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What's the point of a external light meter?


12 years 10 months ago #104422 by Raymond II
So if the camera's have one built in, why would you need additional one? I was at a park yesterday and someone had one. Honestly he was taking photos with the aid of this light meter, and the photos I took straight from the camera didn't look much different. So why?
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12 years 10 months ago #104432 by Henry Peach
There are different kinds of light meters. Reflective meters, like the ones in cameras, measure the light reflecting off the subject. The problem with this is that they are affected by subject tone. On it's own a reflective meter will overexpose dark subjects/scenes and underexpose bright subjects/scenes. The photographer has to consider subject tonality, and adjust exposure accordingly.

Incident meters measure the light falling on them. They are used by taking a reading in the same light as the subject. They are not affected by subject tonality.

I used to carry a hand held meter because most of the cameras I used didn't have built in meters, but since switching to shooting DSLRs it's mostly been sitting on the shelf. My hand held meter does have some features that are different than my in-camera meters, but nothing that I can't live without in most situations, if it means I don't have to carry another piece of gear.

People have many different reasons for tool selection. Maybe he's used to using hand held meters? Maybe he just wanted to buy some new gear?
mattneedham.zenfolio.com
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12 years 10 months ago #104456 by McBeth Photography
I use a hand-held meter to get my exposure value when using non-metering lenses on my Nikon D70, just because the lens won't meter on you camera body doesn't mean the lens won't work. I don't meter every shot unless the subject tone or ambient light changes. As Henry said, "The photographer has to consider subject tonality, and adjust exposure accordingly."
It is what it is.
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12 years 10 months ago #104556 by John Landolfi
I find a spotmeter useful when working out an sequence of exposures for an HDR composite. It seems easier to move around than the DSLR itself, and tne readout is more convenient to read..
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12 years 10 months ago #104694 by Rob pix4u2
I like my hand held meter for certain situations and to sometimes confirm what I am thinking as far as changes to exposure, like the advice of an old friend
Remember to engage brain before putting mouth in gear
Rob Huelsman Sr.
My Facebook www.facebook.com/ImaginACTIONPhotography
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12 years 10 months ago #104772 by Raymond II
Do you guys feel that sometimes the camera's meter can do just as good job as the hand held meter?
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12 years 10 months ago #104836 by Rob pix4u2
in a word NO- I don't trust the camera meter 100%, I tend to trust 40+ years of experience more
Remember to engage brain before putting mouth in gear
Rob Huelsman Sr.
My Facebook www.facebook.com/ImaginACTIONPhotography
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12 years 10 months ago #105070 by Henry Peach

Raymond II wrote: Do you guys feel that sometimes the camera's meter can do just as good job as the hand held meter?


My in-camera meter measures for middle gray. My hand held meter measures for middle gray. They may have different ways of being used, or different features, but basically they do the same simple thing.
mattneedham.zenfolio.com
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12 years 10 months ago #105078 by MLKstudios
HP is 100% correct. Your meter isn't making mistakes. However, you may be interpreting the information incorrectly. It takes some time to learn the tools of photography.

Learning how to meter correctly is but one area, and every pro will develop their own metering style (or use more than one metering method, depending on the situation).

An 18% gray card is THE best tool to learn how your meter works.

Matthew :)
Matthew L Kees
MLK Studios Photography School
www.MLKstudios.com
[email protected]
"Every artist, was once an amateur"
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12 years 10 months ago #105084 by Henry Peach
I don't use light meters much anymore. The histogram tells me a lot more information. It doesn't take me any longer to push a button on the camera and read the display as it does to push the button on a meter and read the display.
mattneedham.zenfolio.com
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12 years 10 months ago #105098 by MLKstudios
I agree with HP. The histogram has become the Zone System tool for digital exposures. But, I first cover the 18% reflectance standard that ALL exposure meters are based on (it should be your starting point).

Later, you can add the Expose To The Right (ETTR) digital technique using the histogram to your photo tool kit. But, like the Zone System, you need to know how to read one correctly. For example, with a bright light behind, you can expect a blown out area to make a "good" exposure.

Matthew :)
Matthew L Kees
MLK Studios Photography School
www.MLKstudios.com
[email protected]
"Every artist, was once an amateur"
,
12 years 9 months ago #105770 by Superman

Henry Peach wrote: I don't use light meters much anymore. The histogram tells me a lot more information. It doesn't take me any longer to push a button on the camera and read the display as it does to push the button on a meter and read the display.



:agree: :goodpost: How often are you checking your histogram? After each shot or as needed/curious?
Nikon D90 & D40 18-55mm, 55-200mm, 35mm, 50mm, 105mm, SB600
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12 years 9 months ago #105784 by Henry Peach

Superman wrote: :agree: :goodpost: How often are you checking your histogram? After each shot or as needed/curious?


I don't check it after every shot, but it's so easy and convenient to check that I probably check it more often than I really need to. I am most concerned about it when the lighting changes. I have my DSLRs set so the LCD remains off when I'm shooting. I hate it lighting up with my eye pressed to the viewfinder.
mattneedham.zenfolio.com
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12 years 9 months ago #105802 by Superman

Henry Peach wrote:

Superman wrote: :agree: :goodpost: How often are you checking your histogram? After each shot or as needed/curious?


I don't check it after every shot, but it's so easy and convenient to check that I probably check it more often than I really need to. I am most concerned about it when the lighting changes. I have my DSLRs set so the LCD remains off when I'm shooting. I hate it lighting up with my eye pressed to the viewfinder.


Gotcha, pretty much in the same boat. What camera you using?
Nikon D90 & D40 18-55mm, 55-200mm, 35mm, 50mm, 105mm, SB600
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