Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/03/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I often use my meter in the camera as a manual meter. When doing flash fill, even with today's automation, I find that once I've done my basic checks of the scene I'm more accurate than the camera. Slobodan Dimitrov On Mar 1, 2007, at 2:50 PM, Mark Rabiner wrote: > On 3/1/07 5:21 PM, "Jeffery Smith" <jsmith342@cox.net> typed: > >> I made a rather sobering discovery a few weeks ago. I was using a >> Nikon RF >> which, of course, has no meter. So I used a Gossen digital light >> meter and >> used ambient readings rather than reflective readings. The >> exposure in most of >> the frames was right on the money, much better than my usual TTL >> reflected >> light frames. This made me want to use a handheld meter and blow >> off the >> in-camera meter. >> >> Last night, I watched "War Photographer" again, and saw (for the >> first time, >> although I've watched it several times) Nachtwey pulling out a >> Gossen digital >> meter and taking readings of ambient light while using a Canon >> auto-everything >> SLR. So, I'm going to brave it with a Leica M3 or M4 and ambient >> light >> readings for a few weeks to see if I need to be doing this all of >> the time it >> is feasible. >> -- >> Jeffery >> > > > > We should be clear that when he did this it was not while dodging > bullets. > The war was not going. > He was shooting as I recall creative broken brightly painted > windows during > a lull. > > I first found the idea when I heard about it of a war photographer > doing a > ambient readings rather humorous to put it mildly. > > As it would seem to be how should I say to be quite > DANGEROUS!!!! > and > SILLY!! > > As you're supposed to take an ambient reading from where the > picture is at > not where you are at. > ...So you're supposed to run out and get a reading. > ....With the war going. > > Though me I'd say "forget that" and assume that the light in their > trench > would be roughly the same as the light in my trench. Or tree. > If not tough luck. Tough luv. > > I think I'd shoot war stuff in full program AF. Which is how I > shoot trees > now if the camera has that feature. If they stay still long enough. > > Mark Rabiner > 8A/109s > New York, NY > > markrabiner.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information