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FLASH
METER
IV
USER
GUIDE

www.orphancameras.com

#wrst*nts
Incidentand ReflectedLight Meterings

Incident Iight metering:characteristics

Incidentlight metering:basicoperation

Det e rm i n i nth
g e l i g h ti n gra ti o .

10

Flash MeterIV analyzefunction

12

Aperture-prioritymetering

14

Exposuremetersand film sensitivity

16

Reflectedlight metering:characteristics

18

Reflectedlight metering:basic operation

20

Subjectcontrast and exposuredetermination.

22

Contrastcontrol

28

Creativeexposuremeasurement .

30

Cumulativeexposuremetering

38

BoosterII....

44

Spot-probeattachment. .

46

Boostercompensation .

48

ffiffiffi?#

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Meterrv

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Spot light:
Tungsten

Diffuser
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ffi

Floodlight:
Tungsten

35mm camera

mj

ffi

Rerrector

6 x 6 camera

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View
cameraqffiffiil]{illll
extension
ury{

compensation

Whetherworkingundercontinuouslightsourcessuchas sunlightor tungstenbulbs,

lightsourcessuch as electronicflash,photographyis a process
or with instantanieous
in which illuminationfrom the lightsourcestrikesand is reflectedoff the subject,
surface.A
passesthroughthe cameralensandformsan imageon a light-sensitive
the lensapertureand shutterspeed,as well as flashoutput
mechanismfor controlling
whenusingflashlight,is requiredto makesurethe rightamount,of lightreachesthe
film olane.
incidentlightmetering
Therearetwo basicwaysof measuringthisbrightness:
systemswhich indicatethe requiredexposureby measuringthe amountof light
the subject,and reflectedlightmeteringsystemswhich
(llumination)
illuminating
indicateexposureby measuringthe amountof light reflectedoff the subject
(luminance)
and receivedby the camera(SeeFig.1).
'
The Minil1aFlashMeterIVpermitsincidentlightmeteringwith sphericaldiffusers,
mini receotorsor flat diffusers,or reflectedlight meteringwith Viewfinder5o or Viewfinder 10dII, a reflectedlightattachment(40' acceptanceangle)or the MinoltaBoosterII.
Selectingwhichmeteringsystemshouldbe usedcannotbe reducedto simpleSuidg-r,
linesbasedon specificphotographicsituationsor whetherthe receptoris directedat
the subjector the camera.Rather,the selectionshouldbe basedon a thoroughunderstandingof the differencesbetweenthe meritsof the two systems.
Toddmonstratethe differencesbetweenincidentand reflectedlight metering
systems,we photographedblack,gray,and whitewallpapersamples(respective
reflectionfaciors[ii., the ratioof reflectedlightto incidentlighton the sublect]of
approx.4o/0,180/iand90%)shownon page3 underthe samelightconditionsand
metereOwith the FlashMeterIV.The picturesin groupA were exposedas indicated
with incidentlight metering;those in groupB were exposedas indicaledwith reflected
lightmetering.
metering
Reflected
lightmetering
Reflected

lightmetering
Fig. 1 Incident
Light source
lncident liqht
|Jl

l-ll

rl

ml

Camera
lncidentlightmetering
(usingsphericalrecePtor)

Reflected light metering

(reflected light attachment)

www.orphancameras.com

Incident light metering

Inincident
lightmetering,
lightilluminating
the subject(illumination)
is measured
and
exposure
is calculated
withthe formula[illumination
(lightstriking
the subject)x

Sphericaldiffuser

Accordingly,
incidentlightmeteringwill indicatethe sameexposurelevel(f/16in
groupA photographs)for
all subjects,i.e.irrespective
of the subjectreflection
factor,
whenphotographing
uMer the samelightconditions,
andthereforerenderthe neutral Flat diffuser
graysheeras gray,the highreflection
factorwhitesheetas white,and the low reflection
factorblacksheetas black.
*Standard reference subjects may have
a ref lection factor anywhere between 120/oand26%
reference subject with an 180/oreflection factor.

