Taking Meter Readings: So I am reading this book by Bryan Peterson "Understanding Exposure". He along with most or all seasoned photographers use a meter readers. I am looking into...

estudiosmucho

So I am reading this book by Bryan Peterson "Understanding Exposure".

He along with most or all seasoned photographers use a meter readers. I am looking into getting one myself, but the thing I haven't understand yet is how to use one.

My question is, where do you take your meter readings?

I would love to have this clarified, if anyone could answer this quesiton thanks!

ShakyShutter Loc: Arizona

Why would you not use the meter that is in your camera?

You would use a reflected light meter to take a general reading of the light being reflected from your subject. Your camera is a reflected light meter.

An incident meter is used to read the amount of light falling ON your subject.

And a spot meter is a reflected light meter that reads a very small spot of reflected light from your subject.

Each method involves interpretation to some degree.

The camera meter may be able to take spot readings if set correctly. Generally the camera meter will give you excellent exposure taking into into account the zoom, ISO, shutter speed and fstop as well as the reflective nature of your subject.

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

estudiosmucho wrote:

So I am reading this book by Bryan Peterson "Understanding Exposure".

He along with most or all seasoned photographers use a meter readers. I am looking into getting one myself, but the thing I haven't understand yet is how to use one.

My question is, where do you take your meter readings?

I would love to have this clarified, if anyone could answer this quesiton thanks!

and a "meter reader" is what? Exactly what does Peterson and all the pros use?

estudiosmucho

Sorry I am new to a lot of equipments photographers used and I didn't know what exactly the device was called... I was talking about using the reflected light meter. I just see and hear a lot of photographers say take your light reading, so I was looking for an answer to my curiosity.

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

estudiosmucho wrote:

Sorry I am new to a lot of equipments photographers used and I didn't know what exactly the device was called... I was talking about using the reflected light meter. I just see and hear a lot of photographers say take your light reading, so I was looking for an answer to my curiosity.

ahhh yes is ok - your use of the terms threw me. They refer to the metering system inside your camera - lots of folks here can tell you how to use or where to find a video to explain all that way better than me. I stopped metering stuff

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

estudiosmucho wrote:

Sorry I am new to a lot of equipments photographers used and I didn't know what exactly the device was called... I was talking about using the reflected light meter. I just see and hear a lot of photographers say take your light reading, so I was looking for an answer to my curiosity.

Take a look at this and see if it helps you.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/Product_Resources/lightmeters1.jsp

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

From http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/meters%20and%20metering.html --"There are already several modules on metering, but this one is a bit more basic. It is for people who are wondering about buying a hand-held meter, and how to use it if they do."

You may find it useful. There are even pictures of how to hold the meter for reflected and incident readings.

Cheers,

R.

eglide02 Loc: Titletown USA

what brand of camera is it? Is it a DSLR? if you aim at the subject, press the button half way the meter shows up on the bottom of the screen. you'll see -2-1-0+1+2 and a little pointer underneath the number, use the daisy wheel to adjust the pointer until it is under the 0 which would be a correct exposure. I shoot Canon and Nikon is similar.

carolb

Thank you for asking my question! I'm at the same place in the same book and have spent most of the night howling that my camera DOES NOT HAVE a light meter, although I know it must. Went from a point and shoot, skidded past DSLR and now on a Nikon 1 J1 mirrorless, where absolutely nothing matches anything I read and "read the manual" yields very little usable.

I think I found it. At least I found a scale that removes or adds little dots when I change the shutter speed. Sent by the most junior member of the photographic community...

SoHillGuy Loc: Washington

Maybe this site will help in deciding if you need a hand held meter.
http://www.vividlight.com/articles/512.htm

estudiosmucho

thanks for your replies everyone! My camera does have a meter, but what I was wondering about is the hand held one...If you already have a meter on your camera why use a hand held one? But I am assuming it's because the hand held one measures reflected light?

Sheila Loc: Arizona or New York

Many photographers use both camera and hand held meters especially people who started many years ago with film when developing and printing were so expensive.

Hand held meters may offer both reflected and incident light readings depending on the meter. The incident meter held near the object you want to photograph and aimed back toward the camera. It helps you determine the exposure from the amount of light reaching what you want to photograph. Many portrait photographers always use hand held incident meters.

Reflected light hand held meters work the same way the meter in your camera works. I have a Sekonic L 358 which may be adjusted to use as an incident or a reflected meter.

estudiosmucho

Ok thanks that helps a lot. So now the question is... is it really necessary?

hobby62670

Not related to the metering question sorry. I would like to know if you have your Apeture setting set, so you put your camera on manual or auto? as well as your lens?

Sheila Loc: Arizona or New York

Really necessary? If you do a lot of portrait and weddings, I would say it's not exactly necessary but very useful. On the other hand, if like most of us your funds are limited and the choices for equipment limitless, it is not the first purchase I'd make. Useful in some circumstances but not an absolute necessity.