Erik wrote:
I used to have an Olympus OM4Ti (sadly stolen), which also has a
black/white
pattern on the first curtain. This camera, like the LX, measures the amount
of light reflected from the film during automatic exposure (aperture
priority). Both cameras use centerweighted metering for this, and I'm
pretty
sure the OM40 does too. The pattern on the curtain is supposed to reflect
the same amount of light as the film so that the exposure measuring is
correct even during the short time when the first curtain opens! When the
meter thinks that the film has received enough light the shutter closes.
This method of light measurement integrates the light that has hit the film
during the whole exposure with the following advantages:
- The camera can adjust for sudden changes of the light conditions (clouds
etc)
- The sensitivity for low-light situations improve dramatically, increasing
the meters range from normally EV 0-20 (ca) down to EV -5 (Olympus) and
-6,5
(LX) respectively, at the low end of the range. I don't know why the LX is
better than the OM, but I guess the answer, at least on this list could be:
it's a Pentax...
I used the Olympus for automatic night city shots on a tripod with Kodak
Technical Pan film, rated at ISO 25. It was extremely simple: rig the
camera, set the aperture, press the trigger and wait. The exposure was
always perfect!
BTW, the light meter in the Olympus is in my opinion unequalled: OTF film
measurement with the advantages described above AND spot metering
possibilities. Can we hope for this in the rumoured LX/AF-body??
Hi, Erik. I already knew that. In fact I readed it so many times, I almost
memorized the way OTF (or IDM for Pentax) works. Also, a friend of mine is
zuikoholic, and I have seen the curtain of his OM2SP (he is waiting an OM4
to arrive). The design in the curtain is weirder than Pentax one.
But my question was not about how it works, but why it's black and white
instead of the equivalent shade of gray. Bob's answer seems reasonable.
Thanks and regards
Albano
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