35mm Cameras - Metering stand-outs?

beemermark · Jul 30, 2020

Your F100 matrix metering is quite good and I doubt if any other camera offers any substantial metering improvement. The F100 also has spot metering which cannot be beat if you have the time.

Pioneer · Jul 30, 2020

skorpiius said:
Curious about this, can you elaborate?

Looks like you got most of your questions answered.

Matrix (multi-segment) metering, whether executed by Nikon or others, is fine if all you want is to shoot your picture and get it over with. If you are a news reporter and barely have the time to frame your shot, let alone meter it, then matrix metering can be a godsend. Otherwise, you are almost always better off with a handheld meter that allows you to meter various areas in your scene.

The Pentax LX, unlike almost all other cameras available, is metering directly of the surface of the film so it is actually metering the light that is being recorded on the emulsion. It will continue metering until the amount of light that you asked for in your exposure settings is reached. This is a very accurate system all on its own and even more accurate when combined with a handheld meter and a brain that has learned how to use it.

Based on what StepheKoontz posted it sounds as if the Olympus may have done something similar with the OM-2n.

narsuitus · Jul 30, 2020

When I used to shoot a lot of slides, I never relied on the built-in meters of the Fuji ST705, Pentax Spotmatics, Canon QL17, Contax G1, or the Nikon F, F2, F3, EM, L35 cameras. Instead, I routinely used a handheld light meter for accurate exposures.

I was not until I used the light meter in the Nikon F4 that I felt comfortable relying on a built-in light meter.

Sirius Glass · Jul 30, 2020

beemermark said:
Your F100 matrix metering is quite good and I doubt if any other camera offers any substantial metering improvement. The F100 also has spot metering which cannot be beat if you have the time.

I have owned Minolta from the SR-7 to the MD11, a Nikon N75 and a Nikon F100. The F100 has the best AF matrix metering system that I have handled. I have even used it as a spot meter for my Hasselblads before I acquired the Pentax Digital Spot Meter.

David Brown · Jul 30, 2020

Since the OP mentioned the Minolta Maxxum 7, I will respond with my experience. Keep in mind that one is not a sample, and YMMV, of course. I love the Maxxum 7. It is the only camera I have ever experienced that has given me a full roll of well exposed frames. Not every roll, of course, but most of them. If one wants to concentrate on composition, and let the camera compute exposure, one cannot go wrong with a 7!

Paul Howell · Jul 30, 2020

On the other hand for a slow down and smell the roses approach a hand held meter, incident or incident and reflective combo meter, Weston Master IV, Gossen, can be used with any body with a manual mode. I have a Minolta 7 and 9, my experience matches David Brown, very seldom a bad exposure in matrix mode. I also shoot a manual and spot modes, meter for shadows and use VC filters to expose for the highlights.

skorpiius · Jul 30, 2020

Pioneer said:
...

The Pentax LX, unlike almost all other cameras available, is metering directly of the surface of the film so it is actually metering the light that is being recorded on the emulsion. It will continue metering until the amount of light that you asked for in your exposure settings is reached. This is a very accurate system all on its own and even more accurate when combined with a handheld meter and a brain that has learned how to use it.

....

You know I read this and thought "wait, I thought all modern SLRS had that?"

I realize now it's off the film FLASH metering that many late model SLRs had, not regular exposure. Very cool about the LX then.

Paul Howell · Jul 30, 2020

The LX was the only camera non Nikon, I came close (very close) to trading my F2 in for. Weather sealed like the F3P, full system camera with a motor winder as well as drive, some of the best lens on the market, could work with K or Ka lens, light as well built as the F3P, only reason I stuck it out with Nikon is that my employer was paying for 1/2 of a F3P and I would have to replace my lens set.

MattKing · Jul 30, 2020

Pioneer said:
Based on what StepheKoontz posted it sounds as if the Olympus may have done something similar with the OM-2n.

Yes, and earler than Pentax too.
You will also find it on many other OM bodies, including the budget OM-10, the OM-20, the OM-2, the OM-2s, the OM-4, the OM-4T ...

George Mann · Jul 30, 2020

OK. I get a 90% success rate shooting slide film using my Nikon F90x in Matrix. I get about 97% with center-weighted + brain power.

The other 3% requires spot metering using a zone system.

Alan Gales · Jul 30, 2020

We can all argue about which 35mm camera has the best meter but the truth is that if you only use one camera with the same meter all the time, well you get pretty good with it. I shot Kodachrome with a Contax 139 for many years. It had a common center/bottom weighted average meter. I rarely bracketed.

Of course, most of us own several cameras and more than one meter.

beemermark · Jul 30, 2020

Alan Gales said:
We can all argue about which 35mm camera has the best meter but the truth is that if you only use one camera with the same meter all the time, well you get pretty good with it. I shot Kodachrome with a Contax 139 for many years. It had a common center/bottom weighted average meter. I rarely bracketed.

Of course, most of us own several cameras and more than one meter.

Truer words never spoken. OP said he already owned an F100. He should stick with it.

Huss · Jul 31, 2020

Paul Howell said:
The LX was the only camera non Nikon, I came close (very close) to trading my F2 in for. Weather sealed like the F3P, full system camera with a motor winder as well as drive, some of the best lens on the market, could work with K or Ka lens, light as well built as the F3P, only reason I stuck it out with Nikon is that my employer was paying for 1/2 of a F3P and I would have to replace my lens set.

I haven't seen a broken F3P, but most LXs for sale now seem to have "issues".

Paul Howell · Jul 31, 2020

That tends to be true, still wounder if the better LXs not many are making it to the market. Other factor is that the LX was on the market until 2000 or 2001 and the early Pentax AF bodies were not pro level build quality, so while Nikon jumped to the F4 and 5 and pro level shooters moved up, those with LX just kep on tucking until they wore out. Still never had a Nikon F, F2 or F3P need a repair. My F3 was ripped off at LAX after 911, forced to put in checked luggage never made it back to Phoenix, likely still be shooting with it.

