Film work

[Nikon User]

it has been a while since I used my Nikon100 film camera. Out in desert last weekend --using 160 color film Sunny day.The meter read 2000 when I took photos in A. It was a 135mm lens with lens hood. Will the phots come out overexposed at that meter reading. Then I set it manually at 500 and shot a couple. Ned to finish roll. Need som feed back and info about what are the best meter readings for bright sunlight with 160 I believe Fuji film. Been using digital so need brushing up.

 

[jcdeboever]

it has been a while since I used my Nikon100 film camera. Out in desert last weekend --using 160 color film Sunny day.The meter read 2000 when I took photos in A. It was a 135mm lens with lens hood. Will the phots come out overexposed at that meter reading. Then I set it manually at 500 and shot a couple. Ned to finish roll. Need som feed back and info about what are the best meter readings for bright sunlight with 160 I believe Fuji film. Been using digital so need brushing up.

Invest in a light meter or at least download a light meter app on your phone. We are not there and can not judge the light. Older camera's can have problematic shutter times. You are better served in checking this out on site with a meter, shooting, evaluate images for proper exposure. If you can not or ascertain the image, send in the camera to a reputable repair place to confirm proper operation.

 

[limr30 3]

In addition to this ^^^ ...

You didn't mention aperture setting. To get a correct exposure, the shutter speeds works together with the aperture to determine how much light gets to the film. If your camera on Auto set the shutter speed so fast, chances are your aperture was wide open, especially using 160ISO film. Did you set the camera to the correct ISO?

The focal length of the lens doesn't matter except when considering what is included in the frame. For example, it might be a sunny day but if you are aiming your 135mm at a scene totally in the shadows, then it will give a different exposure reading. If you were shooting with a wider lens, you might end up with more lighted areas in the frame and thus requiring a different exposure.

But really, that's already getting beyond the discussion.

First question: If 1/2000th was not the correct setting, it's more likely to be underexposed than overexposed. That is a fast shutter speed, which means it's letting in less light than 1/500th. Your exposures at 1/500th may be overexposed if you did not change the aperture setting. But as JC said, we have no way of knowing since we don't know what you were shooting.

Second: If you were shooting 160ISO, it was likely Kodak Portra. I don't know of any Fuji films that come rated as 160 - just 100, 200, or 400. Someone else can correct me if I'm wrong about that.

Third: I agree - get a light meter or use a light meter app on your smartphone if you have one. Or you can brush up on the Sunny 16 guidelines for exposure (google it.)

Finally, when you get your shots developed, post some for more directed, specific feedback about exposure. And if you really want to be systematic about it, don't forget to write down the settings for each shot that you take so you know what settings produced each image.

 

[vintagesnaps]

Yeah, you'd need to meter the scene, and depends on aperture. Out on a sunny day 1/2000 could be in the ball park, but so could 1/500. Shooting at a couple of different settings hopefully will have gotten you something decent, and if it's color film a good lab can/should do the appropriate adjustments as much as possible. (If you use a drug store/discount store they may just run it thru the machine and not make adjustments).

Shooting B&W is where I particularly want a proper exposure to get negs that aren't too thin so I often bracket shots, and you were sort of doing that getting a shot at a couple of different settings. Using vintage cameras or in changeable light the meter needle can fluctuate (depending on the camera and the light), so that's also where I may do some bracketing as needed.

Maybe before you shoot another roll get out and practice without film; meter in the sun, then in the shade, maybe in the evening, and see what the meter does and what settings it's indicating.