Don't be afraid of backlighting and light meters

You do hopefully realize that this isn't possible for several reasons.

1. The camera uses reflective metering, so only the value for 18% gray. You can calculate from that, but it certainly isn't faster.

2. The camera cannot possibly meter flash.

In fact, the light meter is the fastest method for getting exposures correct. Provided you know how to use it. In the beginning it will certainly take you longer. But as you gain more experience, you will quickly see that nothing works faster than a meter.

Shutter speed will not work with flash.
The shutter speed = available/continuous light
Aperture = the flash.

So outside you use the shutter speed to determine how much available light you want in the scene. But the aperture must not be adjusted. If you were to, for example, stop down the aperture, you would underexpose the model. If you increase it, you would overexpose the model.

In this case it is exactly the other way around.
We shoot with 100% flash, so you will have to determine the atmosphere via the flash. You can do that by adjusting the flash or the aperture. Aperture often works just a bit faster. Of course the depth of field changes. So that is a trade-off.

If you were to take this photo with continuous lighting, then of course you could work with shutter speed. But with flash in the studio, shutter speed has no influence. Until you go above a certain limit. Above, for example, 1/125 (1/160), you get black bars in the image (shutter curtain). Unless you use an HS system, but let's not get into that.

Don't fall for marketing like 3D measurements. For AF that's a thing. For exposures it isn't. You can actually measure an average with a meter, which a camera can't, again

You simply can't measure flash with a camera meter, so how you do that is a mystery to me. Then you might as well not measure at all and just shoot. A camera meter is a reflective meter and only works with continuous lighting.

As indicated, if depth of field is important to you, then you adjust the flashes.

The article was purely written to indicate how you can use a meter for non-standard situations.

Of course you can say that you adjust the flash and the other person adjusts the aperture. But in the end everyone does the same thing. Interpreting the set and adjusting. The article is purely about showing how you do that with a meter.

I really don't understand why people prefer an external light meter over the camera's meter. What's the advantage of that?

RiPa-Photo wrote on Tuesday 9 April 2019 at 23:05  | reply

I don't understand the resistance to a light meter, a light meter works exactly and gives you control. You'll always have to take multiple shots to achieve your personal preference. I completely agree with Frank and wouldn't want to miss it anymore.