Re: [Leica] M6 metering question

[Simon Lamb <s_lamb@compuserve.com>]

Joe

Thank you for your reply.  As you say, I guess it is a case of getting to know
the tools that you have and how to interpret what they say to you.  I will do as
you suggest and take specific notes of each frame and see what results I get.

Joe Codispoti wrote:

> Simon,
>
> In most cases the meter reading rendered by any meter, is only a guide that
> requires interpretation.
> Be it a Nikon, Leica, or other camera/meter, you must know what it is
> indicating. This requires specific knowledge of the meter in question and
> how it reacts to what it sees.
> You will get different readings if you meter the shadow, highlight, or other
> density. But only one reading will give you the correct exposure.
> A spot meter will give a different reading than an average meter. A more
> pertinent test would be to check both against a gray card. The reading
> should be the same.
>
> Get to know your camera meter and how it works. Do so by testing with low
> ISO slide film. Take readings and photograph a variety of subjects in a
> variety of lighting/contrast situations. Take pertinent notes of each
> exposure. Evaluate the results.
> Only then will you know what your meter is trying to tell you. Then you will
> know where to aim the meter for the correct exposure.
>
> Joe Codispoti
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Simon Lamb" <s_lamb@compuserve.com>
> To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
> Sent: Saturday, May 06, 2000 8:46 AM
> Subject: [Leica] M6 metering question
>
> > Hi
> >
> > I have been using my M6 for a few days now and I have a question.  I
> > pointed the camera at a whitewashed textured wall, with ISO 400 Tri-X
> > loaded, a 50mm f/2 attached and with the film speed dial set to 400, and
> > the red dot appeared when the camera was set to a shutter speed of
> > 1000/sec at f/13 or f/14 (whatever the half stop between f/11 and f/16
> > is on the lens).  I pointed my Nikon F5 at the same spot on the same
> > wall using an ISO 400 speed and an 85mm f/1.8 lens and, using spot
> > metering (therefore switching off any colour metering capability), it
> > registered settings of 400/sec at f/10.
> >
> > There is a significant difference here and I wondered if anyone could
> > explain to me the reasons for the difference in metering and subsequent
> > camera set-up.  I have always trsuted the F5 meter and it has never been
> > anything other than spot on.  I am sure the M6 meter is equally
> > accurate.  However, given that I would probably want to dial in some
> > overexposure on the white wall to get the whiteness and texture on the
> > film, I do not have any f/stops or shutter speed left to enable me to
> > overexpose by 1 or 1.5 stops.
> >
> > Any explanations would be gratefully received.
> >
> > Regards.
> >
> > Simon
> >
> >