Using A Spot Meter For Film Photography - Image Breakdowns Vol.1
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 มิ.ย. 2024
- Check out my new 'Medium Format Film Photography Course' on Skillshare (FREE with this link): skl.sh/3r7KLta
In this video, I give a quick overview of how I use my Sekonic L-558R and the spot meter function for my film photography.
►*DISCLAIMER*
Some of the links below are affiliate links, where I earn a small commission if you click on the link and purchase an item. The money I earn helps me make this type of content consistently.
GEAR USED IN THIS VID(*these are affiliate links):
Sekonic L-558: ebay.us/QIFXF0
My film scanner: ebay.us/RwKM4c
Videos on this channel are filmed using the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K: bhpho.to/2SWPBqO
And the Fuji X-T4: bhpho.to/3n91yYk
My go-to for music (FREE Trial with this link): bit.ly/35aQELa
►GEAR(*these are affiliate links):
My go-to medium format camera: ebay.us/GaK9Kp
My FAVOURITE medium format lens: ebay.us/m5PTvK
My favourite 35mm film camera: ebay.us/82WyVI
My favourite 35mm film lens: ebay.us/u0V817
The BEST medium format travel camera: ebay.us/FVcfWk
The film scanner that I use for my work: ebay.us/RwKM4c
Best entry-level film scanner: ebay.us/Qp3ZEz
The film camera that started it all for me: ebay.us/qewXkD
My go-to light meter: ebay.us/QIFXF0
My favourite film stock: ebay.us/orbudp
My favourite 645 medium format film camera: ebay.us/ydY4HK
Awesome strap for large cameras: ebay.us/pY8mV2
Rope style strap for smaller cameras (cheap but great!): amzn.to/33hrRDO
Camera I use to film my videos: bhpho.to/3gY9yak
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Essential film photography accessories: bit.ly/34o3Uvt
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DISCLAIMER
Some of the links above are affiliate links, where I earn a small commission if you click on the link and purchase an item. The money I earn helps me make this type of content consistently.
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This is probably the most concise and practical explanation of spot metering and the zone system I’ve ever seen. Great video man.
Thanks, man!
Next step is to understand how the zone system interacts with developing film - n and n+1... all that jazz.
Well said 👍
It won a sub from me
You haven't watched enough videos... This one was terrible like so many others.
I"m a little bit distrustful of trying to pick a middle gray from a contrasty scene. Not everyone has a good feeling for what a middle gray is. I like to use the memory function of a meter to sample a highlight and a shadow where I want to retain detail. Then I can see the range of tones in the image and choose an exposure that fits the full range. It might be helpful to explain that if you place a shadow on zone III that your camera exposure will be set at zone V, two stops brighter.
I agree with your method
The timing of this video is so coincidental for me! I switched to film two months ago and have struggled with exposure. Everyone else's videos are just "I use the internal light meter and overexpose 1-3 stops." This just wasn't concrete enough for me. Then I found the zone system and my faith in film photography was restored. Having a solid set of rules that allow you to creatively control exposure is so much better than "overexpose 1-3 stops." I greatly appreciate your contributions to the film community. If you ever struggle for video ideas I would watch a million of you doing this exact same thing.
Thank you, Dustin!
Probably the best spot metering explanation I’ve seen on YT.
So happy that you are back doing videos. Great info as always.
Clear and concise tutorial that I have referred to on a few occasions to refresh my knowledge of metering and zone system.
Just brilliant. I can't believe your timing. Am currently floundering with the spot meter in a new film slr. This makes so much sense thank you 😁
Very clear explanation and good practical examples. So many others breeze over this with blah blah blah portra 1/2 box speed and meter for the shadows with no regard for the scene, placement of the tones or actual metering technique.
Great to see that you’re back! Found you a few months ago. Your channel is definitely one of too favorites for photography. I appreciate the difficult work out in for the detail study and the production quality is pretty amazing right from the first vid. Kudos, man. Looking forward to more. And thanks for finally laying out spot light meter usage. No one really has on TH-cam. Off to buy a copy of the zone system....
Thank you!
So helpful. Just got into film this year and have watched your videos. They’ve provided great guidance. Thank you!
So much good info in here! Loving all your videos. Thanks Kyle
Thanks for coming back :)
Thanks for making this video, I switched to a Pentax Zone VI spot meter and really saw a difference with my images and negative densities
So glad to see you making videos again Kyle! A couple of months ago when I first started shooting film I would pour over your videos over and over again and still find myself revisiting them. Can't wait to see what's coming up
Thank you!
Most informative photography video I've seen in a long time. Thank you for this.
Brilliantly intelligent explanation of spot metering and the zone system. Thank you for helping us all out so clearly and concisely.
Hey Kyle, welcome back. I use both a Sekonic 758 and an older Pentax digital spot meter (reads in Ev). Of the two, I find myself gravitating more towards the Pentax...I like the simplicity. Excellent information.
