Canon F1n - How do I use meter to get correct

Vert · Jul 7, 2016

Hello all hoping someone can answer.
Got conflicting info on how the light meter works in relation to correct exposure.
Using fd lens normal metering.
Am I meant to have the meter needle bisecting the appiature circle for correct exposure, or do I need meter needle showing centre (halfway) of the full scale regardless of the appiature to get correct exposure.
Cheers for any help.
Vert

Sim2 · Jul 7, 2016

Hi there, this is going from memory when I used F1n's -
assuming a functioning battery (!) the needle should bisect the circle (create a diameter line) for correct metered exposure, when the needle touches the top part of the circle; this is half a stop over, when the needle touches the bottom part of the circle; this is half a stop under. *assuming I remember the increase/decrease direction of the scales.
This may be fishing in the uncharted areas of my memory however I would suspect in manual the shutter speed dial is related to the circle and the needle is related to the aperture but without a camera in front of me...
Hope this points you in a direction, hopefully a useful one! A current F1n user should be along shortly...

darkroommike · Jul 7, 2016

I usually center the needle in the ring, if I want a little more exposure I set the needle to the top of the ring and if I want a little less I set the needle on the bottom of the ring.

Sim2 · Jul 7, 2016

As far as I remember, that would be correct.
With the equipment in front of you it should be easy to find if half a stop equates to the movement from centre to edge of the circle.
As I can't remember, in manual does the selected aperture show in the viwfinder? The shutter speed range is on the right, with the needles, if memory serves.

Vert · Jul 7, 2016

Top stuff. Thanks all.
Thats was what I was doing. Was starting to doubt myself when nearly all my roll came back grainy and underexposed.
Not sure why though. Maybe I need to check the battery voltage and see if a little higher throwing the meter off.
Was a little dark but if meter says good it should be good.
Open to any other ideas if people's want to throw at me.
Was running fujifilm superia 400.

Vert · Jul 7, 2016

I should say that my prior bw film was all good pretty ok , only a few underexposed, considering my first attempt with camera.

Dennis S · Jul 7, 2016

If the battery is an original it might not have enough juice to do proper metering. I replaced mine with 675 1.4 volt battery. The .025 volt difference does very little on giving the proper exposure using the meter.

cuthbert · Jul 7, 2016

line cutting the circle for me, if I want to under or overexpose I put the line tangent.

The F1n has a nice and intuitive lightmeter but I miss the shutter speeds that the FTBn has.

Dennis S · Jul 7, 2016

cuthbert said:
The F1n has a nice and intuitive lightmeter but I miss the shutter speeds that the FTBn has.

The film speed is stated below the meter so that has never been a problem. Had 2 of the FTBn's (black & silver) but got rid of them because I was seldomly using them.

Vert · Jul 7, 2016

Here's some examples I was getting first one is the same for most of the roll.
2nd one towards end of roll.
Is this just caused by under exposure.

wiltw · Jul 7, 2016

Were you shooting color neg? The first example is pretty typical of color neg which was underexposed pretty signficantly, resulting in 'muddy' shadow areas and poor overall saturation.

Vert · Jul 7, 2016

wiltw said:
Were you shooting color neg? The first example is pretty typical of color neg which was underexposed pretty signficantly, resulting in 'muddy' shadow areas and poor overall saturation.

fujifilm superia 400 C41 colour

Vert · Jul 7, 2016

So in others opinion should I err on the side of caution and aim at giving it F0.5 of over exposure for that film? At least for indoor shooting?

Vert · Jul 7, 2016

Then again that may also apply to outdoors in shade also lol

Dennis S · Jul 7, 2016

I really could be other things like the development of the film. Who does it etc could make big differences on the outcome of your photos. Maybe where you had it developed was having an off day and screwed up everyones film. Very hard to pin it down until you shoot a few more rolls and the problems still exist One roll is not a good indication of camera/developing flaws. Another thing for indoors is a good flash to go with your kit. I just saw the outdoor photo and it looks like a focusing flaw as well. Focus on whatever is closest to the camera. Another thing is how fresh is the film?

Vert · Jul 7, 2016

True point taken.
Just did not want to waste rolls/moments/money if it was clearly something wrong lol.
That's why I thought I would throw it out there for opinion.

wiltw · Jul 7, 2016

dances_w_clouds said:
I really could be other things like the development of the film. Who does it etc could make big differences on the outcome of your photos. Maybe where you had it developed was having an off day and screwed up everyones film.

But screwed up processing would not have the result stated, "I was getting first one is the same for most of the roll. 2nd one towards end of roll."

Dennis S · Jul 7, 2016

One thing about using film is that NOT every roll turns out perfect. I have had over 30yrs with film and I still make mistakes and if you think you can just shoot a great roll ever time that would not be the best way of thinking. Keep shooting and find a way you like and get good at it. I have not shot a roll of colour film for the last 10 yrs. Colour I use one of those D cameras

Theo Sulphate · Jul 7, 2016

Vert said:
So in others opinion should I err on the side of caution and aim at giving it F0.5 of over exposure for that film? At least for indoor shooting?

With color negative film, you really want to avoid underexposure.

You can overexpose color negative film a few full stops and still have a decent image to work with. Typically, I overexpose one stop.

Vert · Jul 7, 2016

Theo Sulphate said:
You can overexpose color negative film a few full stops and still have a decent image to work with. Typically, I overexpose one stop.

Cheers for that comment will give that a go next then.
My outdoor sunny ones where not too bad. That's why I thought user error more then camera/film/developer.

MattKing · Jul 7, 2016

What battery are you using?

Vert · Jul 8, 2016

MattKing said:
What battery are you using?

Could not tell you at the moment. Have the grip on which presses upon the battery cover. if I had no film in it I would take it off and check. Might be able to find the packaging later tonight. I can always measure battery voltage later on.

Vert · Jul 8, 2016

I think I will just go with under exposure as outdoor sun ones seemed ok and was using same method with the light meter.

If anything maybe over exposed.

MattKing · Jul 8, 2016

Vert said:
Could not tell you at the moment. Have the grip on which presses upon the battery cover. if I had no film in it I would take it off and check. Might be able to find the packaging later tonight. I can always measure battery voltage later on.

The most important thing to confirm is that it is the right type of battery. IIRC the F1n is designed to take a no longer available mercury battery. If you try to substitute the alkaline battery that is the same physical size, the voltage is both wrong and nonlinear.

Vert · Jul 8, 2016

Do you know what battery model is a suitable substitute then or a link to this.
I went to a camera shop for it so was hoping it was a correct substitute.

Canon F1n - How do I use meter to get correct

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