metering for night shots

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psychology

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Russell
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Anyone got any tips for metering night shots with film. The reason I ask is that when using a digital camera (30D), it doesn't do too well so i have to take a shot and check the exposure, as I think the camera is trying to meter for daylight.

I can normally take a good guess at the probable exposure but any other ideas would help.

Thanks
 
I think it entirely depends on what's going on
for example are there any sources of light in the frame? streetlamps etc
also if you're shooting a full moon for example, then you use daylight settings as that's effectively what you're looking at!

also the camera might want to show up more detail than the human eye can realistically see.
so what night scenes are you specifically looking to shoot?
 
well I would say, tripod and exposure bracketing and experiment!

the reason being is that on a night shot, it depends upon what sources of light there are
e.g moon only, ambient from buildings, what about passing cars, or street lamps
where is the camera metering? centre weighted, matrix metering?

so I would look at, do you want the street lamps to dazzled and then you want lots of detail? or do you want a softer approach? in which case take light sources out of the frame and even use a lens hood to reduce any glare
in the moonlight, then I supposed its much easier

do you have any examples we can discuss?
 
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