Meterless Exposure

[Alpha_7]

Well I'm faced with a bit of an issue I've received my Leica M4-P, firstly it's film which I haven't shot with other then a cheap 50 buck camera when I was 8 yrs old. But more challenging for me is that there is no metering. I've looked into the little hotshoe meters for the Leica and so far have been shutdown (she doesn't want another money sink).

So without buying anything what are my options ?

I can use the Sunny/16 rule can I right down a little exposure table and just learn to judge exposures on sight ?

Carry around the d70 or d200 and use them to help meter and then take the shot with the leica (seems stupid?)

Are there any other suggestions ?


Thanks,
Craig

[phillipb]

Craig, I know you said without buying anything, but you can get a cheap light meter. I got one for $10 at a camera market in ultimo a couple of years ago.

[Biggzie]

You could always make me an offer for mine.
I think its a Sensonic brand.
I will have to find it though, its stashed somewhere in the spare room, and I think the last time I usedit was before 1996 sometime.
I'll try and find it and give you some more details about it.

[Alpha_7]

Thanks guys, I didn't realise they could be had so cheap.

I actually was given on last year, but can't find it, never had a use for it didn't even test it to see if it worked. Someone was chucking stuff out and said, you like cameras have this.

[ATJ]

Craig,

Someone recently posted an expansion to Sunny f/16. I'll see if I can find the thread.

Edit: Search worked for once: http://www.dslrusers.com/viewtopic.php? ... ight=sunny

My first camera (Nikonos III) was completely manual and I was surprised how easy it was to estimate exposure based on some basic rules - and I used to shoot slide film which is less forgiving.

[Reschsmooth]

Craig, when we first got the Bronica, it was also unmetered, and we didn't fare to well trying to guess metering and even usine the D200 as a light meter. This is probably as much operator error, but, since we bought the meter for it (metered viewfinder), our results have been a great deal better.

Just sharing our experience

[sirhc55]

Craig - use the squint test. Look at the subject and if you have to squint it’s f/16 - partial squint f/8 - use a torch to see and it’s f/1.4

[xorl]

Congrats on the new camera Craig. Sounds like a lot of fun.

Most film packaging includes a simple table which can be used to estimate an exposure. The following sites have more detail on estimating exposures:
http://www.fredparker.com/ultexp1.htm
http://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/Expos ... osure.html

If you are shooting B&W you will find it is a lot more tolerant of exposure errors. Hand printing will allow you to get the most dynamic range out of a negative.

Looking forward to seeing some images from your new camera soon .

[gstark]

Craig,

Have fun, this is a great toy to play with - what glass did it come with, btw?

For metering, get a good handheld one, and learn how to use it. It's a skill that will never go astray.

[Alpha_7]

50mm F2 Summicron - Looks like I'll have to buy something, I guess the rules I was given was I can buy stuff for my D200 but not for my Leica.. I guess a handheld meter can be used by both.. so it's not breaking the rules exactly.

[Reschsmooth]

50mm F2 Summicron - Looks like I'll have to buy something, I guess the rules I was given was I can buy stuff for my D200 but not for my Leica.. I guess a handheld meter can be used by both.. so it's not breaking the rules exactly.

You'll be surprised how well Leica lenses work on a D200

[Matt. K]

F16 sunny rule works very well and takes little practice. Start by estimating the exposure via F16 rule and then validate the exposure using your digital camera. After a few hours you will be a guru and not need a meter.