Light Metering and Film Advice

Mr Bump

Mr Bump

From under the bridge
Suspended / Banned
Messages
10,944
Name
Sophia aka Paul
Edit My Images
Yes
OK so on its way is a Zeiss Ikon M

lovely lovely.

What film should i try for my first roll.

I want to try B and W first.

Also can anyone point me to a light meter to use with this, dirt cheap or free :D

ZeissIkontaM4_zps75842339.jpg
 
Hi Paul,

Well I'm not familiar with this particular camera but presumably it's 120 film format??

Film wise, I'd suggest something reasonably fast if your after keeping shutter speeds fast enough to avoid hand shake ...400 iso....Kodak Tri X, Ilford HP5.

If you intend checking the slower speeds too and using a tripod then any speed film will do....I have a soft spot for Ilford Pan 50 although recipricol failure sucks if you're after long exposures!

As for metering, depends if you want to go analogue.
The Weston V lightmeters are nice, fairly acurate and can be found reasonably cheap although to get yourself started, why not simply meter with another camera...the FG or a dslr....that will cost you nowt! lol
 
Asha said:
Hi Paul,

Well I'm not familiar with this particular camera but presumably it's 120 film format??

Film wise, I'd suggest something reasonably fast if your after keeping shutter speeds fast enough to avoid hand shake ...400 iso....Kodak Tri X, Ilford HP5.

If you intend checking the slower speeds too and using a tripod then any speed film will do....I have a soft spot for Ilford Pan 50 although recipricol failure sucks if you're after long exposures!

As for metering, depends if you want to go analogue.
The Weston V lightmeters are nice, fairly acurate and can be found reasonably cheap although to get yourself started, why not simply meter with another camera...the FG or a dslr....that will cost you nowt! lol
Click to expand...

Thanks Asha thats what I was thinking 400, 7 day shop for me later, it is 120 fim.

I will probably take my F65 along for metering just fancied comparing side by side with a pukka light metre.
 
I think its the same as my 524/16. Check the slow speeds, mine gives a reasonable approximation of 1/25 from bulb up 1/100 is the first which seems accurate(ish). Yours has a different shutter/lens assembly from mine so that might not be a problem. But you'll probably want to run a test roll at all apertures to check where it gets sharp enough, mine is hopeless wide open.

Shoot what ever you like, i've put a few rolls of velvia through mine, just remember that if you metering around the slow speeds they might not be that slow. If you can wait get some GP3 from ebay for testing, its cheap but a bit ruff. If not I'd say FP4 from calumnet or your local camera shop, its fast enough to keep the shutter speed out the slow zone but not so fast you'll run out of faster speeds.

Light meter; sunny 16 or if you're android/iphone enabled get one of the decent light meter apps. But be careful they can top out in very bright sun.
 
Last edited:
I'd be worried about spending that kind of money with out being able to verify its accuracy.
 
I have downloaded an Android App for my ZTE Skate will test later next to my F65
thanks for that info Steven.
 
Mr Bump said:
Thinking this one?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WESTON-MA...t_Meters&hash=item35c9b1745e&autorefresh=true
Click to expand...

steveo_mcg said:
I'd be worried about spending that kind of money with out being able to verify its accuracy.
Click to expand...

If it's in good working order then for £20 that meter is worth it imo.

Even if it is out by a stop or so, providing the error is consistent then using it and allowing for the difference is no big deal.

Alternatively learn to judge light EV levels ( ie sunny F/16) and shoot without a meter.
 
Popped in a cheeky £8 offer + carriage and accepted.

£13 all in.

I also have downloaded the android version but now i can look like a proper nerd !
 
oooh...nice camera.

I love the look of those folding cameras. Have never owned one, but they look so stylish.

For metering, I use a a Sekonic light meter...not cheap but for long term it's been great buy.

For my old Leica, I have a period light meter that attaches to hot shoe and although not quite as accurate as the Sekonic, it's close enough.
 
Sectionate said:
T-Max 400 is a lovely film.
Click to expand...

£3.60p each as well.

It £1.99p carriage but thats any size order so I will probly bulk up with some tubes of 35mm lovelyness..!
 
Steve said:
oooh...nice camera.

I love the look of those folding cameras. Have never owned one, but they look so stylish.

For metering, I use a a Sekonic light meter...not cheap but for long term it's been great buy.