Les Sarile · Jul 31, 2020

Huss said:
I haven't seen a broken F3P, but most LXs for sale now seem to have "issues".

According to Cameraquest and MIR, the F3P was a very limited release so not likely used much like.
I have 2 perfectly working LXs I've had over 10 years now with no issues.

StepheKoontz · Jul 31, 2020

Pioneer said:
Looks like you got most of your questions answered.

Matrix (multi-segment) metering, whether executed by Nikon or others, is fine if all you want is to shoot your picture and get it over with. If you are a news reporter and barely have the time to frame your shot, let alone meter it, then matrix metering can be a godsend. Otherwise, you are almost always better off with a handheld meter that allows you to meter various areas in your scene.

The Pentax LX, unlike almost all other cameras available, is metering directly of the surface of the film so it is actually metering the light that is being recorded on the emulsion. It will continue metering until the amount of light that you asked for in your exposure settings is reached. This is a very accurate system all on its own and even more accurate when combined with a handheld meter and a brain that has learned how to use it.

Based on what StepheKoontz posted it sounds as if the Olympus may have done something similar with the OM-2n.

Yes, the OM2 used this same measuring light off the film in it's "auto" aperture priority mode. There was metering in the prism to show an approximate shutter speed (or for manual mode use) but the actual shutter speed was calculated in real time measuring off the film itself.

skorpiius · Jul 31, 2020

Alan Gales said:
We can all argue about which 35mm camera has the best meter but the truth is that if you only use one camera with the same meter all the time, well you get pretty good with it. I shot Kodachrome with a Contax 139 for many years. It had a common center/bottom weighted average meter. I rarely bracketed.

Of course, most of us own several cameras and more than one meter.

Great point.

Huss · Jul 31, 2020

Les Sarile said:
According to Cameraquest and MIR, the F3P was a very limited release so not likely used much like.
I have 2 perfectly working LXs I've had over 10 years now with no issues.

Just go to ebay and look up Nikon F3s and Pentax LXs. It is startling to see percentage wise how many of the Pentaxes are broken.

I'm glad yours are ok.

Les Sarile · Jul 31, 2020

Huss said:
Just go to ebay and look up Nikon F3s and Pentax LXs. It is startling to see percentage wise how many of the Pentaxes are broken.

I'm glad yours are ok.

First one I bought off KEH in excellent condition. Second from ebay was bare body as-is not working for cheap turned out perfectly fine too.

Paul Howell · Jul 31, 2020

Les Sarile said:
According to Cameraquest and MIR, the F3P was a very limited release so not likely used much like.
I have 2 perfectly working LXs I've had over 10 years now with no issues.

The P stood for Pess and when released you had to have press credential to order. I think later it could be special ordered. The folks I knew who were using F3Ps were working pros, saw heavy use. I left the wires in 86, in the 4 years I used the F3P must have put a couple thousand rolls of film though it. I recall that Nat Geo had bought bodies. The F3 remained in production until 2000 or 2001, very long run, but the F3P was only made in one run. Other than a CLA once a year or so mine was really worry free.

MultiFormat Shooter · Jul 31, 2020

Paul Howell said:
The P stood for Press and when released you had to have press credentials to order. I think later it could be special ordered.

How did it differ from the standard F3?

Les Sarile · Jul 31, 2020

Paul Howell said:
I left the wires in 86, in the 4 years I used the F3P must have put a couple thousand rolls of film though it. I recall that Nat Geo had bought bodies. The F3 remained in production until 2000 or 2001, very long run, but the F3P was only made in one run. Other than a CLA once a year or so mine was really worry free.

If I remember correctly, the Nikon F pro series shutters were rated to 500K which comes out to about 13,888 rolls of 36 frame film. So not even broken in yet . . .
I believe Pentax purposely kept the LX in production (2001) just long enough to outlast the F3.

With regards to the OP's query about metering - especially for slide film, I've always preferred spot metering and firsthand knowledge of a particular film's exposure range but apparently made good exposures with even Kodachrome and Velvia using the most basic meters by knowing lighting situations that can "trick" it.

Les Sarile · Jul 31, 2020

MultiFormat Shooter said:
How did it differ from the standard F3?

Here are the two prominent sources I found that covers this - http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf3ver2/variations/f3p/index.htm and https://www.cameraquest.com/nff3p.htm
Neither of which say weather sealed just that, "Rubber seal around the edge of the prism"
The Pentax LX was in fact weather sealed and random production line sampled was rain tested.

MultiFormat Shooter · Jul 31, 2020

Les Sarile said:
Here are the two prominent sources I found that covers this.

Thanks!

Les Sarile · Jul 31, 2020

StepheKoontz said:
Yes, the OM2 used this same measuring light off the film in it's "auto" aperture priority mode. There was metering in the prism to show an approximate shutter speed (or for manual mode use) but the actual shutter speed was calculated in real time measuring off the film itself.

John Hermanson has a great writeup about the OM2's metering system @ http://www.zuiko.com/web_5__20150924_032.htm
The original OM2 can aperture priority autoexpose up to 19 minutes. There are some limitations to this such as film ISO.
Unlike the OM2, the Pentax LX only has one meter cel located in the mirror box. It's listed aperture priority exposure time is 125 seconds although it's real auto exposure duration can last hours long and all the while monitoring the scene for changes in lighting and adjusting accordingly.

So if you want a meter that does standout, the Pentax LX is the only one - past or present, film or digital, that can do very long aperture priority autoexposure that can last many hours long.

35mm Cameras - Metering stand-outs?

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency