I'm with Piers. Forget the meter. I just checked the specs on my
Sekonic L-358 and the much more expensive L-558 and see that they both
claim to be able to read to EV -2. That's the extreme end of their
measuring range and is roughly the illumination provided by the full
moon when high in the sky. Ignoring reciprocity failure that might give
you an exposure of 10 minutes at f/11 (or thereabouts) at ISO 100. But
then you'd also have to compensate for reciprocity which varies by film
and exposure time.
Get the Kodak books as Piers suggests because they figured out all of
this stuff 50 years ago or even much more. It's also a lot cheaper
except that you'll need a little flashlight to read the book in the
dark. Do as astronomers do and use a red light. Doesn't interfere very
much with your night vision.
Chuck Norcutt
On 5/16/2011 8:59 AM, Piers Hemy wrote:
> If it's too dark to see the exposure meter needle, Martin, I would suggest
> that it is too dark to use an exposure meter - even a backlit digital meter!
>
> Firstly, the meter is going to want to render things as 18% grey - which you
> probably don't want;
> Secondly, at exposures of several minutes, you are going to be "hit" by
> reciprocity failure;
> Thirdly, with exposures of 8 minutes, 2 minutes either way is going to be
> within tolerances of any meter in practical use.
>
> I don't think you need a meter at all!
>
> Try to track down a copy of Kodak's Adventures in Existing-Light Photography
> (Publication AC-44), or a Kodak Master Photoguide - they have ready
> reckoners for such applications. I see both on Amazon, starting from
> USD0.04. Must therefore be worth at least twice my two pennyworth!
>
> Piers
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Martin Walters [mailto:mwalters@xxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: 16 May 2011 01:12
> To: Olympus Camera Discussion
> Subject: [OM] Long exposures with an OM2N - advice needed
>
> I'm taking a short course in long exposures. From the first lesson, it's
> clear that the teacher's objective really is LONG exposures - 8-10 mins
> range, it seems.
>
> The three courses are being done at night. While we'll be in an urban
> setting, I will have to provoke exposures beyond the 0M's auto metering
> limits (3 mins or so, I gather). Trouble, as I quickly found out, is that I
> find it pretty much impossible to see the metering needle (compounded by old
> eyes).
>
> Any suggestions for a work around? And, no, I don't have an OM4T handy, as
> mine is with John H for a CLA. As a last resort, I suppose that I could get
> an appropriate digital meter with a backlit screen. At least I'd be able to
> get a reading and see it!
>
> Martin
>
> --
> _________________________________________________________________
> Options: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/listinfo/olympus
> Archives: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/private/olympus/
> Themed Olympus Photo Exhibition: http://www.tope.nl/
>
--
_________________________________________________________________
Options: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/listinfo/olympus
Archives: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/private/olympus/
Themed Olympus Photo Exhibition: http://www.tope.nl/
|