Metering light when shooting with 500mm lens

[Laci Toth]

Hi all,

The title says all.
I’m wondering how do you meter the light when the subject is so far away, let’s say 200 yards?

 

[etn]

Spot meter? (using an external spot meter for instance)

 

[Lachlan Young]

The light over there is probably less different than you think from the light where you are standing.

 

[pentaxuser]

Yes as Lachan says, not likely to be much different unless the object to be photographed is in a lot of shade and your camera is in open light but if both camera and object are in the same light then it shouldn't be a problem For instance a lot of amateurs without privileged access probably have to take motor racing circuit shots from the distances you mention and manage to get properly exposed shots

pentaxuser

 

[Laci Toth]

Spot meter? (using an external spot meter for instance)

I was thinking about spot meter but how far it can reach? If the subject is a few hundred yards away and darker or lighter than the place where I’m standing?
Or it can be guessed I suppose with time and experience.

 

[Laci Toth]

The light over there is probably less different than you think from the light where you are standing.

Yes, you’re right. If I’m out in nature it can work.
How about in cities where conditions are different? A tall building’s balcony, the street on the other side of the river and so on.

 

[Laci Toth]

Yes as Lachan says, not likely to be much different unless the object to be photographed is in a lot of shade and your camera is in open light but if both camera and object are in the same light then it shouldn't be a problem For instance a lot of amateurs without privileged access probably have to take motor racing circuit shots from the distances you mention and manage to get properly exposed shots

pentaxuser

So experience and experimenting is the key.

 

[Chan Tran]

If you use the camera built in meter then there is no difference. The only light that reaches the meter is the one the lens captures. If you use incident light meter then if the subject and where you take the picture are in the same light that is same in the open then you can make the measurement of the light where you stand. If use the spot meter the angle of measurement is 1 degree which is smaller than that of the 500mm on a 35mm camera which is about 5 degrees so it's small enough. The light that reaches your film doesn't get weaker because it's 200 feet away.

 

[Sirius Glass]

If you are in the same light then use an incident meter, otherwise use a 1° spot meter.

 

[ic-racer]

I can't think of many situations where TTL metering would not be the best.

 

[Pieter12]

I was thinking about spot meter but how far it can reach? If the subject is a few hundred yards away and darker or lighter than the place where I’m standing?
Or it can be guessed I suppose with time and experience.

There is no "reach" only angle of view. A 500mm on a 35mm camera is about 5º so a spot meter reading is fine.

 

[Laci Toth]

Thanks for your responses everyone, I appreciate them!
I go with the spot meter then as I have no built-in light meter in my camera.

 

[etn]

I was thinking about spot meter but how far it can reach? If the subject is a few hundred yards away and darker or lighter than the place where I’m standing?
Or it can be guessed I suppose with time and experience.

A spot meter typically covers 1° angle.
Not sure which camera you are using, but if your camera allows it you can also use a metered prism with spot meter (such as the Hasselblad PME45.) The covered angle will „zoom in“ (so to speak) when you use longer lenses.
But as others have said, don‘t worry too much, the light is not so different.

 

[etn]

Thanks for your responses everyone, I appreciate them!
I go with the spot meter then as I have no built-in light meter in my camera.

Good solution. The most versatile is perhaps an incident+spot meter (there are 3 manufacturers, Gossen, Kenko and Sekonic). There are not cheap (arount €600 new) but worth every penny if you ask me.

 

[foveon_m]

use a spotmeter on a grey card, make two readings, one greycard turned into light, other greycard turned into shadow