Light meters
Minolta PART ONE OF THE DEMONSTRATION User manual
User manual for Minolta PART ONE OF THE DEMONSTRATION. 28 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
28 pagesEnglish4.9 MB PDF

Loading your manual…Open PDF directly
Document details
- Brand
- Minolta
- Model / document
- Minolta PART ONE OF THE DEMONSTRATION
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 28
- File size
- 4.9 MB
- Category
- Light meters
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
Search available document text
Find a term, then jump to its page in the original PDF. Image-only pages may not be searchable; check the PDF for exact wording and diagrams.
Page 4 · Read text
#wrst*nts
Incidentand ReflectedLight Meterings 2
I ncident Iight metering:characteristics 4
Incidentlight metering:basic operation 6
Determiningthe lightingratio. 1 0
Flash Meter IV analyzefunction 1 2
Aperture-prioritymetering 1 4
Exposuremetersand film sensitivity 1 6
Reflectedlight metering:characteristics 18
Reflectedlight metering:basic operation 20
Subject contrast and exposuredetermination. 22
Contrastcontrol 28
Creativeexposuremeasurement . 30
Cumulativeexposuremetering 38
B o o s t e r I I . . . . 44
Spot-probeattachment . . 46
Boostercompensation . 48
ffiffiffi?#
A Floodlight: FrashMeterrv Tungsten E D 35mm camera Spot light: ffi
Tungsten Gmj b Fiiinirl:'
Diffuser 6 x 6 camera f Pi"""lf,li rnruvr ffi
g Rerrector Viewcameraqffiffiil]{illllllrnrrnrrm{l extensionBelIOWS- E[ii.il,i;,ashV ury{ compensation flmView original page 4Page 5 · Read text
Whetherworkingundercontinuouslightsourcessuch as sunlightor tungstenbulbs,
or with instantanieouslightsourcessuch as electronicflash,photographyis a process
in which illuminationfrom the lightsourcestrikesand is reflectedoff the subject,
passesthroughthe cameralensand formsan imageon a light-sensitivesurface.A
mechanismfor controllingthe lensapertureand shutterspeed,as well as flashoutput
when usingflashlight,is requiredto makesurethe rightamount,of lightreachesthe
film olane.
Thereare two basicwaysof measuringthis brightness:incidentlightmetering
systemswhich indicatethe requiredexposureby measuringthe amountof light
(llumination)illuminatingthe subject,and reflectedlightmeteringsystemswhich
indicateexposureby measuringthe amountof light reflectedoff the subject
(luminance)' and receivedby the camera(SeeFig.1).
The Minil1aFlashMeterIV permitsincidentlightmeteringwith sphericaldiffusers,
mini receotorsor flat diffusers,or reflectedlight meteringwith Viewfinder5o or View-
finder 10dII, a reflectedlightattachment(40' acceptanceangle)or the MinoltaBoosterII.
to simple reduced be cannot be used Suidg- metering systemshould whichSelecting at r, is directed receptor the whether photographic or situations on specificlinesbased
the subjector the camera.Rather,the selectionshouldbe basedon a thoroughunder-
standingof the differencesbetweenthe meritsof the two systems.
Toddmonstratethe differencesbetweenincidentand reflectedlight metering
systems,we photographedblack,gray,and white wallpapersamples(respective
reflectionfaciors[ii., the ratioof reflectedlightto incidentlighton the sublect]of
approx.4o/0,180/iand90%)shownon page3 underthe same lightconditionsand
metereOwith the FlashMeterIV.The picturesin groupA were exposedas indicated
with incidentlight metering;those in group B were exposedas indicaledwith reflected
lightmetering.
Fig. 1 Incidentlightmetering ReflectedReflectedlightlightmeteringmetering
Light source
lncident liqht
|Jll-llrl mlG lncidentlightmetering Camera
(usingsphericalrecePtor)
Reflected light metering
(reflected light attachment)
www.orphancameras.comView original page 5Page 6 · Read text
Incident light metering
Inincidentlightmetering,lightilluminatingthe subject(illumination)is measuredand Sphericaldiffuser
exposureis calculatedwiththe formula[illumination(lightstrikingthe subject)x
Accordingly,incidentlightmeteringwill indicatethe sameexposurelevel(f/16in
groupA photographs)forall subjects,i.e.irrespectiveof the subjectreflectionfactor,
whenphotographinguMer the same lightconditions,and thereforerenderthe neutral Flat diffuser
graysheeras gray,the highreflectionfactorwhitesheetas white,and the low reflection
factorblacksheetas black.
