[Guizo]

Hi,

I have very recently acquired a Pentax 67 with a 200mm lens and have not had the time to test it yet, though I plan to do it tomorrow. I have only got a chimney-type viewfinder, though, and I do not have a handheld light meter, which means I have to guess all camera adjustments. My question is simply this: if I take my K-30, put on a 200mm lens, set the ISO to the same ISO sensitivity of the film I am going to use in the 67 and find that I like the exposure I get at (say) f8 and 1/50, would setting my 67 to f8 and 1/50 yield the same result in terms of exposure? (I guess DoF would be different, but in this first moment I am more concerned about just getting the exposure right). If not, is there any reliable method to use the K-30 as a makeshift light meter for the 67?

Thanks,
Guilherme.

[Ole]

Yes, you can use your K-30 as a light meter like you describe.

[mattt]

IIRC the TTL prism is center weight metering. Remember the FoV may affect exposure On 6x7 format 200mm (0.5 135 equivalent) is similar in FoV to say the 70mm prime (1.5x 135 equivalent). I could be wrong on those factors but that is my understanding. I shot Pentax 6x7 55mm f4.0 for a month for a Single In Challenge and used my Kr with DA 21 Ltd to check metering with acceptable results. You will find if you scan your own negatives you have a bit of flexibility.

[Guizo]

Matt, so what you are saying is basically that I should not go for the same focal length but for creating in the viewfinder the most approximate FoV I would like to have with the 67 by first using the K-30 in order to meter it properly? That seems reasonable enough. I just hope I got it right. Very nice pictures, BTW!

[filoxophy]

Matt, so what you are saying is basically that I should not go for the same focal length but for creating in the viewfinder the most approximate FoV I would like to have with the 67 by first using the K-30 in order to meter it properly? That seems reasonable enough. I just hope I got it right. Very nice pictures, BTW!

Yes that's right. Just try to match fields of view between the two cameras so you know that your K-30 is metering the proper part of the scene.

[blackcloudbrew]

Proceed as described above but...just get a light meter. It's much simpler to use with the 6x7. I know, I did this with mine. Look for a nice Sekonic one. Amazon.com: sekonic light meter
I was able to find a nice 308 one used for $100 or so on ebay.

[wombat2go]

Yes I used ist-ds or an M43 in spot meter mode before I got my Pentax 3/21 exposure meter.
I prefer spot metering to home in on the bright area and the area of interest and decide the setting.
Last night I took a test shot for DOF of the Super Takumar 6X7 1:3.5 55mm, exposed with the spot meter recommending the large area of snow in evening sun at about f/11 and 250th for Kodak Ektar iso 100.
The histogram below is not of the film, it is of the scanner's remapping to the jpg. I have to say that I can not manually better the scanner's algorithm.

Attached Images

 

[Guizo]

Thanks for all your insightful answers, and particularly to wombat2go for the lovely test picture -- blackcloudbrew's advice to buy proper a light meter, well-meant as it certainly was, is easier said than done for folks who happen to live in a country where import taxes amount to almost 900% of the total purchase price (including shipping cost and insurance). This is very unfortunate, but I could all too easily do away with USD 250 by winning an auction for USD 100.

Will have to make do with the K-30 for the immediately foreseeable future...