Minolta bases its readinos on a

Minireceptor

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Reflected-light attachment

Reflected light metering

Reflected
lightmeteringmeasuresthe lightreflectedby the subjectluminanceand
calculates
the exposure
so the specificsubjectluminanceis renderedin neutral
(illumination)x
tones.Theformulausedin thiscalculation
is:fsubjectluminance
: exposufe.]
subjectreflection
factor+ film sensitivity
(f/5.62,
Accordingly,
reflectedlightmeterswill indicatedifferentexposures
f/160,
and
fl32storthe black,gray,andwhitesheets,respectively;
seegroupB) for subjectswith
differentreflection
factorswhenphotographed
underthe samelightconditions.
The
resultis that black,grayandwhitesubjectswill all be renderedin the sameneutralgray.

Viewfinder5o

BoosterII

1 l.t 2 28 4 56 I

5me;

Ot-i

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Fi|"

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The mostoutdoorsceneshavea reflectionfactcircloseto 1B%,the reflectionfactorof

subjecton whichmostincidentlightmeterreadingsare based.This
the reference
and is the reasonincident
makesthe incidentlightmeterquiteeffectivefor portraiture,
usedfor thisand similarapplications.
lightmetersare mostfrequently
factorsboth
includeobjectswith reflection
situations
In addition,mostphotographic
incidentlight
explained,
As previously
higherand lowerthanthe 180/oreterence.
lighteranddarkertones.The
thesesubjectsin respectively
meterswill reproduce
requiring
exposureaveraged
suitedto situations
incidentlightmeteris therefore
acrossthe scene,as well as to shotsof openscenery,everydaystreetscenesand
most indoorphotography.
usedis thatthe light
Anotherreasonwhy incidentlightmetersare so frequently
are basedon the full rangeof lightstriking
receptoracceptsand exposurecalculations
subjectis covered
the surfaceof anythree-dimensional
the subject.In mostsituations
What'smore,someamountoTlightfromall
by bothlightand darkareas(shadows).
lightsources,includingthe sidesand backof the subject,is reflectedtowardsthe
cameraand hassome effecton the picture.(SeeFig.2-a.)Sphericalreceptorsare
as thatstrikingthe subjectfor a
and measurethe sameillumination
ableto reproduce
morepreciseexposuredetermination.
withflatsubjectssuchas picturesand posters,lesslightoriginating
Conversely,
from the sidesor backof the subjectis reflectedto the camera,and has a corresponthe flatdiffusef-r
(SeeFig.2-b.)In thesesituations,
dinglysmallereffecton the exposure.
on the subjectfor exposure
the illumination
is usedto morenearlyreproduce
determination.

subject
@ Three-dimensional

@ Flatsublect

ryry

| 1 4 2 2 6 4 5 6 8 1 11 6 2 2 3 2 4 5 6 4 9 0

Sffa'*fl.ilnNoNc
Fig. 2 Effectof illumination
sourcesIn
photograPhY
of threeandflat
dimensional
subjects

www.orphancameras.com

f/8, 1/60sec.
Exoosure:

ry

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, : l : . af i:

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Incident light metering: Basic

operation

MinoltaFlashMeterIVoperationin the incidentlightmetermodeis shownbelow.

: Holdthe
FlashMeterIV
nearthe subjectwith
the receptorpointing
directlyat the camera

t'':"i'"t Attachthe
i,,.N,'..
diffuser
,i spherical
or flat diffuserto the
receptor,
or usethe mini
receolor.

'

,"]; I Setrhemode
s, I selectorto the
oeisiiriometertype.
(AMB|,CORD,NON.C.)

i ";;i;" i Setthe function

i .fi'^"r selectorto TIME
or FNo.TIME:shutter
prioritymetering
FNo.: aperture-PrioritY
metering

AH
-Jtl

Pressthe
' " , meaSuring
buttonto take a
measuremenl.

'"ii-';
Usethe
,"*F
i decrease/
.
inCieasecontrolto selecl
eitherthe shutterspeed
or aperture(f-number).
(fhis shouldnormallybe
set to the flashsync
speedduringflash
photography.)

oAMBI:measures
(continuous)
light.
ambient
light.
flashlightorflashligltandambient
NONC:measures
CORD,
onoperation.
fordetails
oPlease
manual
readtheFlashMeterIVinstruction

meterto producea moreaccuratereading.

basedon the
As statedbefore,incidentlightmetersmakeexposurecalculations
exposurerequiredto reproducea neutraldensitysubjectwith a reflectionfactorof
is thereforerequiredwhenmeteringand photographing
1B%.Specialconsideration
factorthanthis 1B%standard.
higher
of lowerreflection
subjectswith a significantly
www.orphancameras.com

'jl,,r

(A)Exposedat meteredvalues.