*Standard reference subjects may have a ref lection factor anywhere between 120/oand26% Minolta bases its readinos on a
reference subject with an 180/oreflection factor.
Minireceptor
| 1 4 2 2 8 4 5 6 8 i l 1 6 2 2 3 2 4 5 6 4 9 0
stt-CE ,'? Fh
'.. ni_ltrU iI fn'i coRD
Reflected-light attachment
Reflected light meteri ng
Reflectedlightmeteringmeasuresthe lightreflectedby the subjectluminanceand
calculatesthe exposureso the specificsubjectluminanceis renderedin neutral
tones.Theformulausedin thiscalculationis:fsubjectluminance(illumination)x
subjectreflectionfactor+ film sensitivity: exposufe.]
Accordingly,reflectedlightmeterswill indicatedifferentexposures(f/5.62,f/160,and Viewfinder5o
fl32storthe black,gray,and whitesheets,respectively;see groupB) for subjectswith
differentreflectionfactorswhen photographedunderthe same lightconditions.The
resultis that black,grayand whitesubjectswill all be renderedin the sameneutralgray.
Booster II
1 l.t 2 28 4 56 I ll '16 2232 t56t 90 1 1 4 2 2 8 4 5 6 8 t l t 6 2 2 3 2 4 5 6 4 9 0 | 1 4 2 2 8 4 s 6 8 f l 1 6 2 2 3 2 4 5 6 4 9 0
5me; liixC; n Fi|"
Ot-i f r coRD &Ut l un Fxo It l f' coRDc o FrMe Itf U,.7 FNo 't '? coRD
""6Y1 l.n,i -fit_\ infl ,-ni_l JE 1View original page 6Page 7 · Read text
The most outdoorsceneshavea reflectionfactcircloseto 1B%,the reflectionfactorof
the referencesubjecton whichmost incidentlightmeterreadingsare based.This
makesthe incidentlightmeterquiteeffectivefor portraiture,and is the reasonincident
lightmetersare mostfrequentlyusedfor this and similarapplications.
In addition,mostphotographicsituationsincludeobjectswith reflectionfactorsboth
higherand lowerthanthe 180/oreterence.As previouslyexplained,incidentlight
meterswill reproducethesesubjectsin respectivelylighterand darkertones.The
incidentlightmeteris thereforesuitedto situationsrequiringexposureaveraged
acrossthe scene,as well as to shotsof open scenery,everydaystreetscenesand
most indoorphotography.
Anotherreasonwhy incidentlightmetersare so frequentlyusedis thatthe light
receptoracceptsand exposurecalculationsare basedon the full rangeof lightstriking
the subject.In mostsituationsthe surfaceof anythree-dimensionalsubjectis covered
by bothlightand darkareas(shadows).What'smore,someamountoTlightfromall
lightsources,includingthe sidesand back of the subject,is reflectedtowardsthe
cameraand has some effecton the picture.(SeeFig.2-a.)Sphericalreceptorsare
ableto reproduceand measurethe sameilluminationas that strikingthe subjectfor a
morepreciseexposuredetermination.
Conversely,with flat subjectssuchas picturesand posters,lesslightoriginating
from the sidesor back of the subjectis reflectedto the camera,and has a correspon-
dinglysmallereffecton the exposure.(SeeFig.2-b.)In thesesituations,the flat diffusef-r
is usedto morenearlyreproducethe illuminationon the subjectfor exposure
determination.
@ Three-dimensionalryrysubject @ Flatsublect
| 1 4 2 2 6 4 5 6 8 1 1 1 6 2 2 3 2 4 5 6 4 9 0
Sffa'*fl.ilnNoNc
Fig. 2 Effectof illumination Exoosure:f/8, 1/60sec.
sourcesIn
photograPhYof three-
dimensionaland flat
subjects
www.orphancameras.comView original page 7Page 10 · Read text
'jl,,r
(A)Exposedat meteredvalues. (B)Slightly(B)Slightly"underexposed""underexposed"
lf the reflectionfactoris high:lightersubjects
Forexample,if the sceneis of predominantlywhite,i.e.has a high reflectionfactor,and thesewhite subjectsare to
be reproducedwith maximumdetail,betterresultswill be obtainedby underexposingthe pictureone-halfto one
stopfrom the exposureindicatedby the incidentlightmeter.
