Metering question
Jan 18, 2015 09:43:14 #
Hi Hogs -
If I use a light meter - such as a Sekonic 478D - should I also meter against an 18% gray card?
Best of health
Felix
If I use a light meter - such as a Sekonic 478D - should I also meter against an 18% gray card?
Best of health
Felix
Jan 18, 2015 09:52:33 #
The light meter is to determine exposure.
The grey card is to determine white balance. Two different operations.
The grey card is to determine white balance. Two different operations.
Jan 18, 2015 10:01:20 #
If it is a incident meter you point it towards the camera and it will give a reading on the light falling on the subject which will give correct exposure.
Jan 18, 2015 10:01:38 #
Leitz
Loc: Solms
Drfache wrote:
Hi Hogs -
If I use a light meter - such as a Sekonic 478D - should I also meter against an 18% gray card?
Best of health
Felix
If I use a light meter - such as a Sekonic 478D - should I also meter against an 18% gray card?
Best of health
Felix
Metering a gray card will give a result similar to an incident reading.
Jan 18, 2015 10:02:51 #
MT Shooter wrote:
The light meter is to determine exposure.
The grey card is to determine white balance. Two different operations.
The grey card is to determine white balance. Two different operations.
You can use a grey card for exposure with a reflective meter. Meters are made to render the metered object at 18% grey. If your subject is 18% grey as in a grey card then you will get the correct exposure with one.
Jan 18, 2015 10:04:21 #
MT Shooter wrote:
The light meter is to determine exposure.
The grey card is to determine white balance. Two different operations.
The grey card is to determine white balance. Two different operations.
MT,
We need to add a little more to your statement.
"A gray card is a middle gray reference, typically used together with a reflective light meter, as a way to produce consistent image exposure and/or color in film and photography."
~Wikipedia.com
Michael G
Jan 18, 2015 10:11:27 #
I took me a while to find out information on the 478D. The 478 is an incident light meter and can measure reflected light only with optional viewfinder.
Using a reflected light meter and measuring an 18% gray card gives similar reading to an incident light meter and since your Sekonic is an incident light meter you don't need that.
In fact using your camera pointing at an 18% gray card and make a reading with the meter at the gray card pointing toward the camera then both the camera and the meter should give you the same reading.
Using a reflected light meter and measuring an 18% gray card gives similar reading to an incident light meter and since your Sekonic is an incident light meter you don't need that.
In fact using your camera pointing at an 18% gray card and make a reading with the meter at the gray card pointing toward the camera then both the camera and the meter should give you the same reading.
Jan 18, 2015 10:15:16 #
Jan 18, 2015 10:18:45 #
MT Shooter wrote:
The light meter is to determine exposure.
The grey card is to determine white balance. Two different operations.
The grey card is to determine white balance. Two different operations.
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Jan 18, 2015 10:34:10 #
When Kodak issued there grey card years ago it was for exposure. Since that time there have been minor modifications about its use. One thing about the grey card is you have to be careful not to allow reflected light into the lens. Just be sure to tilt it. The grey card preceded digital photograph and the idea of color balce was something for catalog photographers.
Jan 18, 2015 10:34:33 #
Jan 18, 2015 10:51:30 #
Drfache wrote:
Hi Hogs -
If I use a light meter - such as a Sekonic 478D - should I also meter against an 18% gray card?
Best of health
Felix
If I use a light meter - such as a Sekonic 478D - should I also meter against an 18% gray card?
Best of health
Felix
As you may or may not be aware, we all come equipped with our own 18% "grey card". the palm of your hand is pretty much neutral grey.
Jan 18, 2015 11:45:00 #
boberic wrote:
As you may or may not be aware, we all come equipped with our own 18% "grey card". the palm of your hand is pretty much neutral grey.
Only corpses have grey hands.
Jan 18, 2015 12:03:21 #
Jan 18, 2015 12:31:26 #
Drfache wrote:
Thank you all for your input. You confirmed my understanding.
But your meter as is without the optional 5 degree viewfinder can not meter a gray card but gives you the same reading as reflective meter with a gray card.
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