For my old Leica, I have a period light meter that attaches to hot shoe and although not quite as accurate as the Sekonic, it's close enough.
Click to expand...

I fancy a hot shoe metre but dont know enough about them.
 
Look up Sunny Sixteen - and if in any doubt, too much exposure is better than not enough.


Steve.
 
Mr Bump said:
I fancy a hot shoe metre but dont know enough about them.
Click to expand...

Basically it's the same as a hand held one, just sits on the hot shoe instead.

I have a spare one that works:

9308113704_4f2bc9027b_b.jpg
[/url][/IMG]

You are welcome to have it, as it's no longer needed. PM me your address if you do.
 
Steve said:
Basically it's the same as a hand held one, just sits on the hot shoe instead.

I have a spare one that works:

9308113704_4f2bc9027b_b.jpg
[/url][/IMG]

You are welcome to have it, as it's no longer needed. PM me your address if you do.
Click to expand...

ooo
ooo
ooo

Please :love:
 
Guys you might want to set up the free sale to each other in the Freebies section or the mods might not be happy. Just pointing it out :cool:
 
s162216 said:
Guys you might want to set up the free sale to each other in the Freebies section or the mods might not be happy. Just pointing it out :cool:
Click to expand...

h'mm why can't you lend something to someone if the receiver pays only the postage costs. :shrug:
 
Not quite so posh; I was bequeathed this some years ago:-
dsc_1317_zps1a56adc9.jpg

Zeiss Ikon - "Jcarette"... maybe I ought to google it... thionking about it! Never really researched it!
F32 down to just under f6.3 'stepless'! five stops? Quite a good range for that era, I think. Only three shutter speeds though; 1/25th, 1/50th & 1/100th plus Bulb. "5cm" focal length lens!
Fine Focus by lever that moved the bellows about 1/4"

Similar situation; I had Olly OM's as main cameras at the time; no hand-held meter.

I got some Ilford 100 to try it out. Got some nice shots with it as I remember; very nice portraits as well.

Anyway; 400ASA, and F16 Sunny. Suggests A shutter speed of 1/500th @F16 as 'base' setting for out-door shots.

My camera doesn't HAVE a 1/500th shutter.... so with 400ASA film, I would have to down the shutter 250, 1stop, 125... 100's close enough TWO stops... so, up tow on the aperture, F16, F22, F32... PHEW I can 'just' stop down enough!

Check your mini aperture and max shutter speeds!

When that camera was made, 'normal' film was probably 50 or 60ASA. And 100 or 120ASA considered 'fast film'; people shot 25ASA for detail!

You may not have range of settings to stop down tight enough, even on a moderately 'bright' british summers day to avoid over-exposure.

I have an old WWI era Voiglander, as well...
dsc_1316_zpsaff5cb63.jpg

I dont have that one to hand to check, but pretty sure it has only three apertures, f16, f11 & f8, and two shutters, 1/30 & 1/60!

I did run a roll through that once upon a time, but unfortunately the rollers were too far corroded and scored the film emulsion....

But; that Camera, a not so Bright Sunny day in Walsall, and 100ASA film, 1/100th @ f16 base.... nope... tightest I could go was f16 and fastest 1/60th... I had to HOPE that it was over-cast enough to avoid blowing my high-lights.

So personally, I would err on the side of caution, and towards the sort of speed film that that camera would have been designed to be loaded with; something 25-125ASA tops.

As for metering? One of the joys of antique cameras, is to do it the way they would in that cameras day. (another reason to choose slower film, as would have been available when camera was made)

It don't have a meter, because in that era, most photographers didn't USE a meter. f16 sunny or zone system guides, and off they went, metering BY EYE.

Dong get hung up trying to make it more complicated than it need be. You are stepping into the world of serendipitity.... lucky-chance!

Its chance that the camera will work at all! Chance that it wont have bludgered rollers or pressure plate that'll score the film; it'll be chance that the shutter, if it fires fires at anything NEAR the marked speed; it'll be chance that the case doesn't leak light to fog the film; it'll be chance that the focus scale is still in calibration and in your case that the range-finder mirror is still in alignment....

Chance.... upon chance... upon chance.

Go with it.... chance your EYE and go by gut. Shun the meter and 'go-with the force' young sky-walker! "In feelings you must trust, young one!" all that kind of stuff!

Old school camera; go old school with it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top