Digitally signed by mike
butkus
DN: cn=mike butkus,mike o=orphancameras, ou=29, 1 1 4 2 2 8 4 5 6 8 1 1 1 6 2 2 3 2 4 5 6 4 9 0
c=US J J t'"*o Date: 2017.08.02 11:13:39 ',=!N' o i ; , / L 7 \ Lbutkus email=mike@butkus.org, @E l- |-l Filo -04'00'
Exposure:(A)1122,1/60sec.;1/3stop
(B)t132,1/60sec; 1/3stop
lf the reflectionfactor is low:dark subects
Similarly,if the sceneis dark overall,i.e.has a low reflectionfactor,and the dark areasare to be emphasized,the
exposureshouldbe increasedone-halfto one stopfromthe exposureindicatedby the incidentlightmetering.
Notethat the exposurecompensationdescribedhereand aboveshouldnot be usedwhen photographing
peopleand othersubjectshavingan averagereflectionfactor.
| 1 4 2 2 8 4 5 6 8 1 1 1 6 2 2 3 2 c 5 6 4 9 0
, r- i-l FNo
fntJr u J,:a1 1 J \ ccoRDo "Til
Exposure:(A)11132,1/60sec.;1/2stop
(B)t122,1/60sec.;1/2stop
(A) Exposedat meteredvalues.View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
lf the subjectis backlit Normally,opaquesubjebtsilluminatedby backlighting or side lightingcan be safelymeteredby following standardincidentlightmeteringrules,but thereare also timeswhenthe subjectis translucentand/orilluminated by backlightingand the receptormust be directedat the lightsourceitselfin orderto meterand determine the properexposure. In such situationslightfrom all sourceswill havea drrecteffecton the exposure,and it is necessaryto pointthe receptorin numerousdirectionsin orderto r'i) properlymeterthe overalllightsituation. In such situations,a standardreadingshouldbe takenwith incidentlightmetering,and the receptor shouldbe pointedboth o@oup,away from the light source,and directlyat the 1 l L 2 2 A 4 5 6 8 1 1 1 6 2 2 3 2 6 5 6 4 9 0 . source.The exposure f,@ 'r-: rr-tl i FNo J J ' , " o n " determinedmust then be ' ' o i ; Y , I - t L tr \ to the resoectwith composition,desired Exposure:Il32+112,1/60sec;1/3stop resultsand other lighting www.orphancameras.com factors.View original page 11
Page 14 · Read text
(A) Lightingratio:B:1
Exposure:(A)Il22 + 213,1160
sec; 1/2stop
Thesetwo exposures
were made with different
lightingratiosto demon-
stratethe effectof differing
ratioson the final expo-
sure.The top photograph
had a lightingratioof 8: 1
which was adjustedto the
2:1 ralioo1the lower
photographby fillingin
snadows.
Fig. 3 Lightingratio
Table 1
Differencein Lighting metered exposure ratio (Ex lN )
1 stop 2 : 1
2 stops 1 1
3 stops B : 1
4 stops 1 6 : 1
5 stops J Z . I
6 stops 64:1
7 stops 128:1
(B) Llghtingratio'.2:1
Exposure:(A)Il22 + 213,1160
sec; 1/2stopView original page 14Page 15 · Read text
FlashMeterlV analyzefunction
ln actual flash photographythe total light used for the exposurecontains some degree
of ambientlight-unless you'reworkingin totaldarkness.This meansconventional
flash meters(e.9.the MinoltaFlashMeterIII)expressthe requiredexposureas the
sum of both constantand flash illuminationstrikingthe receptorwithinthe periodthe
shutteris open.Accordingly,the photographerdoes not know the amountof
illuminationprovidedby only the flashor ambientlight,and the meterseemsto
indicatea constantexposureeven ijthe shutterspeedwas changedafter light
meteringwas completed.
The FlashMeterIV employsseparatemeteringand adjustmentfor ambientand
flash exposures.lt then storesthesevaluesto calculatethe exposuresetting.
Accordingly,the ratiobetweenflashand ambientlightcan be readfrom an analog
scale on the FlashMeterIV and usedto retainthe effectso{ ambientlight(whether
naturallightor modelinglights)or to emphasizeshadows,Furthermore,this raliocan
be controlledby changingthe shutterspeedto vary the amountof the ambientlightor
the guidevaluecan be adjustedto vary the amountof flash lightafter meteringis
completed.
When meteringthe scene shown in the photographsat right with the Flash Meter IV,
set the normallanalyzeswitchat ANALYZElo meterthe flash light;the three pointers
appearon the analogscale and the exposurerequiredfor the overalllightlevelis shown
on the digitaldisplay.The pointersin pholograph @oo
B indicate: - 4 . - 3 . . - ? . " t ' 0 . I . 2 N . 3 . 4(1)Totalexposurevalueof the ambientlightand
electronicflash light(thepointerat 0 on the F - I . | n
. contrastscale) ;__:_____--_\' - - b , t \ LlJ. L r ii nrct.cI
(2)Proportionof the flash light(blinkingpointer)
(3)Proportionof ambientlight
The differencebetweenflashand ambientlightlevelscan be determinedwith
pointers(2)and (3).The differencehere is approximately1/4stop,indicatingnearly
equalportionsof flashand ambientlightin the exposure(seephotographB at right). p
In photographA, the shutterspeedwas loweredlo increasethe tungsten(ambient)
lightcomponent,As shownon the contrastscale,the ratioof flashto tungstenlightis
clear:the flash lightto total lightratiois indicatedat 2 stopswhiletungstenlightis
indicatedat 1/4stops.
In photographC the situationwas reversed:the flash units power levelwas increased
to increasethe amountoJflash lightin the exposure.The tungstenlightto total light
ratiois - 2.5 stops,makingthe flashthe main lightsource.flffhilethe same ratiocan
be obtainedby increasingthe shutterspeed,the total lightlevelwill also changq and
the displaywill indicatea largerapertureis required.)
www.orphancameras.comView original page 15Page 17 · Read text
Aperture-priorityflashmetering
The FlashMeterIV permitsaperture-priorityflash meteringin additionto ambientlight
meteringof daylightand tungstenlight.i ;:1, .r . , : .,
Sinceambientlightexposuresare controlledby the aperture,whichControlsthe .,,.,
amountof lightstrikingthe film,and shutterspeed,whichcontrolsthe lengthof time'r j i
this lightstrikesthe film,one mustdeterminethe aperturefor shutter-prioritymetering
and,conversely,the shutterspeedfor aperture-prioritymetering.
However,tne flasnunit'sdurationis veryshort,and with mostcameras,it is not , .:
possibleto controlthe amountof time lighifromthe flashstrikesthe film plane. i)''
Accordingly,the apertureis normallyadjustedto controlthe amountof lightreaching
thb film.(Onautomaticflashesthe flashdurationis controlled.)ln conventional
meteringsystems(the MinoltaFlashMeterIII),the shutterspeedwas set (withinthe
camera'sX-syncrange)andthe aperturewas calculatedfor the amountof flashand
ambientlightwhichwouldstrikethe receptorat this shutterspeed.
Sincethe FlashMeterIV employsseparatemeteringand adjustmentfor ambient
and flashexposurewhichcan indicatethe amountof flashlight,the scenecan be
meteredwith the requiredX-syncshutterspeedand desiredaperture,and the meter 'guidewill indicatehow muchadditionalflashlight(expressedas a value"IGW is
requiredfor the exposure.Thisfigureis basedon a constant(unvarying)ambientlight
level,and indicateshow manystopsthe powerlevelmust be increasedor decreased
to providea properexposureat the specifiedaperture.
Forexample,lessd'epthof fieldwas desiredin the photographat right.Accordingly,
the aperturewas set to f/16,and the meterindicated* 1 GV indicatingthat flash
illuminationmustbe reducedone stop,i.e.powershouldbe reducedlo 1t2the current
level.Similarty,if +'1 GV is indicated,the powerlevelshouldbe increasedone stop.
www.orphancameras.comView original page 17Page 19 · Read text
&posihtemefers'ehdfilmSiensitivity
It is importantto knowthe characteristicsof the film when thinkingaboutexposure.
Whenthe film is developed,the amountof light(exposure)*on the film appearsas the
densityof imageson the film.The linegraphillustratingthe relationshipbetweenexpo-
sureand densityis the film characteristiccurve.Thecharacteristiccurveindicates
film sensitivity,which is requiredwhendeterminingexposure,film latitudeand other :
factorsimportantto a obtainingcorrectexposure. " -
Fig.A showsthe typicalcharacteristiccurvesfor color reversaland color negative
films.As wouldbe expected,these curvesindicateoppositetendenciesfor each of
the threeprimarycolors,red:green,and blue.We will referto the compositecurveof
Fig.B to simplifythe discussionhere.
The X-axisindicatesthe logarithmof the exposure,and the Y-axisis the transmission
densityof the film.Colorreversalfilm becomesincreasinglytransparentas the expo-
sure increases,and becomesincreasinglyopaqueas the exposuredecreases,pro-
ducingan invertedS-curvedescendingto the right.The curveindicatesthat exposure,
and densityare not proportionalat the two extremes(thetop and bottomof the curve)'
but are proportionalthroughthe straightline in between.Thisstraightlineindicates
that partof the film whichmostaccuratelyreproducesvariationsin lightintensityon . .l
thesubject. .'t.t: ,;,'-,
This rangeis referredto as the film'sexposurelatitude,most commonlya difference
of aboutfive stopsbetweenmaximumand minimumexposureswith color reversal ,:. :' film.(TheareabetweenS and H on the FlashMeterIV contrastscale is the exposure
latitudeof the film.)Ataboutthe centerof this rangeis referenceexposureHm, which
is usedto calculatefilm sensitivity;the intersectionat which referenceHm produces
midtonedensityDm is film sensitivityM.
With incidentlightmetering,the requiredexposureis obtainedby measuringillumi'
nationon the subject.Exposurecalculationsin this systemare designedto reproduce
an 18% graysubjectexposedat the indicatedapertureand shutterspeedin neutral :.:
tones,i.e.at meandensitYDm. -,
In reflected-lightmeteringsystems,the light reflectedby the subjectis measuredto ..,,,
determinesubjectluminance,and exposureis adjustedso this is equivalentto refer- '"
ence exposureHm. In otherwords,all subjects,no matterwhat their reflectionfactor,
will be reproducedas a meandensityDm image.In actualphotography,the highest
reflectionfactorencounteredfor whiteobjectsis about85% to 9Ao/o,and the lowest
reflectionfactoris that of blackobjects,about2.5o/oto 3%.
In termsof exposuredifferences,this rangebreaksdown intoaboutfive stoPsof
apprOximately3o/0,60/o,120/o,24.0/0,4Bo/0,and 96%, placingthe 18% graysubject
roughlythe middle.Accordingly,the exposureindicatedby an incidentlightmeterand
theixposure indicatedby a reilectedlightmeterusinga subjectwith a reflection
factorof approximately18% will be nearlyequalunderequivalentlightingconditions.
lf thepictureis exposedat the meteredlevels,subjectswith a reflectionfactorof from
www.orphancameras.com
l 6View original page 19Page 21 · Read text
etering:
Ch
Reflectedlightmeteringsystemsmeasurethe lightreflectedby the subject.The
receptoris pointeddirectlyat the subjectand therebymeasuresthe actual light
(luminance)whichwill enterthe lensand be recordedon film.All scenescontainboth
lightand dark objects,and for certainapplicationsthe reflectedlightmetercan be
more effectivethan an incidentlightmeter,the readingsof which are basedon a
referencereflectionratioof 18%.
One normallyseeksa naturalbalancein which lightobjectsappearlightand dark
objectsappeardark.Thereare,consequently,some problemspresentedby reflected
lightmetersas they will turn both lightand dark objectsgray in the final photograph.lt
is thereforeimportantto meterthe rightpart of the sceneto producethe best results.
Understandingthis principlewill enablethe photographerto adjustthe exposureto
emphasizea particularsubject,or to add detailto a generallywhite or dark picture.In
addition,determiningthe contrastin the sceneand monitoringhow certainlighting
conditionsare reproducedon film will enablethe photographerto use othertechni-
ques to get the most from the film'spotential.
Reflectedlightmetersalso permitaccuratemeteringof translucentsubjects,neon
lights,lamps,and other light-emittingsubjects,in additionto meteringof subjects
which cannotbe convenientlyapproached.
