Before you really start to worry, get out a grey card and compare the meters
under controlled conditions. If they still differ, borrow a meter or two and
repeat the experiment. I have a Sekonic Digilite F and it's quite reliable.
The meters in my several cameras quite often differ from this meter, but
usually because they read smaller, or larger, parts of the subject. Readings
taken from a grey card often match up to within a fraction of a stop.
Strangely enough I have an old Weston EuroMaster that reads the same as the
cameras more often than the Sekonic.
I usually use the Sekonic with positive colour film and (if possible)
measure incident light from a position halfway between the subject and the
camera at 90 degrees to the line between camera and light source.* I picked
up this habit in my student days when I worked as a TV News stringer for CBS
(Eastman Color 16mm movie film) and could afford no mistakes. The meters I
used then were regularly calibrated in a laboratory.
Outdoors these days I generally let the camera decide the exposure for 35mm
negative film and when using a long telephoto, with all film.
* Using the hemispherical diffuser.
Best,
D
Dr E D F Williams
_____________________________
http://www.kolumbus.fi/don.williams
Photo Gallery and Author's Website
Updated: December 22, 2000
----- Original Message -----
From: "McLean, Paul A" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, January 08, 2001 3:19 AM
Subject: RE: ZX-M Light Meter
> I use a MZ50 and a sekonic digispot (L488) light meter. I am amazed at
the
> differences, even when pointed at a fairly uniform scene. For example, at
a
> given aperture, my MZ50 may think that 1/2000 is appropriate, while my
light
> meter thinks that 1/500 is right. I have also noticed large differences
> when in low light. Since using the separate meter, my slides have been
> coming back from the lab exposed the way I intended. If feel a bit
nervous
> when taking shots without the separate light meter.
>
> However, "normal" EV levels seem to match up pretty well between the
camera
> and meter.
>
> Does anyone else have the same experience?
>
> Paul McLean
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: K.Takeshita [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Monday, January 08, 2001 11:47 AM
> To: Pentax Discuss
> Subject: Re: ZX-M Light Meter
>
>
> on 1/5/01 10:32 PM, K.Takeshita at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> > on 1/5/01 10:06 PM, Jeffrey Schneider at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> >
> > <<Does anyone know if Pentax biases the light meters of their modern
> > "consumer" cameras to overexpose, presuming that the cameras will be
used
> for
> > print film (where some overexposure is usually good)? Or, do I have a
> camera
> > with a meter that's just a little out of adjustment?>>
> >
> > I've heard that camera mfrs do this. My memory is vague but z-1p for
> example
> > is calibrated more for an overexposure (one stop sounds a bit large
> though)
> > for negative film, while C**** (or could be N****) tend to calibrate for
> > underexposure.
> > But please do not rely on my memory at this time as to which mfrs do
what
> on
> > which models.
> > I learned this through discussions in Japanese mail lists but it was
over
> a
> > year ago. I will try to find more accurate info if you give me several
> days.
> >
>
> Hi Jeff and all,
>
> I obtained the following info from a reliable source (Nothing artificially
> secret or anything. Just to indicate that the info should be accurate).
>
> For Pentax cameras;
>
> 1. Meter setting is different at each EV, i.e., as the EV increases, the
> setting is a bit over. and a bit under as the EV decreases. It is indeed
> biased that way.
>
> 2. Reading the film DX code, slightly overexposure setting for the
negative
> films and slightly under setting for the positives. Another way of bias.
>
> 3. Measuring the 18% gray under the standard EV, the meter setting should
> show standard exposure.
>
> I can not find the info as to how other brands are doing. I will post it
if
> I found it.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Ken
>
>
> This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, visit
> http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions.
> Don't forget to visit the PUG at http://pug.komkon.org
>
> This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, visit
http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions.
> Don't forget to visit the PUG at http://pug.komkon.org
>
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