Chiming in late, only been able to lurk recently, I find myself carrying my hand meter almost all the time now. Whenever I can I measure with it and compare it with the camera's meter reading - if I am carrying one with such a luxury. This works great if the lighting stays constant and I can remember the camera's reading and note any change in lighting.
I started out taking reflected readings from a grey card. But once I began to understand lighting a little better I felt that getting a reading of the light hitting the scene, it seemed easier to use an incident meter for better response rather than using a grey card - and the rules in its use - or trying to choose an 18% (or is it 13%) area and metering from it. I do spot meter on occasion and find that the MZ-S and the 645n have excellent matrix metering. I am more wary when using center-weighted though. I shoot mostly color slides. This has worked for me for the most part - except for variances between film types. I began with and still have a Sekonic L-398M Studio Deluxe II meter purchased used, and a Sekonic L-358 flash meter that I bought new when contemplating using multiple flashes for some interior shooting. Cesar Panama City, Florida -- -----Original Message----- -- From: Steve Desjardins [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Sent: Monday, March 24, 2003 11:37 AM -- -- A subject near and dear to my heart as I always worry about -- this. This -- thread actually began in the Why Pentax thread, but let's give it an -- honest name. My tendency with the MZ-S is to use the spot -- meter most of -- the time, point the circle at whatever I think should be -- closest to 18% -- gray in the final result, lock that exposure, recompose and -- shoot. I do -- this all the time, and any comments by the more -- knowledgeable would be -- appreciated. Please remember that I shoot color print and -- that my only -- direct control (w/o scanning) is at the negative stage. -- -- -- Steven Desjardins -- Department of Chemistry -- Washington and Lee University -- Lexington, VA 24450 -- (540) 458-8873 -- FAX: (540) 458-8878 -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] --
