Metering with a compact digicam

cy_j · 16th March 2009

Has anyone ever worked with a meterless rangefinder with a compact digicam acting as (cheapskate) meter? The digicam - Fuji F30 - was just gathering dust so I had the bright idea (or not) of making it as a light meter. And since my only RF is an FSU, I personally find it strange to have to buy a meter 2-3 times more expensive than my cam. But that's just me.

I've tried a couple of negative rolls already, and the results look underexposed. You may wish to take a look here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyril_in_cebu/

specially under the "Amsterdam" folder.

I did remember - belatedly - someone writing that digicams mimic positive film's sensitivity and so are calibrated as such. Is that correct?

Anyone else tried using a digicam with their FSU rfs?

Thanks for any input!

Elessar · 16th March 2009

there can be a couple of variables here:

1. your film camera's shutter/iso settings are not working accurately
2. your digicam's iso may have some variance also

so the two points combined may account for your underexposed shots.

just my guesses.

cy_j · 16th March 2009

You just gave me an idea.

I tried the same iso and aperture and eq. focal lengths on my Nikon D70 and my wife's Sony A350. The DSLRs agree with the Fuji. So it looks like I may have to check on the curtain tensions of the rangefinder. May be time to do some CLA.

limonello · 17th March 2009

Another possibility is that there is nothing wrong with the shutter on the film camera and that the underexposure is happening at the scanning or at post-processing stage?

If you are shooting colour negative film or traditional black+white film, there is quite a lot of dynamic range in the film which you might be able to recover scanning.

You may want to:
(a) try to rescan the films with a different setting; and/or
(b) test your camera out with slide film which has a narrower DR and is less forgiving of wrong exposure.

jasbay · 17th March 2009

my guess is the shutter speed no longer accurate on the FSU body. dun bother CLA as its cheaper getting another FSU cam. just compensate 1 stop or pump up the exposure thru PP. btw, I am fine with ur amsterdam output.

cy_j · 17th March 2009

Originally Posted by jasbay

my guess is the shutter speed no longer accurate on the FSU body. dun bother CLA as its cheaper getting another FSU cam. just compensate 1 stop or pump up the exposure thru PP. btw, I am fine with ur amsterdam output.

Thanks for the comment

I just did a CLA myself, one thing I noticed is the shutter sound now is much nicer, more soft. I'm thinking of doing a test roll, 12 shots +1EV, next 12 as per digicam's exposure, and the last 12 -1EV underexposed. That should do the trick!

16th March 2009	#1
cy_j Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Newton Posts: 727	Metering with a compact digicam Has anyone ever worked with a meterless rangefinder with a compact digicam acting as (cheapskate) meter? The digicam - Fuji F30 - was just gathering dust so I had the bright idea (or not) of making it as a light meter. And since my only RF is an FSU, I personally find it strange to have to buy a meter 2-3 times more expensive than my cam. But that's just me. I've tried a couple of negative rolls already, and the results look underexposed. You may wish to take a look here http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyril_in_cebu/ specially under the "Amsterdam" folder. I did remember - belatedly - someone writing that digicams mimic positive film's sensitivity and so are calibrated as such. Is that correct? Anyone else tried using a digicam with their FSU rfs? Thanks for any input!

16th March 2009	#2
Elessar Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 79	Re: Metering with a compact digicam there can be a couple of variables here: 1. your film camera's shutter/iso settings are not working accurately 2. your digicam's iso may have some variance also so the two points combined may account for your underexposed shots. just my guesses.

16th March 2009	#3
cy_j Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Newton Posts: 727	Re: Metering with a compact digicam You just gave me an idea. I tried the same iso and aperture and eq. focal lengths on my Nikon D70 and my wife's Sony A350. The DSLRs agree with the Fuji. So it looks like I may have to check on the curtain tensions of the rangefinder. May be time to do some CLA.

17th March 2009	#4
limonello Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 181	Re: Metering with a compact digicam Another possibility is that there is nothing wrong with the shutter on the film camera and that the underexposure is happening at the scanning or at post-processing stage? If you are shooting colour negative film or traditional black+white film, there is quite a lot of dynamic range in the film which you might be able to recover scanning. You may want to: (a) try to rescan the films with a different setting; and/or (b) test your camera out with slide film which has a narrower DR and is less forgiving of wrong exposure.

17th March 2009	#5
jasbay Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 199	Re: Metering with a compact digicam my guess is the shutter speed no longer accurate on the FSU body. dun bother CLA as its cheaper getting another FSU cam. just compensate 1 stop or pump up the exposure thru PP. btw, I am fine with ur amsterdam output.