Leica LTM How do you meter a shot?

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses

How do you meter a shot?

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After I learned the basics of photography, and began taking it seriously, I shot without a meter. It doesn't take long to get really good at reading the light if you stick to one film, one camera, and similar situations. (Outside during the day, for example) Now though I shoot a few different films, in several different cameras, in all kinds of tricky lighting. I like to carry my trusty gossen digisix with me any time I have a camera.

It's small, light, relatively cheap (for a meter), and it has enough range to be used with any camera/lens/film combination you can think of. I don't meter every shot, but take another reading whenever the light changes. It's an averaging meter, with provision for incident, but I find it's not hard to compensate for situations that might give a false reading.

Granted, it's not as quick as shooting with an in-camera meter, but then my IIIf is not the first-choice for high-speed action photography.
 
If I can find one these (I hope you don't mind me borrowing your picture, Mark), I'd use it, otherwise, S-16 for me.

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Fallisphoto, Thanks for that burst of information. I have been wondering when to use incident readings and when to use reflected.

I have been using a gossen luna pro SBC, for low light shots and it is great. It is big though, and I am looking for a compact meter to pocket, or hang around my neck.
 
Brennotdan said:
Fallisphoto, Thanks for that burst of information. I have been wondering when to use incident readings and when to use reflected.

I have been using a gossen luna pro SBC, for low light shots and it is great. It is big though, and I am looking for a compact meter to pocket, or hang around my neck.
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You use an incident meter when you have a steady, controllable light source (like in a studio). In that one situation, it is much more accurate than reflected meters. Incident metering sucks outdoors though, where the light often changes three times by the time you walk from metering the model back to the camera. I know a lot of photographers are going to consider this heresy, but if you can't use the zone system, some of the new in-camera evaluative matrix meters are very good for outdoor work. I believe that next best for outdoor stuff (and here's where I get back in with the vintage camera fanatics) is a center-weighted reflected light meter. It can be just about as good, if you have some experience using it.

I've been pretty happy with my Gossen Luna Pro Digital F. I wish they still made it. It doesn't really look right with my vintage cameras, but what the hell, I'm not a complete fanatic. It's small and fits easily into a shirt pocket. Closest thing they make to it now is the Sixtomat Digital.
 
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I always carry my gossen sixtomat and even though 50% of the time I use a camera with a built in light meter, I find it's easier to use the incident light meter and preset camera exposure.

I also meter off my hand sometimes although the other day while attempting that with the Bessa R2C, I was waving my hand in front of the viewfinder instead of the lens. Doh!!:p
 
trittium said:
I don't use a meter. I used the sunny 16 rule, and trained my eye to go meterless. It is really liberating.
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Agree.
Mostly use the M3 - and the M6 has been w/o a battery for a while (> 2 years?)...

Started with 400 film, but I am just as comfy now with 100 and 1600 (both are just 2 stops away from "normal (400)").

Start with one speed and stick with it for the first 50 rolls. Your brain will be better than most meters after a while.
 
If it's any sort of normal weather, I use sunny f/16 rule (it is Texas, after all). I find that in the early morning and at dusk I guess badly, and use a hand-held meter then.
 
I have a seldom used Minolta Autometer but my seperate meter of choice is either my Weston Master IV or V with the Invecone incident light adapter. I'm a big believer in incident readings. When I'm travelling light with either my Bess L and the 15mm Heliar or my Leica CL with the 40mm Summicron I'll take a reading off of my hand, but tending to favor the shadows. Most of the time I just guess at first and take a reading if time allows. My guess is usually within a stop of the meter reading.
 
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