Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/08/24

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Subject: Re: [Leica] white dot and metering
From: Dan Cardish <dcardish@microtec.net>
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 10:54:30 -0400
References: <NBBBIDNIGLFOKNLJCPLHGEJLEDAA.ddh@home.com>

There is no need to point a meter at an 18% (or 13%) gray card to get
accurate reading.  I (and many photographers) routinely aim my spotmeter at
the palm of my hand and then open up one stop to get a meter reading.
There's no reason why the M6 meter can't do something similar.  All that
need to be done is have the meter calibrated properly.

Hmm....actually, many photographer don't aim my spotmeter at my hand, only
I do that.  They use their own hands!  And they use their own spotmeters!

Dan C.

At 09:24 AM 24-08-00 -0700, Dan Post wrote:
>Dan ( The other, really crazy one!) Post
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Dan Honemann" <ddh@home.com>
>To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
>Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2000 10:59 AM
>Subject: [Leica] white dot and metering
>
>
>> Ok, here's a dumb question (so those of you who have low tolerance for
>dumb
>> questions can skip to the next msg now).  The M6 TTL meters off of a white
>> dot on the shutter curtain.  Why isn't the dot 18% grey?  Does the meter
>> test light reflected off both the white dot and some of the black curtain
>so
>> that the composite represents grey?
>>
>> I'm assuming the meter works by comparing the reflected light through the
>> lens to the light reflected off the white dot.
>>
>> And why do we use 18% grey cards anyway when "scientific studies now
>> indicate that an average scene actually reflects 13% (not 18%) of the
>light
>> that falls on it" (Peter Burian, _National Geographic Photography Field
>> Guide_, p.137)?
>>
>> Curious Dan
>>
>>
>
>
>

Replies: Reply from Mark Rabiner <mark@rabiner.cncoffice.com> (Re: [Leica] white dot and metering)
Reply from "Simon Lamb" <simon@sclamb.com> (Re: [Leica] white dot and metering)
In reply to: Message from "Dan Honemann" <ddh@home.com> ([Leica] white dot and metering)