When the baffle is closed, the high light scale (0 - 1600) moves
into position. The baffle should be kept closed when the light reads
25 or higher. If the light reading is less than 25, the baffle should
be opened bringing the low light scale (0 - 25) into use.
Hold the meter being careful not to obstruct the photo-electric
cell with your fingers or the neck cord. For outdoor general scenes,
when the reading is taken from the camera position, tilt the meter
sufficiently downwards to avoid measuring sky areas which would
inflate the reading and cause under exposure. The required degree
of tilt is dependent upon the scene.
1. Set the film exposure index by moving the Exposure Index Knob
until the Exposure Index number (ASA Index) of your film appears
in the Exposure Index window.
2. Aim the meter as described in Aiming
the Meter
On/Off Pointer Lock
By sliding the pointer lock to the left, the pointer will be
locked at the reading; sliding the lock to the right releases
the pointer. The meter must be held steady when operating the
lock otherwise a false reading may be obtained. When the meter
is not in use, the pointer should be left unlocked.
3. Transfer the light reading by turning the large knurled outer
dial until the Normal Arrow is opposite the reading on the Light
Scale of the Calculator Dial.
4. Set your camera with any combination of shutter speed and
f/stop indicated. Any combination of shutter speeds and f/stops
opposite each other on the Calculator Dial will give the same
correct exposure. The combination selected will depend on whether
you want a fast shutter speed with a large aperture (low f/stop
number) to arrest action; or greater depth of field calling for
a smaller aperture (high f/stop number) and a slower shutter speed.
Exposure Value Numbers
For cameras calibrated in Exposure Values, set your camera to
the exposure value number appearing in the Exposure Value Window.
Classification of Scenes
It will simplify the classification of scenes to remember that
the exposure meter measures the average in brightness value of
the scene. Thus for normal exposures the arrow position on the
Calculator Dial is used. However, for those scenes requiring less
or more than the normal exposure the 'A' or 'C' positions may
be employed, where half or double normal exposure respectively
is required.
The following recommendations apply primarily when monochrome
negative film is being used. See Colour
Photography section.
Flat scenes lacking in contrast, such as distant views and landscapes
on dull days, generally require less than normal exposure and
more than normal development for best reproduction. Set the 'A'
position on the calculator dial opposite the light value measured
for such scenes, thus halving the exposure.
The contrasty scene, such as a sunlit street with dark shadows,
for best reproduction requires more than normal exposure and less
than normal development. Set the 'C' position on the Calculator
Dial opposite the light value measured for these scenes, thus
doubling the exposure.
Remember, however, that about eighty per cent of all scenes require
a normal exposure and when in doubt about any scene, use the arrow
position on the Calculator Dial.
Camera Position Method
The normal method of use of the meter is at the camera position,
i.e. close to the camera. It is a simple method and the one most
frequently used. This method gives a correct exposure for the
average scene and does not isolate any particular object from
an exposure point of view.
Take a light reading (avoiding sky areas) and set the Calculator
Dial as already described. Chose a combination of f/stop and shutter
speed consistent with the subject to be photographed.
Generally, the arrow position on the Calculator Dial should be
used. For flat scenes, or for scenes with extreme contrast of
highlights and shadows, use the 'A' or 'C' position as described
in Classification
of Scenes.
The camera position method should not normally be used for back-lighted
snow, sand or water, since spectacular reflections can result
in under exposure of the shadowed areas. See also Backlighted
Subjects.
But for landscapes, general views and other photographs where
a quick reading is wanted, the camera position method is quite
satisfactory.
The Close-Up Method
In the Close-up Method the meter is held close to the subject
being photographed. By doing this, the effect of the background
is minimised and the film exposed for the main centre of interest.
Hold the meter close to the principal object, making sure that
no light reaches the cell from unimportant parts of the scene.
When taking a reading, be sure that you do not cast a shadow
on the subject. To avoid this, the meter may have to be held at
an angle to the direct light on the subject, i.e. you can measure
the reflected brightness by standing slightly to one side.
Having taken your close-up reading set the Calculator Dial to
the arrow position and make your camera settings.
The above method is not recommended where the picture contains
large light areas and relatively small but important dark areas.
Additionally, when using this method for colour photography, it
is equally desirable that there shall be no small but important
light areas in an otherwise dark scene.
Brightness Range Method
The Brightness Range Method consists of measuring the light values
of the lightest and darkest objects of the scene and thereby centering
the exposure between the two extremes.
In any scene, various objects reflect different amounts of light.
To produce a good photograph, all objects should be correctly
exposed and thus the extremes of brightness should be measured.
Take a close-up reading of the darkest object in the scene (for
example, a dark hedge) and note the light value. Then make a close-up
reading of the brightest object (for example, a white wall) again
noting the light reading.
Set the arrow on the Calculator Dial midway between the darkest
and brightest object light values, i.e. the arrow should be the
same number of divisions or blocks from the darkest light value
as it is from the brightest.
You can then read off a suitable combination of f/stop and shutter
speed for the scene, or alternatively, the exposure value.
Most monochrome negative emulsions can record a long range of
deep shadows and bright highlights in a single negative. A knowledge
of the limits of this range can prevent unnecessary loss of detail
in extreme shadows or highlights when long range subjects are
encountered.
The 'U' and 'O' Positions
The 'U' and 'O' positions on the Calculator Dial show the recommended
limits of subject brightness, the ratio of these being 128:1.
For a given setting of the dial, all objects whose light values
fall on or between these two limits will be correctly exposed.
Any object having a light value below the 'U' position will be
under exposed and any object with a light value above the 'O'
position may be difficult to reproduce.
By setting the 'U' position opposite the darkest object light
value, the indicated exposure will be just sufficient correctly
to reproduce that part of the scene.
Where the overall brightness is of a low order, such as a dark
hall or cave, it might be impossible to obtain a reading from
anything but a very bright object. If the 'O' position is set
opposite this bright object light value, the indicated exposure
will avoid over exposing the highlights.
Where the brightness range of the scene exceeds a ration of 128:1
use of the 'U' position may involve some sacrifice of detail in
the extreme highlights. Conversely, use of the 'O' position will
cause loss of shadow detail.
Substitute Readings
It is not always convenient to take close-up readings and in
such cases, substitute readings of nearby similar objects may
be made, but ensure that the lighting is the same and that the
objects are similar. In the example of the yacht, a close-up reading
of a white handkerchief would be a substitute for the hull of
the yacht, whereas the darkest subject, the flag, is accessible
and its brightness can be measured.
Highlights and Shadows
In a scene such as that shown above, the brightness range greatly
exceed the film range i.e. the patches of sunlight may give a
light reading of 500 and the deep shadows a reading of -2. The
average film range if thus not wide enough to give printable details
in both the highlights and shadows, although a good average exposure
can be obtained by using your meter as already described. According
to the effect you require, however, you can choose to expose for
details in the shadows by using 'U' position or, alternatively,
for detail in the highlights by using the 'O' position. See The
'U' and 'O' Positions. The foregoing is particularly true of short
range, slow film. Many films, however, have a range greater than
128:1 and when using such material, use of the 'U' position is
often preferable.
Colour Photography
Until experience has been gained, avoid extreme lighting conditions
and allow the color to provide the contrast. For outdoor shots,
if possible expose between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. as the quality of
the light is normally best during this period. If the sun is shining
it should be behind the camera. Watch the reflection values of
the surroundings i.e. a white dress can be turned pink from a
red object reflection. Avoid shadows and subjects in shadow, as
these are illuminated by skylight which is more blue than sunlight,
for which the film is balanced. An ideal scene is one having low
contrast and even illumination. Best results are obtained on a
clear sunny day.
Colour Film Range
The range of scene brightness which can be recorded on colour
film is far more restricted than that of monochrome material,
the ratio being in the order of 30 to 1. Therefore the brightness
ration in general should not exceed this figure.
For best colour rendering it will generally be found that the
light value range of extreme colours will lie between the dot
positioned one whole stop above the 'C' position and the dot positioned
one whole stop below the 'A'. Objects whose light values lie outside
this range may suffer in colour rendering. Effective pictures
in colour are obtained from colour contrast rather than from highlights
and shadows as in monochrome photography. The method recommended
is the Brightness
Range Method.
First take a close-up reading of the darkest colour in the scene.
Then take a close-up reading of the brightest colour. Set the
arrow position on the Calculator Dial midway between these light
values and make your camera setting.
The above method locates the exposure in the middle of the film
range and is suitable for the average subject in flat lighting.
If the darker colours are of principal interest, a longer exposure
may be preferable. Conversely, if the brighter colours are of
interest then shorter exposure may be necessary.
It must be appreciated that varying the exposure to suit one
end of the colour range may affect true rendering of the other.
A useful suggestion is to use the 'C' position when exposing for
the darker colours and the 'A' position for the brighter colours.
Correct exposure will, of course give the best results but if
in doubt, remember that slight under exposure gives better colour
rendering than over exposure. With negative/positive colour processes,
however, the opposite is the case and slight over exposure is
preferable to under exposure. In both forms of colour photography,
it is normally desirable to avoid shadows and extreme contrast
in lighting.
When the same scene contains large areas of a light tone, normal
use of the meter will result in an inflated reading and consequent
under exposure. In such cases a reading should be taken of an
average portion of the scene, avoiding the areas of light tone.
Cine Photography
A cine camera is essentially the same as a still camera except
that it exposes a series of pictures at a fixed shutter speed.
For cine work the Brightness
Range Method is recommended.
Make close-up readings of the darkest and brightest objects in
the scene and set the arrow position midway between the light
values obtained. The correct f/stop to use will then be found
opposite the particular shutter speed of your cine camera.
The standard number of frames exposed by the average amateur
cine camera is 16 per second (now 18 for silent and 24 for
sound ) at a shutter speed of 1/30th second. For other frames
per second than 16, the shutter speed is proportional. Use the
settings shown in the following table:
8 frames per second 1/15th
16 frames per second 1/30th
24 frames per second 1/50th
32 frames per second 1/60th
48 frames per second 1/100th
64 frames per second 1/125th
Some cameras may have a different shutter speed at 16 frames
per second, such as 1/40th or 1/50th and the f/stop for these
should be read off against this shutter speed on the Calculator
Dial. If the shutter speed of your camera is unknown, ascertain
it from the camera manufacturer.
Backlighted Subjects
If the meter is aimed directly at a back-lighted subject, i.e.
one where the main lighting comes from behind, it is obvious that
the light value reading can be inflated resulting in under exposure.
To overcome this, turn around and take the reading on a similar
object with your back to the lighting so that your body casts
a shadow on the substitute object.
For example, in the picture above a close-up reading could be
made of a handkerchief for the girl's blouse, ensuring that the
substitute object is in shadow.
For all beach scenes, light readings should be taken with the
sun over your shoulder. Direct reflections from sparkling water
should be avoided when taking light readings.
Additional Notes - Still
and Cine
High Altitudes Films are sensitive to ultra-violet radiation,
of which there is a considerable amount present at high altitudes.
To eliminate the effect of this, it is always good practice to
use a haze or ultra-violet filter. No exposure correction is necessary
so use the meter in the normal manner.
Snow, Beach and Water Scenes. Take readings of the brightest
and darkest objects and set the Arrow midway between, or take
a reading from the palm of your hand and use the 'C' position
on the Calculator Dial. The best rendering of snow texture results
when the snow is back or cross lighted.
Copy Work. When copying pages of a book or photographs
in black and white or colour, take a reading from a white card
placed over the subject. Divide the exposure index by five and
set this value in the Exposure Index Window. Set the Arrow at
the light reading obtained and select the camera settings in the
usual manner.
Television. Adjust the television screen for high contrast.
Place the camera on a tripod, set the shutter at 1/25 second and
focus on the lines across the screen. Dim the room lights. Take
a close-up average reading holding the meter about six inches
from the screen. Set the Normal Arrow at this reading and select
the camera settings in the usual manner.
Sunsets and Sunrises. Aim the meter directly at the subject
and set the Normal Arrow at the reading.
Aerial Pictures. To prevent the sky from inflating the
reading, aim the meter down towards the ground. As a general guide,
below 1,000 feet use the meter reading indicated; from 1,000 to
2,000 feet set the Arrow on the Calculator Dial one space higher
than the meter reading, thereby reducing the exposure by 1/3 f/stop;
from 2,000 to 4,000 feet, set the Arrow two spaces higher than
the meter reading (an exposure reduction of 2/3 f/stop). Above
4,000 feet, set the 'A' mark instead of the Arrow to the meter
reading (an exposure reduction of one f/stop). If no other filter
is in use, a skylight filter, haze filter or ultra-violet filter
should be used, in which case no exposure correction is required.