Steve: The light that is recorded on film is the reflected light from your subject. The ambient meters measure only ambient light and ignores the reflected light, so logically the reflected light meters give you information that you actually need. Ambient meters, however work in many situations. When the contrast range is not exceeding the film contrast and when the same type of light hits your subject as it hits your meter then the ambient meters are fine. When you are photographing a distant scene in an interesting light, it is likely that the light hitting your meter is very different from the one that is falling on the scene. In this case the ambient meter gives you no useful information. If the scene exceeds the film contrast then again, ambient meter gives you information relevant to the middle tones but the highlight and shadows will be outside the films range. In this case the ambient meter gives you no information on the contrast range.
So, my recommendation is to use a reflected spot meter which overcomes these shortcomings. With little practice it is hard to make an error in exposure provided the meter is linear and is properly calibrated. My favourite one is the Zone VI modified Pentax digital meter. Very simple, reliable and accurate. Cheers, - Andrew. -----Original Message----- From: Steve Desjardins [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: March 24, 2003 1:40 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Hand Meters What would folks recommend in a handmeter, spot or ambient? Steven Desjardins Department of Chemistry Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA 24450 (540) 458-8873 FAX: (540) 458-8878 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
