4
\$\begingroup\$

I am new to film photography and just wanted to double check something I am confused about.

So imagine I am using a fully manual film camera with an older light meter in the cold shoe. No exposure compensation feature so I need to do this manually. I attach a yellow filter over the lens, which I need to compensate +1 stop for.

So if my film ISO is 100, before metering and taking pictures with my camera, shouldn't I dial in 50 ISO on my light meter to compensate for that +1?

That way I don't have to meter and remember to constantly change the aperture or shutter speed by +1?

Thanks.

Improve this question
\$\endgroup\$
2
  • \$\begingroup\$ You have a light meter that attaches to the flash shoe? A light meter measures light. "That way I don't have to meter and remember to constantly change the aperture or shutter speed by +1?" Are you saying that a light meter in the cold shoe is controlling the camera settings? Or are you talking about a flash? \$\endgroup\$
    – Alaska Man
    Jan 10, 2021 at 18:30
  • \$\begingroup\$ Hi sorry for the late response. I use a Voigtlander VC light meter and it does not control the camera settings. I have to transfer them to the camera. \$\endgroup\$
    – Mr Smith
    Jan 19, 2021 at 23:13

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
6
\$\begingroup\$

So if my film ISO is 100, before metering and taking pictures with my camera, shouldn't I dial in 50 ISO on my light meter to compensate for that +1?

Yes.

You've got it.

If your shutter speeds are edging into the seconds, do keep in mind reciprocity failure and the additional time needed to compensate for that as well. But, for general shooting at handheld shutter speeds, the method you've described will get you by beautifully.

Improve this answer
\$\endgroup\$
6
  • 2
    \$\begingroup\$ Thank you so much! And assuming my film speed is 100, I can just keep the ISO at 50 on the meter the entire time I am taking pictures with my filter on? It seems so beautifully simple! \$\endgroup\$
    – Mr Smith
    Jan 8, 2021 at 6:17
  • 2
    \$\begingroup\$ It is simple. That's why we have the shutter/aperture/ISO film speed system we have now. In the late 19th and early 20th century, there were multiple other notations for aperture and film speed -- but the ones we have now won out because it's easy to calculate exposure compensations and reciprocal (same total value) exposures like 1/30 @ f/11, ISO 100 = 1/60 @ f/5.6, ISO 50. \$\endgroup\$
    – Zeiss Ikon
    Jan 8, 2021 at 12:08
  • \$\begingroup\$ @ZeissIkon, one could argue that subtracting 3 in DIN is easier than dividing by 2 in ISO. \$\endgroup\$
    – Carsten S
    Jan 8, 2021 at 15:26
  • \$\begingroup\$ Sure, but the result isn't as obviously half or double the result. \$\endgroup\$
    – Zeiss Ikon
    Jan 8, 2021 at 15:28
  • 1
    \$\begingroup\$ @MrSmith The hardest part about it is remembering to return the ISO setting to, in your example, ISO 100 when you remove the filter! \$\endgroup\$
    – Michael C
    Jan 8, 2021 at 20:08

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.