Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/03/05
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>This sounds too great for me but I can't believe it because I think
>the focal length of the lens determines the actual measurment area
>of the light meter and by switching the frame doesn't change the
>size of the light meter area.
>
>Can anybody help me in this point?
As you say, switching the frame lines does not change the metering spot
size. The metering spot is a fixed white circle on the front shutter
curtain. This circle will always cover the center 12% of the image as
recorded on film.
The book that you were reading is referring to a trick that can give you a
more accurate idea of what portion of the image is being metered. By
looking at the framelines of a longer lens you can estimate the region that
is being metered. Of course this isn't as easy when you're using, say, a
90mm lens.
If you really want spot metering then buy a spot meter. I've heard the
Leica M6 metering referred to as "spot" recently. It's not. It's selective
in that it doesn't average over the whole field of view, but it's not
selective enough to pinpoint your readings. It is very accurate in
practice, however, even for transparencies.
I can think of a bunch of reasons you might want to switch from a G1, but
spot metering isn't one of them.
- -Charlie
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Charles E. Dunlap
Earth Sciences Deptartment
University of California
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Tel.: (408) 459-5228 Fax.: (408) 459-3074
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