Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/03/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Pascal, an open discussion..... The metering pattern of the M6 ( which I own) consists of a circle of 2/3 the height of the frame. an 18mm diameter spot. There is no component of light that is collected from the rest of the frame. Therefore I call the meter a SPOT METER. Now, as a spot meter, it is not too narrow, but I did want to differentiate the difference to say the Matrix metering on a Nikon F4, etc. On this type of camera, the pattern is an overall 24x36 pattern, weighted, and specially calibrated against a series of possible images. The uP inside the camera decides the correct exposure based upon theses stored scenes. I guess the R8 works this way. ( I don't have an R8, so I am not sure.) But what I was trying to capture is that the M7, with its AE mode, will NOT give the same resultant of exposure from a scene as a more "intelligent" uP controlled camera. And the fact that the AE mode is there, gives the user a false sense that the exposure is "right". You MUST use your God given Brain to get good exposures with a spot meter. It may be automatic, but whatever you point the meter at, will set the exposure AUTOMATICALLY. I think the word automatically is the operative word. If I had one, I would use the AE mode when in a pinch or when the lighting is flat and the scene not too different in tonal range. Otherwise, you are probably best off in match light mode. Frank Filippone red735i@earthlink.net - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html