(B)Slightly"underexposed"
(B)Slightly

lf the reflection
factoris high:lightersubjects
Forexample,if the sceneis of predominantly
white,i.e.has a high reflectionfactor,and thesewhitesubjectsare to
be reproduced
with maximumdetail,betterresultswill be obtainedby underexposing
the pictureone-halfto one
stopfrom the exposureindicatedby the incidentlightmeter.

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(A)1122,
Exposure:
1/60sec.;1/3stop
(B)t132,1/60sec; 1/3stop

lf the reflectionfactor is low:dark sub ects

Similarly,if the sceneis darkoverall,i.e.has a low reflectionfactor,and the darkareasare to be emphasized,
the
exposureshouldbe increased
one-halfto one stopfromthe exposureindicatedby the incidentlightmetering.
Notethat the exposurecompensation
describedhereand aboveshouldnot be usedwhen photographing
peopleand othersubjectshavingan averagereflectionfactor.
| 14228 4568
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Exposure:
(A)11132,
1/60sec.;1/2stop
(B)t122,1/60
sec.;1/2stop
(A)Exposedat meteredvalues.

lf the subjectis backlit

Normally,opaquesubjebtsilluminatedby backlighting
or side lightingcan be safelymeteredby following
standardincidentlightmeteringrules,but thereare also
and/orilluminated
timeswhenthe subjectis translucent
by backlightingand the receptormust be directedat
the lightsourceitselfin orderto meterand determine
the properexposure.
In such situationslightfrom all sourceswill havea
drrecteffecton the exposure,and it is necessaryto
pointthe receptorin numerousdirectionsin orderto
properlymeterthe overalllightsituation.
In such situations,a standardreadingshouldbe
takenwith incidentlightmetering,and the receptor
shouldbe pointedboth
o@o
up,awayfrom the light
1 l L 2 2 A 4 5 6 8 1 1 1 6 2 2 3 2 6 5 6 4 9 0.
source,and directlyat the
FNo
f,@
r- r-t
source.The exposure
':rli
JJ',"on"
mustthen be determined
''oi;Y ,
I
-tL
\
with resoectto the
sec;1/3stop
Il32+112,1/60
desired Exposure:
composition,
resultsand other lighting
www.orphancameras.com
factors.

r'i)

tr

Openscenery
Althoughthe lightreceptoris normallyplacednearthe
subjectand directedat the cameralens,this is often
not possibleand frequentlynot necessarywhen photographingoutdoors.The receptorcan usuallybe placed
nearthe camerawith acceptableresults.This is
becausea lightsourcesuch as the sun will providethe
same illumination
at the cameraas at the subiect.

1,
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-

A
t-itl
ffil

TJ

*rff, fl.iin
Exoosure: f/8. 1/250sec.

/l\

Determining the lighting ratio

The lightingratio,or contrast,is the ratiobetweenthe

highlightand shadowareasof a subject.In normal
a lightingratioof between4: 1 and
color photography,
8:1, or two to threestops,will producethe most natural
renditionof colorsand contrast.
The lightingratiocan be usedto controlthe overall
betweenthe
lightingeffect,includingthe relationshtp
main subjectand backgroundor the effectof shadows
on the mainsubjectduringportraitor productphotographyin a studioenvironment.
of
The MinoltaFlashMeterIV can meterillumination
the subjectfrom a numberof individuallightsources
usinga flat diffuserand storereadingsin the memory
for easycomparisonon the exposureindexnumber
(ExlN.)displayand contrastscaleto determinethe
lightingratio.
Toillustratehow the lightingratiocan be determined,
on the pageat right.Thisshot
referto the photographs
with two lights:the main lightsource
was illumrnated
and a fill light.The lightingratiowas determinedas
follows:
(1)Attacha flat diffuserto the lightreceptor.
(2)Setthe film speedand meteringmode as described
in "Basicoperation"on Page9.
. Makesurethe functionselectoris set to TIME
(3)Fointthe flat diffuserdirectlyat the main lightsource
from the subjectpositionand storethe readingin the
memory.
(4)Now meterthe fill lightin the sameway and store
the reading.
. The flat diffusershouldbe shieldedthat no
from the main lightsourcedirectlystrikes
illumination
the flat diffuser.
(5)Thedifferencebetweenthesetwo readingscan be
readfrom the contrastscale (or the f-numberscale).
Storedvaluescan alsobe recalledto obtainthe
Thisdifferenceis the ratioof the two light
difference.
sourceson the subject.(SeeTable1 and Fig.3.)

