Stop down metering question

[skorpiius]

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]

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]

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]

Open aperture metering was quite an improvement.

 

[skorpiius]

Open aperture metering was quite an improvement.

Definitely agreeing with that!

 

[Sirius Glass]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.