Glad you're back
This is the best video I've seen on metering for a scene.
One of the best explanations of the zone system and overview of how to use a spot meter correctly. Great stuff!
Thank you!
Thank you so much! It was very helpful to see how you would meter low and high contrasts scenes. Also, I loved the tip on how to use the "average" feature on my Sekonic light meter. This will save me so much time and frustration trying to figure out the best exposure.
Kyle, I noticed your Lightroom settings on the photo with the old broken down chair. That would be a great image to show how quality scans of modern negative films can be used almost like raw files, much like they do with scans of cinematic film. That exposure range you had in front of you there was so wide yet it's all captured in the image, ready to expand for viewing. Amazing.
This is still my Favourite light meter video. Well done.
Mike
Amazing video, informative AF. Thank you so much. I understand the zone system and looking for tones in a scene far better after seeing this.
Oh man, another new vid! You're really spoiling us.
Amazing video. It’s clear and straight to the point. Couldn’t understand better after watching
Thanks a lot for your work! Love your content and overall approach.
Thanks Kyle - great video ☺️
I don’t often comment on videos but this is one of the most useful I’ve seen in a long time. I’ve just purchased a film camera and I’m itching to get started but wanted to wait until I was sure I had a good understanding of correct metering since with film you are working blind in a way without the instant feedback you get with a digital camera. I’ve picked up an EOS 3 which has multi spot metering with averaging and live metering updates just like your dedicated spot meter. I now have a good understanding of how this should be used. Thanks Kyle!
Glad you found it helpful!
Great video. I appreciate your existence.
So much good info on this one! Thank you
Two upload within the week praise the film gods
Simply explained, easy to understand. I watched quite a few videos of yours. Thanks for doing this. Cheers
Thank you.
super useful video, thanks!
Great, thanks for this, super helpful.
It is interesting to see the book chart and to use this when looking at a hybrid system like scanning film. I shot 261 rolls of film this last fiscal year, and I developed them all myself. When shooting I use the Zone System; I then scan them with my Nikon D750 using a macro lens and import into Lightroom 6. There I flip the image into a positive and edit using a continuation of the Zone System and the Lightroom system that lists the values of your image on a scale from 0 to 100. I like to place my caucasian skin around 65-70 and my sky highlights around 90-95. For my shadows I tend to not go below 5 to 8.
An enjoyable video that shows light meters still have a role in modern photography, film or digital.
really appreciated . excellent video, full of information yet easy to understand. Thanks very much !!!
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed.
Fantastic information - thank you!
Thank you for your very helpful video. And nice photography btw.
I’m two years late watching but worth the wait! Thank you for explaining this concept so succinctly. Bravo!
Glad you found it helpful, Joseph.
Great explantation, made a lot of sense
Brilliant video Kyle so informative
Glad you found it helpful, Ed.
thank you for this video and explanation helped a lot!!!
One of the best tutorials around. Thanks much for very clear lesson on using a spot meter.
Glad you enjoyed. :)
Good to see you back! You should give your metering technique ago with transparency film. Or if you want to get some numbers going around in your head Start using polarizing filters neutral density filters. Start to crank out those bellows on the RZll. It will be good exercise for it. Looking forward to your next video!
Great video. I love my Sekonic meter. Fabulous consistent results.
RS. Canada
Really nice job explaining this spot on subject.
😄
Am i dreaming? another upload... dude, you're spoiling us
This was great, thank you 😊
Only just found your channel but loving the content. Really appreciated how well you explain your process, extremely helpful! Thanks!
Thanks, Christian. Glad you're enjoying the content!
Not (currently) a film shooter, but this intro to light meter usage is the best I've found online so far. Thanks!
Glad you found it helpful!
A lot of very interesting and useful info here. Thanks Kyle.
Glad you enjoyed, Ray. Thanks.
Brilliant video Kyle, so informative.
Thanks, Ed.
thanks, a brilliant explanation!
Great video! Thank you!
Really great informative video
Hey, what a great video. Keep up the amazing work! I look forward to your next video.
Thank you!
this was incredibly helpful. thank you thank you 🙏🏼
Glad you found it helpful.
Real cool and clear explanation. I'm using the L-858D-U and that has a cool memory feature where you can take a reading from a few points and it'll average it out.
No joke ive watched endless videos on this topic and this is the best one!
Cheers, Alex. Glad you found it helpful.
Same here: Best explanaition (for free) I have seen. Tx very much!!!
Best metering video out there! That helps a lot! Thanks and all the best from Austria
Thanks, Fabian. Glad you found it helpful.
Kyle - well done. Thanks
Great video on spot metering. I never really understood it until right now. Cheers
great explanation, so clear and easy to understand. Have just bought a Minolta spot meter and this will help me a lot. Thanks
Glad it was helpful!
Very informative,thankyou.
