Stop down metering question

skorpiius · Jul 25, 2016

Hi, probably a dumb question, but here it goes.
I'm testing a Rolleiflex SL35 which meters via stop down metering.
Here's the problem though, unless I'm shooting at the sky, when stopping down the viewfinder is too dark to see the meter needle by probably f8. Any tips?

Thanks

frank · Jul 25, 2016

Use a handheld meter or smart phone app to set exposure. Compose and focus wide open, stop down to meter's recommendation to shoot.

skorpiius · Jul 25, 2016

frank said:
Use a handheld meter or smart phone app to set exposure. Compose and focus wide open, stop down to meter's recommendation to shoot.

Thanks, that's what I've been doing, so I guess I'll continue!

frank · Jul 25, 2016

Open aperture metering was quite an improvement.

skorpiius · Jul 25, 2016

frank said:
Open aperture metering was quite an improvement.

Definitely agreeing with that!

Sirius Glass · Jul 25, 2016

frank said:
Open aperture metering was quite an improvement.

Good point. Also, do not meter the sky, meter the subject and let the sky fall where it may.

Chan Tran · Jul 25, 2016

skorpiius said:
Hi, probably a dumb question, but here it goes.
I'm testing a Rolleiflex SL35 which meters via stop down metering.
Here's the problem though, unless I'm shooting at the sky, when stopping down the viewfinder is too dark to see the meter needle by probably f8. Any tips?

Thanks

If you can't see the meter needle then you can do full aperture metering. Open the lens to maximum aperture. Meter and then compensate by slow down the shutter speed by the same number of stop you stop the lens down.

skorpiius · Jul 25, 2016

Chan Tran said:
If you can't see the meter needle then you can do full aperture metering. Open the lens to maximum aperture. Meter and then compensate by slow down the shutter speed by the same number of stop you stop the lens down.

Of course! Never thought of that.

thuggins · Jul 26, 2016

This sounds like an idiosyncrasy of this camera. On some cameras (various Oly's, at least) the meter is illuminated by a separate window, so the amount of light coming thru the lens is not an issue.

Chan Tran · Jul 27, 2016

thuggins said:
This sounds like an idiosyncrasy of this camera. On some cameras (various Oly's, at least) the meter is illuminated by a separate window, so the amount of light coming thru the lens is not an issue.

Such a type of meter is not as desirable as the one that is TTL that measures the light going thru the lens.

Peltigera · Jul 27, 2016

Chan Tran said:
Such a type of meter is not as desirable as the one that is TTL that measures the light going thru the lens.

I think Tim was referring to a TTL meter where the needle is illuminated by a separate window, not the meter working through a separate window.

Stop down metering question

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