 Barefoot Photography by Tina Doane |
LIGHT METER I don't know if this is going to make sense but this is my current problem. What does it mean when I have my light head set at f/4 and when I meter it (and the meter is on the correct function)it reads f/11?
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Andy |
Is this the kind of meter that you have to press a button to read the exposure value? If the meter says f/11, then the correct exposure is f/11 (and whatever the shutter speed it shows on the meter). Hope this helps.
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Barefoot Photography by Tina Doane |
Yes. So if it really f/11, what does that mean. Am I metering too close? Why if I set it at f/4 would it read f/11.
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Andy |
Tina, would you please explain how do you set the meter to f4? Which light meter are you using? I only set the ISO number on my Sekonic L718 meter and just press a button and it gives me the exposure value. Say if it indicates f/11 and 1/125, there is a up/down button I can use to change the aperture (of course, the shutter speed will be adjusted automatically).
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Barefoot Photography by Tina Doane |
I'm sorry. Not the meter the light. When I set the dial to f/4, the meter gives me a reading of f/11.
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Andy |
Tina, which meter you are referring to? The meter from the camera or a hand held meter?
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Barefoot Photography by Tina Doane |
hand held.. Sekonic 358
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
Sounds like the confusion source is coming from the light. Need to clear up what kind of light are you using that you set the power to a f/stop instead of a fraction of the power level. Is it supposed to have a sensor that makes the flash power to f/4, or is this f/4 based on the guide number at a standard like 10ft? You using a seperate strobe or a flash that goes in the hotshoe like a Vivitar? Because that's the only thing that I can think of now that you could set it for a f/stop.
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Andy |
Tina, I think I understand your question now but correct me if I am wrong. You have a flash on (or off) your camera and you can select f/4, f/5.6, f/8 etc. If you select f/4 on the flash, you need to set the aperture of the camera to f/4 and whatever the shutter speed to use (max sync speed or slower). You place the Sekonic L358 where your subject is and when the flash fired, the light meter says f/11. Is this what you are having trouble with? In this case, I think your flash is too close to the subject. If you select f/11 on your flash and try again, the reading on your meter should read f/11, plus of minus a fraction of a stop. Or, if you move the flash further from your subject, the f number on your meter should reduced (larger aperture). Depending on the brand and model of your flash, the effective range for each f stop setting is different. Read the scale on the flash or the manual to find out the effective range of each f stop setting of your flash. Hope this helps.
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Barefoot Photography by Tina Doane |
You guys are gonna think I'm stupi or just have a good laugh, I don't know, maybe both. My light head has a dial. It's a travelite 750. The dial has numbers on it, that I thought were F stops, they are not they are for the power settings. So I've been setting to eighth power thinking it would meter at f/8. Does that make sense? Thank you for all your understanding and patience. For some of us, this takes a little longer. Tina
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Andy |
Now I feel stupid. I should have asked you first what equipment you are using. But at least we don't give up and try to solve the problem ;) The Travelite 750 is a power strobe at guide number of 350. The number on the dial is for output of the strobe. You can control the output down to 1/32 of full strength. One number corresponds to one stop adjustment. But 1/8 does not mean f/8, or 1/4 does not mean f/4. To measure the proper aperture number to use, first you set the light meter to flash mode and put in the film and shutter speed you will be using. Then set the desire strength of the strobe to be used (usually full power). You hit the test button of the strobe and get the reading from the meter. If it says f11 at full strength, then you should use f8 if you turn the dial on the strobe to 1/2, f5.6 at 1/4, f4 at 1/8, and so forth. According to the spec, you can change the output down to 1/32, which is 5 stops different. Remember, the streigth of the strobe goes this way, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32 and the f stop, 1, 1.4, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22 ... Hope this helps.
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Barefoot Photography by Tina Doane |
Okay, I think I'm starting to get it. I have a shoot thid morning, I'll let you know how it goes. Thank you so very much! Tina
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