Light meters?

[mat-greg]

I recently received a Canon AE-1 and I while I thought I was taking everything into account with the photographs many came back over-exposed. Should I invest in a light meter, and if so what are some suggestions?

 

[dxqcanada]

Hmm, look at the negatives.
The over-exposed images will appear dark throughout the frame.

If you had a problem with the internal light meter ... the entire roll will have over-exposed frames.

If you did want a light meter ... there are numerous types available, used and new.
A basic light meter can start at about $100 new ... ie


Sekonic L-208 Twin Mate Meter 401-208 B&H Photo Video

 

[pgriz]

I recently received a Canon AE-1 and I while I thought I was taking everything into account with the photographs many came back over-exposed. Should I invest in a light meter, and if so what are some suggestions?

If you're shooting film or slide, definitely an incident light meter is a good investment. The fact that your camera's meter is consistently over-exposing could mean that the camera needs to be adjusted and calibrated. OTOH, a lightmeter can be purchased for under $100 and can be used to verify the readings your camera's giving you. If the manual lightmeter gives you the same readings as your camera, then the problem can be with the shutter, or the camera electronics...

 

[mat-greg]

Thanks. Most frames were ok, but too many were over exposed, I am guessing this means a shutter problem?

 

[dxqcanada]

Find someone else with a camera ... compare meter readings.

 

[Pgeobc]

>I am guessing this means a shutter problem?<
Most likely you are not familiar with that type of meter (spot vs. med vs. wide areas) and have yet to learn. Just keep shooting and keep track of conditions and metering methods. I had a Canon F-1n that had a spot meter and it took me the longest time to get used to it.

 

[ann]

Where are you pointing that lens when you are metering. It is only going to make adjustments with regard to what it "sees".

As others have suggested there may be other issues, but metering does have some skill involved.

 

[pgriz]

Most point-and-shoot cameras will give you the reading of whatever f/stop and shutter speed they used to make a photo. Many will also give you a histogram. You can use the point-and-shoot camera to record the exact same scene you're shooting with your film camera and see if the AE-1's readings correspond to the readings from the point-and-shoot. If they do, and you're getting overexposure with the film camera, then there's something wrong with the camera. If you get proper exposures with the film camera when using the same exposures with the Point-and-shoot, then the chances are you need to look at the way you meter and adjust exposure.