P3D Re: Bruce is Born to Run (on)

[Brian Reynolds <reynolds@xxxxxxxxx>]

George Themelis wrote:
> If instead of a match-needle exposure you see an LED bar graph,
> does it make a difference?  I am asking because one of my
> cameras seems to do exactly that.  PLUS, something that the
> match-needle cameras never did, you have the OPTION (note:
> OPTION) to have the camera select the indicated exposure.  Seems
> that it offers more options than the the older cameras.  And it
> weighs about 1/2 as much.  My older match-needle camera is
> resting in peace waiting for some astrophotographic 10 hour
> exposures to come handy.
> 

It depends on the camera.  With my Pentax K1000SE I can watch the
match needle move slightly as I make half stop adjustments to the
exposure.  With my Pentax ME Super I can see the shutter speed that I
(or the camera) has selected, but I only get an over or under
indication if I select a setting that the meter doesn't think is good.
The match needle gives me a better idea of how far off I am from a
"good" exposure.  With experience with the camera you can use this
indication to judge whatever exposure compensation you want to make
(for all those pictures of black cats on coal piles).

Obviously other cameras without match needle exposure meters may
handle this better than the ME Super does (perhaps by having more
LEDs).  The match needle seems to me to be a simpler solution both
mechanically and from a user interface standpoint.

-- 
Brian Reynolds                  | "Dee Dee!  Don't touch that button!"
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http://www.panix.com/~reynolds  |    -- Dexter and Dee Dee
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