TLR Metering & Exposure

[Third Sunday]

Hello! I am a complete suaku with TLRs and Medium Format but I really like TLRs, i think they are beautiful, and I am keen to try MF photography...

I just bought two TLRs but they are manual exposure and I am pretty damn slow on that. I assume that there's no such thing as a TLR with auto exposure, but I've read that there are TLRs with meters on them.

Was wondering if the experts here can advise... how does the TLR meter work? Let's say I get a TLR with a meter on it, how do I then use the meter to determine my aperture and shutter?

Thanks in advance!

 

[sweat100]

So far the TLRs with meters I seen on them is a needle that respond to light. Some requires battery operation (eg Yashica Mat 124) as it is a CdS meter. Some does not (eg Rolleiflex).

What happens is that the needle will respond to different intensity of light. You set your aperture and shutter (another needle with a U shape at the end) to corresponds to the intensity needle such that they match. There you have it.

 

[Third Sunday]

So far the TLRs with meters I seen on them is a needle that respond to light. Some requires battery operation (eg Yashica Mat 124) as it is a CdS meter. Some does not (eg Rolleiflex).

What happens is that the needle will respond to different intensity of light. You set your aperture and shutter (another needle with a U shape at the end) to corresponds to the intensity needle such that they match. There you have it.

Where are these needles located? In the viewfinder?

 

[YOL925]

presuming u r using a rolleiflex 2.8F with meter...

Straight from the rolleiflex manual:

If u r using those older models, such as C, D, E; then that is different story.
Aiya, use a separate handheld meter lah :bsmilie:

YOL

 

[Third Sunday]

Kewl! Thanks for comments...

No, i dont have a Rolleiflex... yet.

 

[chiif]

The Rollei Magic I & II are the ones that have Auto Exposure function on them.

If you looking for one... 2 of the CS members have them. I can name you if you are seriously looking for one... if they want to sell....

 

[ndroo]

If you looking for one... 2 of the CS members have them. I can name you if you are seriously looking for one... if they want to sell....

Wah! Matchmaking business now ah? :bsmilie:

 

[ndroo]

If you are into Holga/Diana looking images, try find a Votar Flex It has just 3 aperture settings. The couldy, partial cloudy and sunny only. It has become my favourite 'TLR' now.

 

[Third Sunday]

The Rollei Magic I & II are the ones that have Auto Exposure function on them.

If you looking for one... 2 of the CS members have them. I can name you if you are seriously looking for one... if they want to sell....

I finally got one, a Magic II, and she's a beauty!

 

[hanqiang1011]

Last time when I went to Ruby, Ah Ying-jie told me that TLR with no built-in meter you can use a 35mm film camera plus a 50mm plus, do that metering in the 35mm. Whatever exposure you got, plus 1-stop to 1 1/2-stop for your TLR.

Why up the exposure, this is because the film format for TLR is larger than 35mm thus the metering.

 

[enivre]

Last time when I went to Ruby, Ah Ying-jie told me that TLR with no built-in meter you can use a 35mm film camera plus a 50mm plus, do that metering in the 35mm. Whatever exposure you got, plus 1-stop to 1 1/2-stop for your TLR.

Why up the exposure, this is because the film format for TLR is larger than 35mm thus the metering.

I'm sorry bro what does a larger film format have to do with exposure???

If you know how to meter properly with your 35mm film camera you can use the exact same settings on the TLR. There is no need to adjust it.

 

[maxonline]

Last time when I went to Ruby, Ah Ying-jie told me that TLR with no built-in meter you can use a 35mm film camera plus a 50mm plus, do that metering in the 35mm. Whatever exposure you got, plus 1-stop to 1 1/2-stop for your TLR.

Why up the exposure, this is because the film format for TLR is larger than 35mm thus the metering.

This is what i normally do using a SLR when the situation is tricky...dosent matter on wat size...exposure meter basically function the same.....

other than that can agar agar try the sunny 16...works for me

 

[Andipo]

Last time when I went to Ruby, Ah Ying-jie told me that TLR with no built-in meter you can use a 35mm film camera plus a 50mm plus, do that metering in the 35mm. Whatever exposure you got, plus 1-stop to 1 1/2-stop for your TLR.

Why up the exposure, this is because the film format for TLR is larger than 35mm thus the metering.

Actually exposure is determined by film speed. But the effect of overexposure doesn't show as much on larger film format. Something to do with smaller grain size relative to the image size.

Cheers

 

[Edwin Francis]

I'm sorry bro what does a larger film format have to do with exposure???

If you know how to meter properly with your 35mm film camera you can use the exact same settings on the TLR. There is no need to adjust it.

That's right, format size shouldn't make any diff. I have a Yashica Mat 124G, which has a built in meter. When I pulled it out of mothballs, I wasn't too sure about the meter, so I used my Fuji F31d to confirm exposure. The readings were pretty close. And the sensor on that is considerably smaller than a 35mm frame.
You could use a 35mm SLR, but you'd be carrying a whole lot of extra bulk :sweat:

 

[alternatve]

Get a proper lightmeter, like a Sekonic and you won't go wrong. Better models even have a incident lightmeter reading capability so you can use it with your DSLR to get a better exposure.

Samuel

 

[chiif]

I would suggest get a good condition Rolleiflex 2.8F or 3.5F with light meter working. With a diffuser, the camera meter works as an incident meter too.

I use my 50 year old 2.8E inbuilt meter. Don't think I am way off for this shot:

It should be a cheaper option than getting a separate light meter for the TLR. A mint condition 2.8F usually only go for only SGD2K on evilbay, while a mint 3.5F is only SGD1K