R8/R9 Multi Meter Mode

[davidmknoble]

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Just musing, but also curious other’s thoughts.

I have been a manual meter BnW film photographer forever.  I love the M3 and the MP with built in metering, but it always comes down to what shutter speed and f/stop do I want to use?  Over/under exposure based on the scene and the light.  I also have really enjoyed using the SL and SL2 because I can use the auto metering mode with aperture priority and use the top dial to over and under expose the image. So the best of both worlds, easy base exposure set for me and then modify it appropriately.  

Then, I also begin playing with the Nikon F2 and the metering system with it.  I noted that for a large range of shutter speeds, I think it was 1/125 second forward, the dial is variable.  This means the shutter speed can operate anywhere in between the standard settings.  Move it part way between 1/500 and 1/1000 and your shutter speed is anything in between.  So what?  Well, that means I can set the aperture and move the shutter speed dial until the meter says average grey, the shutter speed will be ‘perfect.’  I can modify with the EV +/- if I like.  What I found was my negatives had great densities throughout the spectrum.  This seems like what the M7 does in Auto mode with film.

So, the point of my article, I have been using the R8 and R9 now for about 6 months or more and use the multi metering mode.  Almost all my lenses are ROM lenses so Leica says the MM mode knows the natural vignetting of the lens and some other aspects, like focal length.  The ‘computer’ compares the light to a library of sorts and uses the zones to set an exposure.  What I have enjoyed is two-fold:  1) the shutter is stepless, meaning like my Nikon F2, any shutter speed in between low and high based on the light.  2) the +/- exposure is easy to adjust with the level on the back.

I am sort of a purist and love BnW photography because I can develop the negs myself.  But, I have found the multi metering mode not only fun, but producing great density on negatives.  It’s the extra 1/10th stop that just makes post processing much easier.  What I find is that reducing exposure or highlights on negatives can bring about a little more grain than I like.  I prefer to just bring down shadows and blacks. This metering mode makes that easier.  Purist is declining as I get older and want to be more efficient!

 

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[a.noctilux]

Divid thanks for your post, very interesting.

I didn't know that Nikon F2 has in it's VF indication ( LED ? DP12 ? ) of precise in between shutter speed setting.

However, are you serious about 1/10th stop in B&W negatives ?

[Technician]

I have F2AS (the latest, most sophisticated version). You can see in the viewfinder set shutter speed, aperture through the ADR window and LED indictation in the form of <+>, <o> and <->. The shutter action is stepless, so if you set 1/250, the camera can set 1/272 or 1/238 of a second shutter speed for you.

[davidmknoble]

4 hours ago, a.noctilux said:

Divid thanks for your post, very interesting.

I didn't know that Nikon F2 has in it's VF indication ( LED ? DP12 ? ) of precise in between shutter speed setting.

However, are you serious about 1/10th stop in B&W negatives ?

No not really, but in stepless increments my point is it’s easier to get high contrast negs to come out well. Whole stops on shutter speeds work, but it takes more time to post process (like sandy beach scenes). I’m going for efficiency and like the S007, where the colors don’t require a lot of tweaking, I’m suggesting the same about the multi metering in BnW.