Using an SLR as a light meter for older cameras...anything I need to know?

[Shakespeare]

So I'm taking a trip to do a lot of outdoor photography. I'm taking my 60D, 5D Mk1, and for fun I'm taking an Argus Brick C-3 (200 speed film) and an Ansco f3.5 twin reflex (basically an American-version Rollei with 100 speed Ilford film).

I don't have a light meter, so what do I need to know about using my DSLRs as light meters? Anything beyond just matching the ISO on the camera to the speed of the film?

Thanks!

S

 

[tirediron]

Nope, that should pretty much be it, however remember when shooting film you generally want to expose for shadows vice highlights.

 

[hirejn]

Exposure settings apply to any camera and lens combination. But you should understand reflective metering since that's what the DSLRs use. I recommend a hand-held incident meter or a 1-degree spot reflective meter. A more rough approach would be to shoot until you like what you see in the DSLR and apply the same settings to the film camera, but that's not understanding photography.

 

[amolitor]

That'll work fine.

If you want to do Zone System foo, then you need the Zone System gear. A DSLR with a long lens using the smallest metering area it's capable of will work pretty well as a spot meter even there, and if you're playing those games you're personally calibrating the entire system end to end, so it doesn't matter how you use it as long as you use it consistently.

 

[jowensphoto]

A smaller (and lower quality, I'm certain) alternative would be a mobile phone app. I have a free one for my iPhone, and while I'm sure it doesn't compete with your 5D, if you know what your doing to begin with it works pretty well.

 

[Shakespeare]

Thanks all, I'm excited to give this a shot.

 

[tirediron]

And if you're shooting negative film (which has a fair amount of exposure latitude, generally speaking), the Sunny 16 rule works very well.

 

[andrewkurcan]

Also, research the film stock you're shooting on - For example I've been told by people who've been shooting years longer than me to always expose Ilford PANF to 64 rather than 50, since it's a high contrast stock. Good luck!

 

[jowensphoto]

Nope, that should pretty much be it, however remember when shooting film you generally want to expose for shadows vice highlights.

I'm new to film, but this rule NEVER made sense to me until I got my 35mm. Seriously, angels started singing.

 

[chris]

Do it the old fashioned way - use the exposures detailed on the film packaging, they are based on the sunny sixteen rule.

 

[AaronLLockhart]

Or if you own any smartphone, there are free light meter apps, that to my experience, are pretty accurate. Not as accurate as my horvex 3, but it has gotten me right in the ballpark.