ben conover Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 Hi, I am a beginner. I just bought a nice big Fuji 690BL with standard lens, I want the other lenses for it now......I want to use a meter with the Fuji and I am not sunny 16 fan. I thought of using my Nikon F4s to meter but then I thought how much I want a digicam too. So, being a purist at heart, why can't I just buy a simple point and shoot digicam and ue that as a light meter for the Fuji ???????????? Any help appreciated with many thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidv1 Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 Sure. You can even have a histogram. Look here: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/s30-as-meter.shtml Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben conover Posted March 11, 2005 Author Share Posted March 11, 2005 Thankyou for the speedy reply, the link, and brevity.I will read on the subject now, but just a question...Why do people still use handheld light meters when thedigital cameras do the same job ??? Cheers, and thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbing Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 Why do you trust the digital camera to have an accurate ISO? There is no standard for digital camera sensor sensitivity and there fore marketing departments can put whatever numbers they think will sell more cameras.</p> <a href="http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscv3/page12.asp" >Actual vs Indicated Sensitivity in digital cameras</a></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidv1 Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 I still use a handheld meter. It can do spot, incident and flash metering. I don't need a histogram for everything. My meter is also cheaper, lighter and smaller than my digicam. The battery lasts a lot longer, too. But you can save yourself a couple hundred bucks by just using the digicam. It's your choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidv1 Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 Meryl, The Luminous Landscape article does mention doing testing before relying on the technique. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben conover Posted March 11, 2005 Author Share Posted March 11, 2005 Hello again, as I said initially, I am a beginner, therefore I must trust what answers are offered to my many questions about photography. The first answer concerning my question about using a point and shoot digicam as a light meter was both excellent and fast. I have read the link posted http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/s30-as-meter.shtml and I think the author of the article http://www.nickrains.com/ is an accomplished proffesional photographer, I love his large format landscapes, and I have learned much from http://www.luminous-landscape.com Therefore I can trust without hesitation the advice and new ideas given. I also read the link given http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscv3/page12.asp and so I do understand why people do not always 'trust' the manufacturers of digital cameras to show the ISO sensitivity in exact relation to other types of meters. However, if no two meters are ever the same anyway, what does it matter????????? Just use one and grab the shot. Thankyou. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben conover Posted March 11, 2005 Author Share Posted March 11, 2005 Hello again, I agree with Meryl and David about the simplicity,acuracy, and functional atributes of using a traditional hand held meter (although I have never used one) and so I will probably get a used Profisix for low light work when I want to keep weight down etc. Anyhow, I do appreciate learning from all you guys, and thankyou. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrian_seward Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 I still use a handheld light meter. If the sitaution is really tricky, I might use my Canon EOS as a meter, but for the most part I just use the meter. I can stick it in my pocket when travelling light, and it's jsut very convenient. As far as expense-- I was really broke when I got it, so it's a Sverdlovsk 4 that I got for $20 from the Ukraine. It far exceeds what I could have hoped for. It's quite accurate, has a very great field of view (not as tight as a true spotmeter, but fairly tight-- very handy), runs on pretty much any batthery you cram into it, and for $20 I don't worry about too much about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben conover Posted March 11, 2005 Author Share Posted March 11, 2005 Hi again, if I go to a shop and ask to test the ISO sensitivity of a digicam I want to buy against a top end meter, how long would that take, maybe 5 minutes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben conover Posted March 11, 2005 Author Share Posted March 11, 2005 Hi, I agree that used meters are a great buy and very practical ! Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
photom Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 The digicam needs to be tested against a standard but then can easily be adjusted with compensation or just in your head. I would be surprised if in the next year or two the leading light meter manuf. do not come out with a model that shows a histogram - probably with the option to show by color channel. The meter would need to be able to adjust the area of coverage to match the camera and lens being used. Good meters are already pretty expensive (over priced), perhaps these additional features might be hard to justify as to the cost. Not sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franka t.l. Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 Take a look at the Pentax 750Z, it actually had a mode runninb as a light meter !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben conover Posted March 11, 2005 Author Share Posted March 11, 2005 Ok, so I have established that I want a digicam as a light meter, now I want to know which one is best ! I know that really is an impossible question but if anyone has an idea then I would be more than very happy to hear about it. I looked at the Pentax 750Z that Franka mentioned but it looks a little too cheesy. I thought the Panasonic Lumix FZ20 might be worth a look, so here goes.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidv1 Posted March 11, 2005 Share Posted March 11, 2005 I don't know which one is best, but I'm using a Canon S45. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnmarkpainter Posted March 12, 2005 Share Posted March 12, 2005 It REALLY depends on where you are shooting. I have a $1,500 light meter (Nikon D100!) and it often gives readings that I wouldn't be happy with if I followed them....concert lighting especially. The Spot meter pattern isn't tight enough for that. In most situations, Incident Metering is going to give you way better results than any Camera meter would. jmp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben conover Posted March 12, 2005 Author Share Posted March 12, 2005 Hi and thanks John, I am very interested in metering low light for concert photography. It's hard to shoot classical musicians, I'm one, and I am still alive...Anyhow, I am still considering all possibilities. Perhaps a used profisix may actually be better for me than a Canon 1ds Mk2 ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmarks Posted March 12, 2005 Share Posted March 12, 2005 Hi Ben, I have a Canon 10D with a good meter,but I know it can be fooled as much as it's right.I use a handheld meter with this camera and shoot in manual mode.I find I have more consistant results this way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben conover Posted March 12, 2005 Author Share Posted March 12, 2005 Hello Don, I thought you wanted to trade your Canon 10D for a Hasselblad, I hope you get on with whatever you use. Interesting to hear about the meter in your Canon. Anyhow, the grass is always greener on the other side. It would be great if Fuji made a new version of the G690BL .......with autoexposure, dream on................. I guess 'Grandmothers sofa' is not up for sale yet !! All the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross_tomlinson1 Posted August 4, 2005 Share Posted August 4, 2005 Don't forget a digicam can't meter flash lights. A digicam is also alot bigger than a light meter. Although a histogram would work, a light meter will give you better results. Don't forget if you want the best possible pictures from your nice new purchase you are going to want the best possible help. It is like for example putting a $20 filter on a $2000 lens!!! Hope this helps Ross Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcus_kraus1 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 ...in a way you can meter flash... you just have to do a testshot...got a digital pol with histogram. Then do a Polproof. It takes more time though. While its fine working with a digicam for fun you will find it easier to work in the studio when you have a flashmeter, maybe even spotmeter, to meter every light and place you wish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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