Re: [Leica] Incident light: A Question

[Mike Gardner <mikeg@neca.com>]

csocolow wrote:

> I use incident metering for a majority of my commercial work. This
> applies to both flash, ambient and combinations of both of these light
> sources. I primarily use a Minolta Flashmeter IV

I do as well.  Does a great job.  I also use a Pentax spot meter as modified
by Zone VI for checking a scene when an incident meter can't do the job.
One example is an architectural photo where I used the spot meter to balance
the interior lighted windows of a building with a darkening twilight sky.
When the readings were close between the windows and the sky, I adjust the
overall exposure open a bit, based on a spot meter reading of the building
itself.  I also use the spot meter for black & white landscapes or building
photos.  With my M6's, I use the Ted Grant method ... light up the two
arrows and push the button ...

> Now for the question as it relates to my Leica use. Upon recommendation
> of many sage members of the LUG, I purchased a Sekonic L-308BII

This is my main outdoor general shooting meter.  My experience is the same
with regard to underexposure.  I set the ISO for a third of a stop less and
the metering is right on the money.  I.e. I set the meter for 80 when
shooting Provia for example, at 50 when shooting K64.  I've been doing this
for so long I don't even think about it anymore.

Mike Gardner

Photos on the Web at http://users.neca.com/mikeg

> Generally, I use the onboard meter of my M6 or try to guesstimate
> exposures. But I've found when using the L-308BII that I tend to get
> underexposed transparencies; usually in the range of 1/3 to 1/2 stop.
> Since it's new I called Sekonic service and they said to send it to them
> to check. They also indicated they have a factory tolerance of 1/3 stop.
> Upon testing they said that the meter is within their tolerances. Now
> one of the things I like about my other two meters is that they have
> adjustment potentiometers within the battery compartment so I can tweak
> them to my needs. The L-308BII does not. Sekonic said that since the
> meter was within specs they wouldn't adjust it. Right now I just set the
> ISO 1/3 stop less than the rating of the film. Probably, once it's out
> of warranty, I'll send it to Quality Light-Metric and have them set it
> to their specs.
>
> My question, finally, is whether other LUGgers have experienced this and
> whether incident dome size would have any bearing on metering accuracy.
>
> --
> Carl Socolow
>
> http://members.tripod.com/SocPhoto/