XA as lightmeter?

[Markok765]

I'm thinking of using my screwmount Leica to shoot slide film, and I'm not accurate enough to estimate for slides, at least not yet!
Therefore, I need a lightmeter to use. I have a Pentax Spotmeter V, but it is far too large to carry around everywhere, plus it is pretty conspicuous.

I've been thinking of using the Olympus XA as a meter, setting the ISO of the film on the XA, selecting a aperture, and reading the shutter speed in the VF. I've compared it to my spotmeter, and it is pretty accurate, though obviously slightly less so because of the wider area. However, exposures checked using a DSLR turned out well.

So, do you think this is a viable option, at least until I save enough for a Gossen Digisix or something similar in size?

 

[bdial]

If you are happy with the results, exposure wise, when shooting slide film in the XA, then there is no reason you can't use it as a meter for the Leica.
The results will depend some on how the Leica's shutter compares to the XA's for timing accuracy, but shooting a roll will tell you if you need to do any compensations, unless you happen to have a shutter tester.

 

[Markok765]

Slide in the XA is great, with it exposing for the highlights in tricky situations[high contrast light coming only from a single window] and of course, the XA shutter being electronic, it will be slightly more accurate, but the Leica has had a shutter service recently, and is quite accurate as well.

 

[archphoto]

Have you ever thought of getting a Sekonic Studio lichtmeter ?
They are small and reliable and you can use both lightmetering methodes if you wish.

The XA as lightmeter ? Why not, if you feel comfortable with it !

Peter

 

[Markok765]

Peter, the Sekonic looks really useful, though one of my reasons for using the XA is that I cannot afford another meter right now.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Wirelessly posted (BBBold: BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.167 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

I used a Minolta XG-M as a light meter for my M645j once. But I was lucky. You need to make sure that the exposure on both cameras match or you risk the exposure being, albeit only slightly.