Metering outdoors

donkeymusic

donkeymusic

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Carlo
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Hello,

How do you go about metering outdoors, do you use the cameras metering system or a light meter?

If you use a light meter how do fire it? im use to firing the lights in a studio to take a reading but dont get how its done outdoors.


Thanks
 
You need to change the mode of your meter to read ambient light
 
Ambient light use the camera, flash light use a flash meter.
shutter speed controls ambient light, aperture size controls flash
 
TBH, I don't find a flash meter of much use when shooting on location. Basically, find your ambient level, and bring up the flash till it's just visible.
From that point on, it 's up to you as to how you influence the look of the image, by either dropping the ambient or not.
 
donkeymusic said:
ah, not able to try at the moment, but how to fire it to read?
Click to expand...

In ambient mode you just press the button. Set the meter to camera iso and pick an aperture or shutter speed and youll get the missing variable.
 
k4stn said:
Ambient light use the camera, flash light use a flash meter.
shutter speed controls ambient light, aperture size controls flash
Click to expand...

If yoy are happy with a reflected reading from the camera which is fooled by light or dark scenes or backlighting then fine. If you want an accurate incident reading of the light falling on your subject use a handheld meter for measuring your ambient.

Does depend wjat you're measuring as the cameras meter can be used too
 
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I'd say use either, they are both accurate, if your using the in camera meter and photographing a portrait then make sure you meter on there face, as metering on dark or light clothing will give an in accurate reading I'd also say meter on the highlight side of the face also and let the shadows look after them selves :)
 
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