Meter the main light

(memorized)
L..3s.-2 . j

www.orphancameras.com

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2d.

3.4.

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-4.,3sr-2 . j
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2"r

3.4.

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-f

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L

-,coao
L'

Meter the fill light

(memorized)
- 4 . - 3 s .2

.i

r-,
t:, Li
t s or . ' J

1 .

0.

@r

Lr

-4.-3s.-2 .

Forexample,if the exposureindexnumberJorthe main

and that of the fill lightis t122,
lightsourceis 1O.2(11322)
in sourcesis 10.2- 9.2:1.O stop,or a
the difference
lightingratioof the mainlightto the fill lightoI2:1.
*Thelighting
inorderto checkthe
determined
ratiois normally
wltha
subjects
whenphotographing
situation
actuallighting
in thereflection
dlfferences
ratio.Extreme
normalreflection
thepicturemayexceedthe
ratioof thesubjectscomposing
Insuch
is adjusted.
latitude
of thefilmevenafterthellghting
exposure
usedJordetermining
thetechniques
situations
on page22under
asdescribed
contrast
basedonsubject
shouldbeused.
reflected
lightmetering

*.5f1

@r

1 .

2x.

3.4.

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|-

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Et-i

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3.4.

-, co"o
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2x.

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-,"o'"
t-

(A)Lightingratio:B:1
Exposure:(A)Il22+ 213,1160
sec; 1/2stop

Thesetwo exposures
were madewith different
lightingratiosto demonstratethe effectof differing
ratioson the finalexposure.The top photograph
hada lightingratioof 8: 1
which was adjustedto the
2:1 ralioo1the lower
photograph
by fillingin
snadows.
Fig. 3 Lightingratio

Table 1

Differencein
Lighting
meteredexposure
ratio
(ExlN )
1 stop
2:1

2 stops
3 stops
4 stops
5 stops
6 stops
7 stops

11

B:1
16:1
JZ.

64:1
128:1

(B) Llghtingratio'.2:1
Exposure:(A)Il22+ 213,1160
sec; 1/2stop

FlashMeterlV analyzefunction

ln actual flash photographythe total light used for the exposurecontainssome degree
of ambientlight-unless you'reworkingin totaldarkness.This meansconventional
flashmeters(e.9.the MinoltaFlashMeterIII)expressthe requiredexposureas the
strikingthe receptorwithinthe periodthe
sum of both constantand flash illumination
does not know the amountof
the photographer
shutteris open.Accordingly,
providedby onlythe flashor ambientlight,and the meterseemsto
illumination
indicatea constantexposureevenijthe shutterspeedwas changedafter light
meteringwas completed.
The FlashMeterIV employsseparatemeteringand adjustmentfor ambientand
flashexposures.lt then storesthesevaluesto calculatethe exposuresetting.
the ratiobetweenflashand ambientlightcan be readfrom an analog
Accordingly,
scaleon the FlashMeterIV and usedto retainthe effectso{ ambientlight(whether
this raliocan
naturallightor modelinglights)or to emphasizeshadows,Furthermore,
be controlledby changingthe shutterspeedto varythe amountof the ambientlightor
the guidevaluecan be adjustedto varythe amountof flashlightafter meteringis
completed.
When meteringthe scene shown in the photographsat right with the Flash Meter IV,
switchat ANALYZElo meterthe flash light;the threepointers
set the normallanalyze
appearon the analogscaleand the exposurerequiredfor the overalllightlevelis shown
on the digitaldisplay.The pointersin pholograph
@oo
B indicate:
-4.-3.. -? ."t
' 0 . I . 2N. 3.4
(1)Totalexposurevalueof the ambientlightand
F
-I
.|n
electronicflashlight(thepointerat 0 on the
nrct.c
;__:_____--_\
lJ ii
'-. contrastscale)
L.Lr
I
b,t
\
(2)Proportion
of the flashlight(blinkingpointer)
(3)Proportionof ambientlight
The differencebetweenflashand ambientlightlevelscan be determinedwith
pointers(2)and (3).The differencehere is approximately
1/4stop,indicatingnearly
equalportionsof flashand ambientlightin the exposure(seephotographB at right). p
In photographA, the shutterspeedwas loweredlo increasethe tungsten(ambient)
lightcomponent,As shownon the contrastscale,the ratioof flashto tungstenlightis
clear:the flash lightto totallightratiois indicatedat 2 stopswhiletungstenlightis
indicatedat 1/4stops.
In photographC the situationwas reversed:the flash units power levelwas increased
The tungstenlightto totallight
to increasethe amountoJflash lightin the exposure.
ratiois - 2.5 stops,makingthe flashthe main lightsource.flffhilethe same ratiocan
be obtainedby increasingthe shutterspeed,the totallightlevelwill also changq and
the displaywill indicatea largerapertureis required.)

