Without Meter, how to shoot?

[TrailsofLife]

Hi everyone,

I am back! after considering, I decided to get a Russian RF as a sampler first, so I got a Zorki 4K w J8 and 4 Russian lenses (Jupiter3, 9, 11 & 12), cost about $600++.

I have done quite a bit reading in the net, I realised old RF doesn't come with meter, so how to shoot? If don't even have external meter? Is there like a formula for guessing if don't have meter?

Cheers
Max 2.8

 

[megaweb]

use a light meter

 

[TrailsofLife]

I also know lah, if light meter left at home?

 

[Photomic]

Here's one way.

 

[khairi]

ha ha...the sunny 16 is the way to go if you forgot your light meter...just follow photomic's link.

it takes practice to make the rule perfect.

 

[Belle&Sebastain]

you guess, you guess, you guess guess guess! :bsmilie:

 

[crapshot]

congrats on picking up your RF set. It's fun!

sunny 16 is not difficult to use as long as you are consistent about how you apply it. You gotta decide on the EI for your film you're using for your "metering" habits and adjust for conditions. No need to guess.

google sunny 16 and you'll find your whole afternoon gone.

 

[Witness]

try goggle ultimate exposure meter...

 

[TrailsofLife]

Thanks everyone, will load my zorki up and go and try the sunny 16 rule!

Cheers :cheers:
Max 2.8

 

[jamesong]

Max 2.8, Very easy.....when you buy a roll of film, inside the box have Daylight Exposure Guide printed. You will not go wrong if you follow the guide.

Happy shooting.

 

[CaeSiuM]

General rule of thumb: Film has higher tolerance to overexposure than underexposure. Theoretically speaking, most print film can take up to 3 stops of overexposure and 1 stop of underexposure. My experience is that +2 & -1/2 is a closer estimate.

Just FYI, the Fuji NPx family, being a low-contrast print film, has an even higher tolerance for overexposure.

 

[yowch]

You can also train your eyes to 'see' or 'feel' the right EV value! My dad didn't have a light meter...

I have had some successes using my dad's old TLR without meter, but not for slides as there won't be post processing. On film, the lab can easily "push/pull" in the positive printing.

 

[TrailsofLife]

Hi guys, just want to let you all know the "sunny 16" technique works very well!

I went to test my Zorki 4k with 5 lenses that I just got from ebay. Some turn out just a tad under(looking at the negatives), because its a badly overcasted day. Those that I add 1 to 2(some 3 stops) stops turns out fine.

 

[student]

Hi guys, just want to let you all know the "sunny 16" technique works very well!

I went to test my Zorki 4k with 5 lenses that I just got from ebay. Some turn out just a tad under(looking at the negatives), because its a badly overcasted day. Those that I add 1 to 2(some 3 stops) stops turns out fine.

Congratulations!

I think a useful rule of thumb is that, when in doubt, give more exposure. This has to do with the way films handle light. I am speaking of B&W. The penalty of "overexposure" is more grain. But at least you have details and a printable negative.

 

[theITguy]

I thought in colour neg when you overexpose the grain will be tighter/less/burnout? B&W is the other way?

 

[litefoot]

Max 2.8, Very easy.....when you buy a roll of film, inside the box have Daylight Exposure Guide printed. You will not go wrong if you follow the guide.

Happy shooting.

When in doubt, bracket.