12 HOW to use a light meter
SNAPSHOT
Light meters
- TTL Light meter in your camera
- Hand Held Light meters
- Working without a light meter
WHAT is a light meter?
A light meter is a device that measures the amount of available light entering the camera and converts it into a reading informing you what aperture and shutter speed settings to use to obtain a correct exposure.
Light comes from artificial sources, such as light bulbs, candles, or even the glow of a computer screen. It also comes from one natural source, the sun. If you can see it, You can photograph it! The light meter will tell you how.
Now that you understand how the three variables (Aperture, Shutter speed, and ISO) work together it’s time to learn how to properly use your light meter.
Most cameras today have a light meter built into them, this makes it convenient for the photographer but not essential. Without a working built-in light meter, you can use a handheld light meter to accurately measure light.
There are several different ways of measuring light, first, we will focus on using the light meter in your camera. This metering system is called a reflective reading for a very simple reason, the light meter reads the amount of light bouncing or reflecting off your subject. It also uses a system called through the lens metering or TTL.
HOW to use the light meter inside your camera
For Through The Lens (TTL) metering follow the steps below:
- Set the camera ISO to match the ISO of your film
- Aim your camera at your subject
- Activate the light meter
Typically you have to press the shutter release button down ½ way to activate the light meter. The meter will stay on for a few seconds while you view the meter reading. If it turns off before you are finished, just push it ½ way down again.
In the beginning, you may accidentally push the shutter release button down all the way, and take a photo, no worries this happens a lot until you get used to the feeling of ½ way.
- Cameras will have different ways of indicating if camera settings are [over +] [under – ] or correct.
- Review your camera manual to understand your light meter displays.
- Your goal is to get the correct exposure by adjusting the aperture and the shutter until the light meter indicates you have achieved the correct exposure.
What are Handheld light meters
There are two different ways of measuring continuous light using a light meter:
- Reflective light
- Incident light
Today it is common to have a light meter built into the camera, however, many professional photographers prefer a handheld light meter. Handheld light meters read both incident and reflective light, while in camera light meters only read reflective light.
A reflective light meter reads light that bounces off the subject. When you point the light meter at your subject, it is reading the light being reflected off your subject and back to the camera. The light meter in your camera is reflective. This type of metering is convenient, all you do is point the