www.orphancameras.com

@
- 4 . , 3 " . - . ; ,r - . . t 3 , ,

. 2.. 3.4N

Fs

E@

,s
|
;;-:---------\
r-h1

1fI
f
1'1 rJ NoNc
,-.Lf
-r

(A) Erp.rosure:
iilr. l sec

\E'
- 4 . - 3 s . - 2

. r i . ' . 6 .

-* - j - . '
hur

2 s . 3 . 4

FNo

,t

J f l r , n Io * .

L.Lr

(B)ExposureI!2+31t1,
L/4 -qec

ffi.r-\.ljt*^"
( - . 1i - ' o .

'".i

i.

e.

Aperture-priorityflashmetering
flashmeteringin additionto ambientlight
The FlashMeterIV permitsaperture-priority
meteringof daylightandtungstenlight.i
;:1, .r . , : .,
the .,,.,
whichControls
by the aperture,
arecontrolled
Sinceambientlightexposures
ji
amountof lightstrikingthe film,and shutterspeed,whichcontrolsthe lengthof time'r
metering
this lightstrikesthe film,one mustdeterminethe aperturefor shutter-priority
metering.
the shutterspeedfor aperture-priority
and,conversely,
However,
tne flasnunit'sdurationis veryshort,andwith mostcameras,it is not , .:
possibleto controlthe amountof time lighifromthe flashstrikesthe film plane. i)''
Accordingly,
the apertureis normallyadjustedto controlthe amountof lightreaching
ln conventional
thb film.(Onautomaticflashesthe flashdurationis controlled.)
meteringsystems(theMinoltaFlashMeterIII),the shutterspeedwas set (withinthe
for the amountof flashand
camera'sX-syncrange)andthe aperturewas calculated
ambientlightwhichwouldstrikethe receptorat thisshutterspeed.
Sincethe FlashMeterIV employsseparatemeteringand adjustmentfor ambient
whichcan indicatethe amountof flashlight,the scenecan be
andflashexposure
meteredwith the requiredX-syncshutterspeedand desiredaperture,and the meter
as a 'guidevalue"IGW is
flashlight(expressed
will indicatehow muchadditional
(unvarying)ambient
light
constant
figure
is
a
This
based
on
requiredfor the exposure.
level,and indicateshow manystopsthe powerlevelmust be increasedor decreased
to providea properexposureat the specifiedaperture.
Forexample,lessd'epthof fieldwas desiredin the photographat right.Accordingly,
the aperturewas set to f/16,and the meterindicated* 1 GV indicatingthat flash
illumination
mustbe reducedone stop,i.e.powershouldbe reducedlo 1t2the current
the powerlevelshouldbe increasedone stop.
level.Similarty,
if +'1 GV is indicated,