Excellent explanation.Though i would go for 1 stop brighter in the second sample cause you had leverage of 2 stop over the brightest point and, as you explained, film has less problem with overexposure so you get a bit more details in the dark spots. But then within the boundaries of what the film can handle it is also a personal choice.
I use the 308 for digital shooting cause that helps me mainly with manual flash.
Good basis for everybody to understand.
Thanks for sharing.
Super helpful. Thank you
I can't believe that you came back for real. Much excited!
Good points on why you should use one.
Great video. I'm just starting out using film cameras. I don't have spot meter but you have made me want to get one. You have also taught me a lot about understanding middle gray and the stops in the chart. Great video which I've gained more knowledge. I absolutely love learning so big shout for the video. Chers Kyle
Stoked to hear this helped you, Justin!
Great content ; thanks for sharing !
really helpfull man! Thanks!!!!
Great video. Thank you. Been making images for many years using film and home processing. Your video is informative and I don't see why these principles would not work with a digital camera on manual mode. These techniques and principles will be valuable to people who want to "really" learn photography. 👍 👍
Thanks!
thanks a lot man! I don't usually comment too much but your video deserves it. I appreciate it!
Very informative post giving a very clear, simple and concise explaination of the zone system. Nice job 👍
Thanks!
This explanation was spot on, thanks!
Shawn Brezny pun intended?
travis shannon Double Entendre for sure!
Love this channel
I appreciate this video. I absolutely learned about metering, thoroughly. I would graciously ask though, it would be extremely helpful if you and other youtubers with a presence online would make a video like this that includes discussion about landscape photography but ALSO portrait photography. I'd even greatly appreciate a short one about food photography just to gain the knowledge. Thank you for your hard work, Kyle.
Thank you. I don't do much portrait photography at the moment, but I'll keep it in mind for the future.
Actually, I do not agree. The Zone system was developed for black and white and it works ok with colour negative film. This is because these films have excellent exposure latitude. The weakness of this video is that there was no mention that it was dependent on the exposure latitude of the film. If you use transparency colour film, then you will have to adjust your methods to cope with using transparency film. Also, in a number of scenes, quite frankly he would have been better off using incident light metering, easier, quicker and in low contrast situations more reliable. The video was ok as far as it went, and I really did like the photo in the abandoned building and yes, in that situation the spot meter was the perfect tool. Just think you have overrated it. I did enjoy the video, just wish he had been more technical in his explanation of the Zone system.
Incredibly helpful, Kyle! I'd watched this (and others of your medium format film specific) videos for a couple years now and am back here now after returning to film in the last month or so, first with the Contax G2 and then adding a Mamiya 6 with the 50 and 75 lenses. Decided before I bust off a single frame of Porta 400 with the Mamiya that I was going to dig through your archive and I'm glad I did. Definitely going to snag a good light meter and use that to evaluate the scenes I shoot with the Mamiya! My Hassy X2D, though I love it dearly, is taking a back seat for a bit, at least, so it's X100VI for my digital and the G2 and/or Mamiya 6 for film.
Really helpful! Thanks 😊👍
You're welcome!
Great explanation 👍👍🇬🇧
Excellent thank you!
Great video, clarified few things. Thanks a lot.
Thanks. Glad you found it helpful.
Nice video Kyle. My Pentax Digital Spot Meter is probably.. if not the most important bit of gear in my bag.
Thanks, man!
WELCOME BACK
This is awesome
Well done. Thank you.
Bruh Thank you!!!! I learned so much in 16 minutes! Much appreciated!
Glad you found it helpful!
Love this video.
Kyle gotta love the Ansel Adams laptop lift..... I know, I know it was just the right height...lol. I do Love all your channel, its a class act, I've even tuned into the Podcasts too. Great work.
Really well done! Thanks
🙏 Thank you.
This is such a thoughtful, concise description of spot metering for beginner film photographers!! Thank you so much. Quite comparable to the videos all these hype kids are making out there indulging on their own film photos.
Excellent explanation. I use my meter the exact same way. I always wondered if I was doing it incorrectly-albeit my exposures do come out totally fine. But workflow wise ,I wondered how others used their meters. 😄
Excellent.
Absolutely great video, Kyle. To echo a previous comment, this is a very clear and practical explanation of both spot metering and the zone system. Thank you :)
Thank you, Michael!
When you get into this subject, you have to start somewhere, but No, this is not a clear or practical guide to use and application of the "zone system". If it were a discussion of the zone system, he would have shown how you use the meter to measure any density of tone in any the subject and then translate that reading into a working exposure. He skips the issue of what do you do if you have no "middle grey" tone to measure. Nevertheless, this is subject where you have to start somewhere, and you can only cover so much before the eyeballs roll back into the head.
Thank you Kyle
Brilliant explanation, thank you. Only. TH-cam video that's clear on this
Glad you found it helpful.
Hey Kyle! Great video! Thanks. About the first exterior shot, wouldn't be more accurate metering with the incident light method? (supposing everything is receveing sun light only)
Great vid