Using Light Meters

Using Light Meters

There are two main classifications of light metres:

Reflected-Light Meters

The name says it all. These meters measure the light being reflected off the subject. They usually have about the same angle of view as a normal lens. To use these you must first set it for the speed of film you are using (ASA, DIN, ISO, etc.) and then aim it at the subject (usually while holding a button down) to take a reading from the camera's point of view. Light meters that are built into cameras are reflected-light meters. These meters can be used to point at grey cards (a piece of cardboard made to be a medium shade of grey) to get an approximate idea of what exposure you should be using.

Incident-Light Meters

Incident light meters measure light that is falling on an object. The reading they give really has nothing to do with the particular subject you are shooting becuase they measure the light as it falls on the subject. They usually have a white plastic dome on them that acts as a diffuser and gives them a much wider angle of view than a normal lens. They are used by placing the meter just in front of the subject looking into the lens of the camera. Again you must set the meter for the type fo film you are using and then take a reading. Typically, the meters will give you a reading on a numerical scale that you must then use on a dial (or whatever is available) to find out the many different f-stop/shutter speed combinations for this light level.

Spot Meters

Spot meters are reflected-light meters that can measure light being reflected off a very small spot of a subject. They usually have a viewfinder with a small circle in the centre (usually about 1% of the overall view) that shows the area it is metering. These can give you a much more acurate reading of the light levels of the many different parts of your subject. They are particularly usefull for implementing the zone-system of photography.

Next Topic: A simplified explanation of the Zone System

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