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2 00 w s

b
b
200ws

filmSiensitivity
&posihtemefers'ehd
of the film whenthinkingaboutexposure.
It is importantto knowthe characteristics
on the film appearsas the
Whenthe film is developed,the amountof light(exposure)*
betweenexpothe relationship
densityof imageson the film.The linegraphillustrating
curveindicates
curve.Thecharacteristic
sureanddensityis the film characteristic
film latitudeandother :
exposure,
whichis requiredwhendetermining
film sensitivity,
factorsimportantto a obtainingcorrectexposure.
"curvesfor color reversaland color negative
Fig.A showsthe typicalcharacteristic
films.As wouldbe expected,thesecurvesindicateoppositetendenciesfor each of
the threeprimarycolors,red:green,and blue.We will referto the compositecurveof
here.
Fig.B to simplifythe discussion
TheX-axisindicatesthe logarithmof the exposure,and the Y-axisis the transmission
transparentas the expodensityof the film.Colorreversalfilm becomesincreasingly
opaqueas the exposuredecreases,prosureincreases,and becomesincreasingly
ducingan invertedS-curvedescendingto the right.The curveindicatesthat exposure,
at the two extremes(thetop and bottomof the curve)'
and densityare not proportional
throughthe straightlinein between.Thisstraightlineindicates
but are proportional
on . .l
in lightintensity
variations
thatpartof the filmwhichmostaccuratelyreproduces
,;,'-,
.'t.t:
thesubject.
This rangeis referredto as the film'sexposurelatitude,most commonlya difference
of aboutfive stopsbetweenmaximumand minimumexposureswith color reversal ,:.
:'
film.(TheareabetweenS and H on the FlashMeterIVcontrastscaleis the exposure
exposureHm,which
latitudeof the film.)Ataboutthe centerof this rangeis reference
Hm produces
at whichreference
the intersection
is usedto calculatefilm sensitivity;
M.
midtonedensityDm is filmsensitivity
the requiredexposureis obtainedby measuringillumi'
Withincidentlightmetering,
nationon the subject.Exposurecalculationsin this systemare designedto reproduce
an 18% graysubjectexposedat the indicatedapertureand shutterspeedin neutral :.:
-,
tones,i.e.at meandensitYDm.
meteringsystems,the lightreflectedby the subjectis measuredto ..,,,
In reflected-light
determinesubjectluminance,and exposureis adjustedso this is equivalentto refer- '"
ence exposureHm. In otherwords,all subjects,no matterwhattheir reflectionfactor,
the highest
will be reproducedas a meandensityDm image.In actualphotography,
and the lowest
reflectionfactorencounteredfor whiteobjectsis about85% to 9Ao/o,
reflectionfactoris that of blackobjects,about2.5o/oto 3%.
this rangebreaksdown intoaboutfive stoPsof
In termsof exposuredifferences,
4Bo/0,
and 96%, placingthe 18% graysubject
120/o,24.0/0,
3o/0,60/o,
apprOximately
the exposureindicatedby an incidentlightmeterand
roughlythe middle.Accordingly,
theixposure indicatedby a reilectedlightmeterusinga subjectwith a reflection
lightingconditions.
18% will be nearlyequalunderequivalent
factorof approximately
lf thepictureis exposedat the meteredlevels,subjectswith a reflectionfactorof from

l6

www.orphancameras.com

Fig. A Colorfilm characteristiccurve

Color negativefilm

Fig. B Compositefilm characteristiccurve

' i -2 .
-4.-3s.
r . 0 . 1 . 23. 3.4

This example approximates an area

with 18% reflectance.

etering:
Ch

Reflectedlightmeteringsystemsmeasurethe lightreflectedby the subject.The

receptoris pointeddirectlyat the subjectand therebymeasuresthe actuallight
(luminance)
whichwillenterthe lensand be recordedon film.All scenescontainboth
lightand dark objects,and for certainapplicationsthe reflectedlightmetercan be
moreeffectivethan an incidentlightmeter,the readingsof which are basedon a
referencereflectionratioof 18%.
One normallyseeksa naturalbalancein which lightobjectsappearlightand dark
some problemspresentedby reflected
objectsappeardark.Thereare,consequently,
lightmetersas theywill turn both lightand dark objectsgray in the finalphotograph.lt
is thereforeimportantto meterthe rightpart of the sceneto producethe best results.
to adjustthe exposureto
this principlewill enablethe photographer
Understanding
emphasizea particularsubject,or to add detailto a generallywhite or dark picture.In
how certainlighting
addition,
determining
the contrastin the sceneand monitoring
to use othertechniconditionsare reproducedon film will enablethe photographer
questo get the most from the film'spotential.
Reflectedlightmetersalso permitaccuratemeteringof translucentsubjects,neon
lights,lamps,and other light-emitting
subjects,in additionto meteringof subjects
which cannotbe conveniently
approached.

