P3D Re: Classic Light Meter

[michaelk@xxxxxxxxxxx (Michael Kersenbrock)]

> I wish this were true. Meters are not easily tested without calibrated
> equipment. Simply pointing your meter at an 18% grey card on a sunny day
> to confirm a reading of f/16 does not tell you anything about linearity
> or memory effects or the low light performance of the meter. Even

Although memory effects aren't tested, I've usually done comparitive
testing among my meters by using a 18% grey card at different light
levels and comparing against my SLR, TLR, spotmeter, etc (and meter
under test).  Usually they all match up pretty well (other than the old
meters like the one Andrea mentioned which usually do very poorly
even if film-speed designation issues are resolved).  Meter that's
completely hosed will fail the sunny-16 rule to begin with, and in
my experience, usually fail it by a LOT.  :-(

If one is real patient, a new'ish CdS meter can be had 
fairly cheap is that is what's needed.

Most of the mini-flaming about meters (to generalize dramatically) are 
from folk afraid that novices will take meter readings as gospel and 
the possibility of this is so terrible that they should use no meters 
at all first.

Personally, I think the worry is misdirected.  If one knows what
one's personal meter meters and how  film works (which is a
five minute discussion) then using a meter should be fine.  
Even by a novice (post lesson).  What's dangerous is lack of knowledge,
not the meter.  :-)

Mike K.


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