A Rangefinder Wedding


Hi ZoomP, yes, I shoot with a non-AE RF, my Leica MP. I've recently been messing around with an M9, but even for that i find it easier to switch to full manual. I actually find AE very difficult because

1. I never really know what the meter is metering off, so i am always second guessing the camera's meter
2. In camera meters have this crazy tendency to jump around in exposure value just because there's suddenly a bright source of light in the frame.

To make things easier for myself, I just set the camera to manual exposure if shooting on the M9 or MP, then before the event, I measure the variations in light at the venue with a handheld meter. From there I can more or less guess if the subject is passing in areas of light or dark to speed up or slow down my shutter speed to compensate. I find this way much easier than trying to leave it to the AE exposure. If i'm not sure and don't have time to pull out my handheld meter, I just meter off my hand and then overexpose by 1 stop because my skin is generally lighter toned. This technique takes care of exposure so all i need to think about is focusing and composition. Hope this helps.


The thing i like about ckuang is his open sharing :)
Thanks for contributing
 

No problem at all lightrules, my pleasure. Realized there was still quite a few questions on using a rangefinder for wedding photography, so I've put up a FAQ on my blog at www.39eastvision.com, but feel free to email me too and I'll put up the question and answer on my blog so that this thread doesn't get hijacked!
 

Hi ZoomP, yes, I shoot with a non-AE RF, my Leica MP. I've recently been messing around with an M9, but even for that i find it easier to switch to full manual. I actually find AE very difficult because

1. I never really know what the meter is metering off, so i am always second guessing the camera's meter
2. In camera meters have this crazy tendency to jump around in exposure value just because there's suddenly a bright source of light in the frame.

To make things easier for myself, I just set the camera to manual exposure if shooting on the M9 or MP, then before the event, I measure the variations in light at the venue with a handheld meter. From there I can more or less guess if the subject is passing in areas of light or dark to speed up or slow down my shutter speed to compensate. I find this way much easier than trying to leave it to the AE exposure. If i'm not sure and don't have time to pull out my handheld meter, I just meter off my hand and then overexpose by 1 stop because my skin is generally lighter toned. This technique takes care of exposure so all i need to think about is focusing and composition. Hope this helps.


Master really different level! :thumbsup:

I must say, I would have died without AE! haha!

Can post Q&A here also la, still about wedding photography ma.

Thanks for sharing!
 

... If i'm not sure and don't have time to pull out my handheld meter, I just meter off my hand and then overexpose by 1 stop because my skin is generally lighter toned. This technique takes care of exposure so all i need to think about is focusing and composition. Hope this helps.

This is really profound gongfu. Can tell that this shifu is a master.
 

ckuang
I wonder if the Leica M9 could be silent ( shutter sound off ). just like those point and shoot feature ?

THat would make M9 really attractive ( although the price is !!! )
 

M9 got discreet and silent mode.
 

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