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Exposure:
il45+112,1/60sec;
1/3aperture

6
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Reflectedlight metering: Basic operction

MinoltaFlashMeterIV operationin the reflectedlightmetermode is shownbelow.

,

Attach the Viewfinder5", the

Viewfinder10' II or
reflectedlight meter
attachmentto,the
receptor,or use the
booster.

Fointthe
receptor
directlyat the subject

Set the measuring

I
mode selector to
the desired meter type.
(AMB|,CORD,NONC.)

AH

TIME
GV
rso
FNo

Set the function

selectorto TIME
or FNo.TIME:shutterprioritymetering
FNo: aperture-priority
metering

Pressthe
measunng
button to take a
measuremenl

Use the
decrease/increase
control to select either
the shutter speed or
aperture(f-number).(fhis
shouldnormallybe set to
the flash sync speed
during flash photography.)

Beadthe
requrreo
exposure
settingfrom
thedatapanel

r Forfurtherdetails,
manual.
referlo theinstruction
betweenmeteringwith a reflectedlightmeterand an incident
The biggestdifJerence
is in step 5: in reflectedlightmeteringthe receptormust alwaysbe directed
lightm-e1er
at the subjectfrom the directionat which the camerawill be located.
Thereare two majortechniquesused in reflectedlightmetering:(1)averaging*,in
which the entiresubjectis meteredfrom the cameraposition,and (2)spot metering,in
which a narrowacceptanceangleis usedto metera specificpart of the subject.(See
Fig.4.)
*Caremuslbe takenso thatshadows
do notcoverthesubject.
fromthemeteror photographer
betweenacceptanceangle and subject
Fig. 4 Relationship

t
I

20

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Averagemetering
In averagemetering,the receptoracceptanceangle (40' on the reflectedlight attachment,10" on the VieMinder10o[, 5o on the Viewfinder5")permits meteringof light
reflectedoff the subject,therebyproducingan averagedreadingand exposure.
lf the reflectionfactorof the overallscene is approximately
18%,the exposurewill
be equivalentto an incidentlight meteredexposureof the same scene.See photographsA and B.
Althoughthis techniqueproducesa quick,easy reading,the exposurewill be unbalancedif largepartsof the sceneare extremelylight,dark,or backlit.See photographsC and D.

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I

Spot metering
A narrowedacceptanceangleis usedfor spot metering,thus permittingmeteringof a
closelydefinedpart of the subject.This narrowanglepreventsinterference
from surroundinglightsand reproducesthe meteredarea as a midtonedensity.lf the metered
area has a reflectionfactor of about 18%, an averagedexposuresimilarto that producedby an incidentlightmeterwill result.See photographsE and F.
With the FlashMeterIV,the photographer
can metereithertight(whites)ordark
(blacks)areas,and pressthe highlight(H)or shadow(S)keyto retainmaximumdetail
in that part of the subjectwhile maintaininga naturalbalanceon the overallexposure.
Accordingly,
best resultsare obtainedwith spot meteringby first determiningthe
overallcomDosition
beforemeterino.

