It is possible to evaluate the contrast range of a scene by viewing it through a neutral density filter. I use two, one transmits about 50% the other 80%. Its quite easy to see where the highlights and the shadows are if you reduce the overall brightness of the scene. You can also use a couple of polarizer's one screwed into the other. Rotate one until the brightness is reduced enough for you to see the range. For the slowest slide films the highlights should not be more than about 3 times as bright as the shadows - I think - a ratio of about 3:1. For the faster negative films the ratio can be as much as 7:1 i.e. the highlights can be 7 times as bright as the shadows. Of course a spot meter will do the job, but the filters allow an 'artistic' evaluation of the scene - something a meter can't do for you. Movie directors and cameramen have viewfinders with built in ND filters for this job.
Don _______________ Dr E D F Williams http://personal.inet.fi/cool/don.williams Author's Web Site and Photo Gallery Updated: March 30, 2002 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Hagner, Andrew" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2003 7:01 PM Subject: RE: Hand Meters > Hi Bill: > > No confusion on my part but maybe my poor writing. You are correct by > saying "reflective meter measures light reflected from a subject, and an > incident meter measures the light falling on a subject". I maintain > however, that the reflective meter gives you more useful information than > incident meter. Many of my photographs could not have been measured using > an incident meter due to distance and wide range of contrast, often > excessive even for a B&W film. In which case I had to make decisions as to > what I should let go, shadows of highlights. > > Cheers, - Andrew. > > -----Original Message----- > From: Bill Owens [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: March 24, 2003 6:36 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: Hand Meters > > > Andrew, > > See my earlier post on the subject. I think you are confused somewhat about > incident metering. Both a reflected meter and an incident meter measure > ambient light, the difference being that a reflective meter measures light > reflected from a subject, and an incident meter measures the light falling > on a subject. Overall, usually, most of the time..... an incident meter > will be more accurate, assuming that the light falling on the dome of the > meter is in the same light as the subject. IOW, you point a reflective > meter at the subject, and an incident meter is placed near the subject and > pointed towards the camera. > > Hope this helps, > > Bill > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Hagner, Andrew" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Monday, March 24, 2003 5:54 PM > Subject: RE: Hand Meters > > > > Steve: > > > > The light that is recorded on film is the reflected light from your > subject. > > The ambient meters measure only ambient light and ignores the > > reflected light, so logically the reflected light meters give you > > information that > you > > actually need. Ambient meters, however work in many situations. When > > the contrast range is not exceeding the film contrast and when the > > same type > of > > light hits your subject as it hits your meter then the ambient meters > > are fine. When you are photographing a distant scene in an > > interesting light, it is likely that the light hitting your meter is > > very different from the one that is falling on the scene. In this > > case the ambient meter gives > you > > no useful information. If the scene exceeds the film contrast then > > again, ambient meter gives you information relevant to the middle > > tones but the highlight and shadows will be outside the films range. > > In this case the ambient meter gives you no information on the > > contrast range. > > > > So, my recommendation is to use a reflected spot meter which overcomes > these > > shortcomings. With little practice it is hard to make an error in > exposure > > provided the meter is linear and is properly calibrated. My favourite > > one is the Zone VI modified Pentax digital meter. Very simple, > > reliable and accurate. > > > > Cheers, - Andrew. > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Steve Desjardins [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Sent: March 24, 2003 1:40 PM > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Subject: Hand Meters > > > > > > What would folks recommend in a handmeter, spot or ambient? > > > > > > Steven Desjardins > > Department of Chemistry > > Washington and Lee University > > Lexington, VA 24450 > > (540) 458-8873 > > FAX: (540) 458-8878 > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > >
