Incident or Reflected Metering ?

[Mr.Prime]

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With a handheld meter, do you find incident metering to be the best method most of the time ?

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[ktmrider2]

I discovered incident metering about 1972 and it has given me better more consistent negatives than I ever saw using reflected light metering.  

Now the late 1960's marked the introduction of thru the lens metering into 35mm SLR's.  I had two Nikon F bodies with the FTN  metering prism on one.  It was certainly quick and convent especially for shooting things which made getting an incident reading difficult (some sports, concerts, and other types of performances where getting on stage was a no-go).  I quickly learned to tell the difference between film shot using the Nikon F (non metered body) used with a hand held incident meter and film shot using the FTN body.  The contact strips produced with the incident meter were amazingly consistent compared to the reflected meter.

So to answer your question, yes I think incident metering is the best, especially once you find the ISO that works for you.  Of course, if you use your reflected light meter with an 18 per cent grey card you can reproduce consistent results as well.

Presently, I use a Sekonic L398 with my M4-old school and battery independent!

Edited May 11, 2023 by ktmrider2

[skahde]

I prefer reflective simplified zone-readings. Measure the darkest area that should have full definition in the developed negative and correct it by -2 stops. Or pick any other area that you know should have a definite correction compared to middle grey if there is no important darkest area. Modern films tolerate overexposure very nicely, straight curves up to the top. But underexposed shaddows are still empty and no incident metering will tell you how dark a certain corner under a tree, where you want defintion and detail will be. Takes some time ro learn but for me the answer to the problem. 

Edited May 11, 2023 by skahde

[250swb]

The first type of metering I was taught (as opposed to just matching the needle) was reflective metering as part of the Zone System. And since then I've never not thought reflective metering wasn't the most accurate metering, it allows you to place tones, and react to large changes in contrast levels, and gives you a firm basis of translating into the negative what you are aiming for. In essence reflective metering allows for having an opinion, so long as the consequences of an opinion are understood. It can often mean changing development times, or developers, but it's not as rigid as an incident light metering regimen best suited for slide film.

[spydrxx]

1 hour ago, Mr.Prime said:

With a handheld meter, do you find incident metering to be the best method most of the time ?

Absolutely

[madNbad]

Incident readings give me accurate readings and I almost never use the reflective mode on my L-308. I’m a big fan of the 398 Studio Deluxe but the last one had a dial that would drift just enough to throw off my ISO. I did buy a Reveni spot meter for those times when taking an incident reading isn’t practical.

[Michael Geschlecht]

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Hello Everybody,

I use both. And that nifty sliding hemisphere that is on many meters makes using both easy.

Incident is the simplest & easiest to use. Go to the subject (Or a substitute place.) Point the hemisphere at the lens (Or a substitute place.). Push the button. Read the exposure. Good exposures. Most of the time.

Reflected is a little more complex. But not much more. Visualize or view the angle of coverage of the meter. Read the important part, or parts of the subject or scene. Adjust the reading as per Steve's good advice in Post #4, just above. Good exposures. Most of the time.

Best Regards,

Michael

 

 

[Fotoklaus]

Incident metering, when it is possible. No matter what the subject is, the incoming light will be measured. So you won´t have problems with

dark subjects in front of dark backgrounds or the other way round.

 

[Pyrogallol]

Incident almost all the time, with one of my five Sekonic L-208 meters. The only time it does not work is on an overcast day when it tends to give an overexposure.

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[Danner]

Yes.

[Ouroboros]

For portraits I almost always use incident metering, landscapes are dependent on the film and/or which camera I’m using. My usual method is to take a series of spot readings from the scene for an average and use my intuition from there.  

I rarely bracket exposures these days, due to the high cost of film it’s a good incentive to consider exposures carefully especially with film-hungry cameras such as my Fuji 6x9’s and 6x17.

 

[Vlad Soare]

On 5/11/2023 at 10:30 PM, Mr.Prime said:

With a handheld meter, do you find incident metering to be the best method most of the time ?

Mostly yes, except when incident metering isn't possible, or when the subject is very high in contrast. I'll use a spotmeter in such cases. Otherwise the incident meter is king.

Edited May 14, 2023 by Vlad Soare

[250swb]

 All camera meters are based on reflective metering, and then photographers  make adjustments based on the reading, so why switch to another method just because there isn’t a meter in the camera? 

[madNbad]

Most of the early on camera meter attachments like the MR or early Photomics offered a choice of both incident and reflective metering. That changed when Pentax put the meter in the body leaving reflective as the default choice. In camera meters evolved rapidly and began to offer many more modes than hand held meters. I never owned a M5 but many say the semi-spot was one of the best in camera meters.

When Leica introduced the M6, its metering is quite good. I used it with a lot of Kodachrome and always had accurate exposures. Now I own a M4 and a M4-2 and found incident metering works best for a majority of subjects. I still use reflective metering occasionally but it’s nice to have a choice.

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello madNbad,

A correction for the typographical error: It is the MC meter (The predecessor to the MR) that has an incident cover for its selenium cell. It also has an incident cover for its meter booster cell.

Best Regards,

Michael

[Fotoklaus]

vor 9 Stunden schrieb 250swb:

 All camera meters are based on reflective metering, and then photographers  make adjustments based on the reading, so why switch to another method just because there isn’t a meter in the camera? 

Because it is always just a crutch due to a incident reading.

Built in meters mostly are ttl, an external Meter is not. So you estimate your reading

by knowing about the measuring angle and what you are measuring. 

The best modern built in meters have to use tricks and Software just to be as good as one incident reading. 

[Vlad Soare]

10 hours ago, 250swb said:

 All camera meters are based on reflective metering, and then photographers  make adjustments based on the reading, so why switch to another method just because there isn’t a meter in the camera? 

All camera meters are based on reflective metering not because it's better, but because it's impossible for them to do it otherwise. With an incident meter you can easily do better, so why settle for a compromise just because cameras have to?

[Ouroboros]

2 hours ago, Vlad Soare said:

All camera meters are based on reflective metering not because it's better, but because it's impossible for them to do it otherwise. With an incident meter you can easily do better, so why settle for a compromise just because cameras have to?

Exactly.  I could cite the old classic of trying to photograph a bride and groom, white dress, dark suit etc, on a sunny day with a ttl or hand held reflected reading.  Hardly seems worth it.

Different scenarios can often require different techniques.

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[Fotoklaus]

THere are greycards around to solve the problem, which isn´t one with incident reading :-)

[Pyrogallol]

A tarmac road makes a good grey card, I discovered that 50 years ago.