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Subject contrast
and exposuredetermination
The spot meteringtechniquedescribedon the previouspagecompensatesfor many
of the problemsinherentin reflectedlightmeteringand can be usedto produce
of
photographs
exposedfor specificobjectives.To reallyoptimizethe possibilities
iettecteOtigntmetersand to get the most from the film,the followingtechniqueshould
also be mastered.
Thistechniqueinvolvesspot meteringof both highlightsand shadows,and then
from thesemeteredexposuresand the exposurelatitudeof
determiningthe expoSure
the film. In otherwords,knowingthe brightness,ie. luminance,of the subjectis the
most effectiveway to reproducetheseimageson film.This rangeof subject
brightnessis calledsubjectcontrast*(or subjectbrightnessrange)and is expressed
as a ratiobetweenthe highestand lowestluminanceson the subject.Subject
contrastis definedby the lightingratioand the subjectreflectionfactor'
The FlashMeterIV includesboth a memoryfunctionand analogscalefor easy,
visualconfirmationof subjectcontrast.lt is alsoequippedwith highlight(H),shadow
determinethe exposureby
(S)and averaging(A)keyswhich let the photographer
m6nitoringsubjectbrightnessbeforeshutterrelease.
Forexample,the differencebetweenhighlights(thewall of the outsidebuilding)and
shadows(thecar radiatorgrill inside)in the picturesat rightis eightstops,or a subject
contrastof 256: 1.(SeeTable2.)
At the same time,howevetthe latitudeof most color reversalfilm is approximately
five stopswith subject
Table 2
(see
contrastof32:1
Highlightarea (memorized)
Differencein
Subject
pages16and 17).In
meteredexposure
contrast
such situationswhere
(Ex lN.)
'""JJ,o*'
*J[.
contrastexceedsfilm
z , I
1 stop
latitude,exposingthe
,.ori,/
A'1
L L -1
2 stops
\
scenewith an averaged
6.1
stops
3
[(A)key]exposurewill
16:1
4 stops
oroducewashed-out
0
32:1
5 stops
anddark
highlights
,/in -? f,
64:1
6 stops
shadows(pictureB).
128:1
7 stoos
lf the situationallows
to be
the highlights
256:1
B stops
emphasizedand the
expohighlight-weighted
(highlight)
for
a
press
key
to
meter
the
H
shadowsdismissed,
sure;all shadowareasbelowthe S mark on the contrastscalewill be completelyblack
pressthe S (shadow)key
(pictureA). Conversely,
if the shadowsare to be emphasized,
exposure;all highlightsabovethe H on the contrastscalewill '
for a shadow-weighted
be washedout (pictureC).Referto the scalesand exposuresindicatedto the rightof ,'
each photograph.

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*lt is important
to thecomposition,
anddarkestpointsessential
meterthebrlghtest
to selectively
to
lt is alsoimportant
pointsof maximum
contrast.
anytwoindiscriminate
notsimplymeasure
related
to colorhues.
inbrightness
thedifferences
consider

22

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(A)Highlight-weighted
exposure

Exposure.
Il11+ 114,I /30 sec

'l
J

(B)Averagedexposure

E x p o s u r eI l 5 6 + 1 1 2 ,1 / 3 0s e c

(C)Shadow-weightedexposure

Exposure:
Il4+ 114,1/30sec
m

The photographercan judge the subject'sbrightness

leveland decidewhere'jnthe film'slatitudethe tones
shouldbe reproduced.
In the scene show4 in photographA-3, the subject
contrast is 1.5stops,'a 3: 1 ratio.The darkesttones were
the shadowsin the facq and the lightesttones in the
white clothes.When the photowas exposedusingan
averagemeter reading,the white clothes became a light
gray and the face was a slightlydarke.rgray,as shown in
reading,
A-1.When exposedusinga shadow-weighted
the face was reproducedvery darkly,as shown in A-2.
Since the most importantareas in the scene are white
or very lighttones,it is clearthat a highlight-weighted
readingshouldbe used to give added detailto the face
without loss of detail in the white dress,as shown in
photoA-3.
In photographB, the subject contrastwas approx.4
stops,16:1.The scenewas exposedwith a shadowweightedreadingto retaintonaldetailofthe clothes.By
meteringthe face, it was determinedthat it would
appearlighterin the final results.
The Flash Meter IV will fix the exoosurevalueon the
digitaldisplayderivedfrom an incidentor reflectedlight
Afier takinga measurement,
additional
measurement.
areas can be measuredto determinethe tonal relationship betweendifferentparts of the picture.These measurementscan be comoaredon the contrastscale. For
example,if the face in photoA-3 is to be a midtone
density,meter the face and pressthe A key was pressed
to lockthe readingon the display.Thenthe clothingand
highlightscan be meteredand comparedwith this
referencepoint to determinehow brightlythey will
reproducein relationto the face.

Meter the face, monitorthe clothes.

Exposure:fl11+114.1/60sec

A-2 Shadow-weighted exposure

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(Ihis example shows that the photographwill be slightly

underexposed compared to photograph A-3)

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Exoosure:tl22+112.1/60sec.

@-3

A-3 Highlight-weighted
exposure

Exposure:
ll56+314, 1/60sec

75ws

B Shadow-weightedexposure

Lxposure.ll9' 314 1/60sec