;:*jK"j 6o= --#h";:';;';:""
o Exposure:il45+112,1/60sec;
z.O6 1/3aperture
o
c=
www.orphancameras.comView original page 21Page 23 · Read text
Reflectedlight metering: Basic operction
MinoltaFlashMeterIV operationin the reflectedlightmetermode is shownbelow.
, Attach the View- Fointthe
finder5", the receptor
Viewfinder10' II or directlyat the subject
reflectedlight meter
attachmentto,the
receptor,or use the
booster.
A H Set the measuring
I mode selector to
the desired meter type.
(AMB|,CORD,NONC.)
Set the function Pressthe
selectorto TIME measunng
or FNo.TIME:shutter- button to take a
TIME prioritymetering measuremenl
G V FNo: aperture-priority rso
FNo metering o
Use the Beadthe
decrease/increase requrreo
control to select either exposuresettingfrom
the shutter speed or thedatapanel
aperture(f-number).(fhis
shouldnormallybe set to
the flash sync speed
during flash photography.)
r Forfurtherdetails,referlo theinstructionmanual.
The biggestdifJerencebetweenmeteringwith a reflectedlightmeterand an incident
lightm-e1eris in step 5: in reflectedlightmeteringthe receptormust alwaysbe directed
at the subjectfrom the directionat which the camerawill be located.
Thereare two majortechniquesused in reflectedlightmetering:(1)averaging*,in
which the entiresubjectis meteredfrom the cameraposition,and (2) spot metering,in
which a narrowacceptanceangleis usedto metera specificpart of the subject.(See
Fig.4.)
*Caremuslbe takenso thatshadowsfromthe meteror photographerdo notcoverthesubject.
Fig. 4 Relationshipbetweenacceptanceangle and
subjectt
www.orphancameras.comIV20View original page 23Page 24 · Read text
Averagemetering
In averagemetering,the receptoracceptance angle (40' on the reflectedlight attach-
ment, 10" on the VieMinder10o[, 5o on the Viewfinder5")permits meteringof light
reflectedoff the subject,therebyproducingan averagedreadingand exposure.
lf the reflectionfactorof the overallscene is approximately18%, the exposurewill
be equivalentto an incidentlight meteredexposureof the same scene.See photo-
graphsA and B.
Althoughthis techniqueproducesa quick,easy reading,the exposurewill be un-
balancedif largepartsof the scene are extremelylight,dark,or backlit.See photo-
graphsC and D.
@'f n Fb #h'nf.g,.... ftffi'E,' -.' hr '9, n 1 '\ Fb | I r! t nI o * " -Y+f-r5Et
Spot metering
A narrowedacceptanceangleis usedfor spot metering,thus permittingmeteringof a
closelydefinedpart of the subject.This narrowanglepreventsinterferencefrom sur-
roundinglightsand reproducesthe meteredarea as a midtonedensity.lf the metered
area has a reflectionfactor of about 18%, an averagedexposuresimilar to that pro-
duced by an incidentlightmeterwill result.See photographsE and F.
With the FlashMeterIV,the photographercan metereithertight(whites)ordark
(blacks)areas,and pressthe highlight(H)or shadow(S)keyto retainmaximumdetail
in that part of the subjectwhile maintaininga naturalbalanceon the overallexposure.
Accordingly,best resultsare obtainedwith spot meteringby first determiningthe
overallcomDositionbeforemeterino.
#a'*fl.fi0*""
@View original page 24Page 25 · Read text
Subject contrast
and exposure determination
The spot meteringtechniquedescribedon the previouspage compensatesfor many
of the problemsinherentin reflectedlightmeteringand can be usedto produce
photographsexposedfor specificobjectives.To reallyoptimizethe possibilitiesof
iettecteOtigntmetersand to get the most from the film, the followingtechniqueshould
also be mastered.
Thistechniqueinvolvesspot meteringof both highlightsand shadows,and then
determiningthe expoSurefrom these meteredexposuresand the exposurelatitudeof
the film. In otherwords,knowingthe brightness,ie. luminance,of the subjectis the
most effectiveway to reproducethese imageson film.This rangeof subject
brightnessis calledsubjectcontrast*(or subjectbrightnessrange)and is expressed
as a ratiobetweenthe highestand lowestluminanceson the subject.Subject
contrastis definedby the lightingratioand the subjectreflectionfactor'
The FlashMeterIV includesboth a memoryfunctionand analogscale for easy,
visualconfirmationof subjectcontrast.lt is also equippedwith highlight(H),shadow
(S)and averaging(A) keyswhich let the photographerdeterminethe exposureby
m6nitoringsubjectbrightnessbeforeshutterrelease.
