P3D Re: Autoexposure

["Dr. George A. Themelis" <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Mark Shields writes:

>Auto exposure:
>    
>It may not be right 100% of the time, but in my experience it is right
>more often than "Sunny 16." 

I think autoexposure is OK as long as you have the option to bypass it
at will.  One example from my recent trip:  In the way back I used my
SLR to take hyperstereos of the clouds.  My SLR indicated that the
correct exposure was sunny day + 1 (say f16 at 1/250 with 100 ASA film)

Now, how can that be true?  It was a sunny day.  Plus, the windows absorb 
some light.  So I ignored the camera's "advice" and used f11 at 1/250 and
got good exposures.  I tried the suggestion in one or two shots and
got results that were too dark.  The camera was fooled by the white
clouds.  That's how I see the readings.  A suggestion.  And I am happy
that I can bypass this suggestion based on my understanding of the
situation.

>Auto exposure means being able to shoot fast. It's not just what I 
>shoot, but how. 

That's exactly how I shoot too.  Fast.  The amount of light does not
change as you shoot the same general scene.  Like the clouds from
the plane.  In a manual camera I set the exposure and forget about
it.  The Realist becomes a point and shoot camera.

-- George Themelis


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