say half a stop) that I would like. That said, the lighmeter of the M6 is
much
> more predictible as it behaves like good old time lightmeters.
>
> All the best,
>
> --
> Jean-Claude Berger (jcberger@jcberger.com)
> Systems and RDBMS consultant (MCSE)
> Lyon, France
> http://www.jcberger.com
>
>
> > Simon,
> > If you had a clear sun behind you during the test, I would say that the
> > Nikon meter is off. However, you should try the Nikon in the average
mode,
> > and both cameras on the same shutter speed. That makes it easier to
notice
> > the degree of disparity.
> >
> > Joe
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Simon Lamb" <s_lamb@compuserve.com>
> > To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
> > Sent: Saturday, May 06, 2000 10:39 AM
> > Subject: Re: [Leica] M6 metering question
> >
> >
> > > Joe
> > >
> > > I dod test against a grey card and the M6 meter indicated 500/sec at
f/11
> > and
> > > the F5 320/sec at f/9.  As you say, I need to understand what the
meter is
> > > saying.  These results are not too far apart so I just need to know
what
> > the M6
> > > will tell me in any given situation and interpret it for my own
> > requirements.
> > >
> > > This camera really makes you think about your technique and what you
want
> > to
> > > achieve - quite refreshing from the computer-aided pictures that I
have
> > taken
> > > to-date.
> > >
> > > Simon
> > >
> > > Joe Codispoti wrote:
> > >
> > > > Simon,
> > > >
> > > > In most cases the meter reading rendered by any meter, is only a
guide
> > that
> > > > requires interpretation.
> > > > Be it a Nikon, Leica, or other camera/meter, you must know what it
is
> > > > indicating. This requires specific knowledge of the meter in
question
> > and
> > > > how it reacts to what it sees.
> > > > You will get different readings if you meter the shadow, highlight,
or
> > other
> > > > density. But only one reading will give you the correct exposure.
> > > > A spot meter will give a different reading than an average meter. A
more
> > > > pertinent test would be to check both against a gray card. The
reading
> > > > should be the same.
> > > >
> > > > Get to know your camera meter and how it works. Do so by testing
with
> > low
> > > > ISO slide film. Take readings and photograph a variety of subjects
in a
> > > > variety of lighting/contrast situations. Take pertinent notes of
each
> > > > exposure. Evaluate the results.
> > > > Only then will you know what your meter is trying to tell you. Then
you
> > will
> > > > know where to aim the meter for the correct exposure.
> > > >
> > > > Joe Codispoti
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: "Simon Lamb" <s_lamb@compuserve.com>
> > > > To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
> > > > Sent: Saturday, May 06, 2000 8:46 AM
> > > > Subject: [Leica] M6 metering question
> > > >
> > > > > Hi
> > > > >
> > > > > I have been using my M6 for a few days now and I have a question.
I
> > > > > pointed the camera at a whitewashed textured wall, with ISO 400
Tri-X
> > > > > loaded, a 50mm f/2 attached and with the film speed dial set to
400,
> > and
> > > > > the red dot appeared when the camera was set to a shutter speed of
> > > > > 1000/sec at f/13 or f/14 (whatever the half stop between f/11 and
f/16
> > > > > is on the lens).  I pointed my Nikon F5 at the same spot on the
same
> > > > > wall using an ISO 400 speed and an 85mm f/1.8 lens and, using spot
> > > > > metering (therefore switching off any colour metering capability),
it
> > > > > registered settings of 400/sec at f/10.
> > > > >
> > > > > There is a significant difference here and I wondered if anyone
could
> > > > > explain to me the reasons for the difference in metering and
> > subsequent
> > > > > camera set-up.  I have always trsuted the F5 meter and it has
never
> > been
> > > > > anything other than spot on.  I am sure the M6 meter is equally
> > > > > accurate.  However, given that I would probably want to dial in
some
> > > > > overexposure on the white wall to get the whiteness and texture on
the
> > > > > film, I do not have any f/stops or shutter speed left to enable me
to
> > > > > overexpose by 1 or 1.5 stops.
> > > > >
> > > > > Any explanations would be gratefully received.
> > > > >
> > > > > Regards.
> > > > >
> > > > > Simon
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>