For example,the differencebetweenhighlights(thewall of the outsidebuilding)and
shadows(thecar radiatorgrill inside)in the picturesat right is eightstops,or a subject
contrastof 256: 1. (SeeTable2.)
At the same time,howevetthe latitudeof most color reversalfilm is approximately
five stopswith subject Table 2 (see contrastof32:1 Highlightarea (memorized) in Difference Subject In pages16 and 17). metered exposure
such situationswhere (Ex lN.) contrast
contrastexceedsfilm * J [ . ' " " J J , o * ' 1 stop z , I
latitude,exposingthe ,.ori,/ L L -1 2 stops A ' 1 \ scenewith an averaged 3 stops 6 . 1 [(A)key]exposurewill
oroducewashed-out 0 4 stops 1 6 : 1
highlightsand dark ,/in€ -? f, 5 stops 32:1
shadows(pictureB). 6 stops 6 4 : 1 lf the situationallows -fl i.\n 7 stoos 128:1
the highlightsto be B stops 256:1
emphasizedand the
shadowsdismissed,pressthe H (highlight)keyto meterfor a highlight-weightedexpo-
sure;all shadowareasbelowthe S mark on the contrastscalewill be completelyblack
(pictureA). Conversely,if the shadowsare to be emphasized,pressthe S (shadow)key
for a shadow-weightedexposure;all highlightsabovethe H on the contrastscalewill '
be washedout (pictureC). Referto the scalesand exposuresindicatedto the rightof ,'
each photograph.
*lt is importantto selectivelymeterthebrlghtestanddarkestpointsessentialto the composition,
notsimplymeasureanytwoindiscriminatepointsof maximumcontrast.lt is alsoimportantto
considerthedifferencesin brightnessrelatedto colorhues.
www.orphancameras.com22View original page 25Page 27 · Read text
The photographercan judge the subject'sbrightness
leveland decidewhere'jnthe film'slatitudethe tones
should be reproduced.
In the scene show4 in photographA-3, the subject
contrast is 1.5 stops,'a 3: 1 ratio.The darkesttones were
the shadows in the facq and the lightesttones in the
white clothes.When the photo was exposedusing an
averagemeter reading,the white clothes became a light
gray and the face was a slightlydarke.rgray,as shown in
A-1.When exposedusinga shadow-weightedreading,
the face was reproducedvery darkly,as shown in A-2.
Since the most importantareas in the scene are white
or very lighttones,it is clear that a highlight-weighted
readingshould be used to give added detail to the face
without loss of detail in the white dress, as shown in
photo A-3. Exposure:fl11+114.1/60sec
In photographB, the subject contrastwas approx.4
stops,16:1.The scenewas exposedwith a shadow-
weightedreadingto retaintonaldetailof the clothes.By
meteringthe face, it was determinedthat it would
appearlighterin the final results.
The Flash Meter IV will fix the exoosurevalue on the
digital displayderivedfrom an incidentor reflectedlight
measurement.Afier takinga measurement,additional
areas can be measuredto determinethe tonal relation-
ship betweendifferentparts of the picture.These mea-
surementscan be comoaredon the contrast scale. For
example,if the face in photo A-3 is to be a midtone
density,meter the face and pressthe A key was pressed
to lock the readingon the display.Thenthe clothingand
highlightscan be meteredand comparedwith this
referencepoint to determinehow brightlythey will
reproducein relationto the face.
A-2 Shadow-weighted exposureMeter the face, monitor the clothes.
':Eht
Exoosure:tl22+112.1/60sec. =#a ":-"
(Ihis example shows that the photographwill be slightly
underexposed compared to photograph A-3)
www.orphancameras.comView original page 27Page 28 · Read text
@ - 3
A-3 H ighlight-weightedexposure
Exposure:ll56+314, 1/60sec
75ws
B Shadow-weightedexposure
Lxposure.ll9' 314 1/60secView original page 28From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.



