Using M lens

Marc Sabatella · 04-03-2012, 01:28 PM

I always shoot in M mode (typo fixed). I meter for the ambient light, set an appropriate shutter speed for my aperture/ISO, and leave it alone until the light changes. Seemssimple enough. Whether the lens is AF or not doesn't play into it. I only hit the green button again to change my exposure when the light changes. As I said,i may at most click the thumb wheel on notch left or right if I am shooting a relatively light or dark object and don't want it to read as being quite as loght or dark as it actually is. Of course, I do have be careful about whether I'm actually shooting in the light or in the shadow - that counts as the light having changed.

Yes, if you use an automatic exposure mode, you will get different exposures for shots in the same light according to whether your subject is light or dark. I see that as a bad thing. In fact, it's downright terrible in concert photography. Why would I want my exposure different for one musician than another just because they are wearing different color shirts, or one is playing a black piano and the other a white drum set? Makes no sense at all.

Last edited by Marc Sabatella; 04-04-2012 at 04:13 PM.

Culture · 04-03-2012, 11:53 PM

OK. I guess I understand what you guys are saying. I will have to try this and also learn how to use a grey card.

RioRico · 04-04-2012, 07:20 AM

Originally posted by Culture

OK. I guess I understand what you guys are saying. I will have to try this and also learn how to use a grey card.

A grey card is handy but can be lost. Depending on your skin tone, you might get an adequate reading from your hand. That's one of my old tricks from Back In The Day when I only had film cameras with center-weighted (at best) metering.

Suggestion: Go to your local public library. Look through the photo reference books. You'll likely find some tech book with a grey page. Read off that page, and off your hand, and note the EV difference. Now you can be your own grey card!

**Lowell Goudge** · 04-04-2012, 12:11 PM - **1 Like**

As I said, I use tree trunks and paved roads

Culture · 04-04-2012, 09:42 PM

Originally posted by RioRico

A grey card is handy but can be lost. Depending on your skin tone, you might get an adequate reading from your hand. That's one of my old tricks from Back In The Day when I only had film cameras with center-weighted (at best) metering.

Suggestion: Go to your local public library. Look through the photo reference books. You'll likely find some tech book with a grey page. Read off that page, and off your hand, and note the EV difference. Now you can be your own grey card!

Originally posted by Lowell Goudge

As I said, I use tree trunks and paved roads

Thanks for the advice. I think I will definately come back to this tread later get more info.
And for the op I hope I didnt highjack your thread and that we both have learned something from here.

royden · 04-05-2012, 11:44 AM

Originally posted by Culture

Thanks for the advice. I think I will definately come back to this tread later get more info.
And for the op I hope I didnt highjack your thread and that we both have learned something from here.

No problemo. I will do some more settings etc and report later. Peace.

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04-03-2012, 01:28 PM	#16
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	I always shoot in M mode (typo fixed). I meter for the ambient light, set an appropriate shutter speed for my aperture/ISO, and leave it alone until the light changes. Seemssimple enough. Whether the lens is AF or not doesn't play into it. I only hit the green button again to change my exposure when the light changes. As I said,i may at most click the thumb wheel on notch left or right if I am shooting a relatively light or dark object and don't want it to read as being quite as loght or dark as it actually is. Of course, I do have be careful about whether I'm actually shooting in the light or in the shadow - that counts as the light having changed. Yes, if you use an automatic exposure mode, you will get different exposures for shots in the same light according to whether your subject is light or dark. I see that as a bad thing. In fact, it's downright terrible in concert photography. Why would I want my exposure different for one musician than another just because they are wearing different color shirts, or one is playing a black piano and the other a white drum set? Makes no sense at all. Last edited by Marc Sabatella; 04-04-2012 at 04:13 PM.

04-03-2012, 11:53 PM	#17
Culture Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Vaasa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 818	OK. I guess I understand what you guys are saying. I will have to try this and also learn how to use a grey card.

04-04-2012, 07:20 AM	#18
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by Culture OK. I guess I understand what you guys are saying. I will have to try this and also learn how to use a grey card. A grey card is handy but can be lost. Depending on your skin tone, you might get an adequate reading from your hand. That's one of my old tricks from Back In The Day when I only had film cameras with center-weighted (at best) metering. Suggestion: Go to your local public library. Look through the photo reference books. You'll likely find some tech book with a grey page. Read off that page, and off your hand, and note the EV difference. Now you can be your own grey card!

04-04-2012, 12:11 PM - 1 Like	#19
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,892	As I said, I use tree trunks and paved roads

04-04-2012, 09:42 PM	#20
Culture Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Vaasa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 818	Originally posted by RioRico A grey card is handy but can be lost. Depending on your skin tone, you might get an adequate reading from your hand. That's one of my old tricks from Back In The Day when I only had film cameras with center-weighted (at best) metering. Suggestion: Go to your local public library. Look through the photo reference books. You'll likely find some tech book with a grey page. Read off that page, and off your hand, and note the EV difference. Now you can be your own grey card! Originally posted by Lowell Goudge As I said, I use tree trunks and paved roads Thanks for the advice. I think I will definately come back to this tread later get more info. And for the op I hope I didnt highjack your thread and that we both have learned something from here.

04-05-2012, 11:44 AM	#21
royden Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Atlanta, Ga Photos: Gallery Posts: 297 Original Poster	Originally posted by Culture Thanks for the advice. I think I will definately come back to this tread later get more info. And for the op I hope I didnt highjack your thread and that we both have learned something from here. No problemo. I will do some more settings etc and report later. Peace.