5D and Light Meter Calibration

[Starlight]

Hello All,

I have been photographing all of my formals with film and eventually want to photograph 100% digital.

[SIZE=2]The one thing that is bothering me with light meter calibration is that with the 5D you have (ex. f/8 f/9 f/10 f/11). I have the L358 and have not had to calibrate it for my RB67 but don't know where to start with my 5D. I took some test photographs (L358 measured light at f/11) and got proofs back from my lab. f/8 had the desired results. Anyone have any advice on how to calibrate this so I can use my light meter?

A Canon Rep had mentioned to me to use my in-camera meter! Should I work this way?

Thank you.

[Phil V]

The answer is in your question, according to Your lightmeter Your camera overexposes by 1 stop to Your taste. So set the lightmeter to 1 stop slower ISO and off you go. I find my 300d underexposes by about 2/3 stop and my 20d by about 1/3 (to my taste), when using evaluative metering.
As has been said many times, it doesn't matter whether you use incident or reflected metering, spot or evaluative. As long as you understand what it is that you're measuring, you can adjust the camera to ensure you get the exposure you want.

[Atomic79]

The L358 has a +- 1.0EV calibration (one stop) in .1 increments, along with exposure compensation settings check the manual (chapter 6). You may want to use the exposure compensation as it's temporary (push a button) where once you've set the calibration it's hidden and you might then over expose with the RB.

By the way I miss my RB67, had my whole kit stolen years ago never was able to afford replacing.

[Starlight]

The answer is in your question, according to Your lightmeter Your camera overexposes by 1 stop to Your taste. So set the lightmeter to 1 stop slower ISO and off you go. I find my 300d underexposes by about 2/3 stop and my 20d by about 1/3 (to my taste), when using evaluative metering.
As has been said many times, it doesn't matter whether you use incident or reflected metering, spot or evaluative. As long as you understand what it is that you're measuring, you can adjust the camera to ensure you get the exposure you want.

So Phil, I would have to rate my ISO 300. Is that correct? I understand what you mean but the 5D has stops of f/8 f/9 f/10 in between. Does that make a difference when metering digital. And if so, how to calibrate the meter that way? I am also having trouble blowing out whites. The exposure is correct but I am blowing out the whites which is really bothering me! Any advice?

[Robert_Lay]

So Phil, I would have to rate my ISO 300. Is that correct? I understand what you mean but the 5D has stops of f/8 f/9 f/10 in between. Does that make a difference when metering digital. And if so, how to calibrate the meter that way? I am also having trouble blowing out whites. The exposure is correct but I am blowing out the whites which is really bothering me! Any advice?

ISO 300 would only provide 1/3rd f-stop compensation. According to your "calibration", you need a full f-stop compensation, which would be ISO 200 (from 400 to 200 is one f-stop).

However, if you are blowing out whites, then your "calibration" is in serious question. If you go from "blowing out the whites" to adding another f-stop of exposure, you would be going in the wrong direction.

The most satisfying way of getting a handle on exposures is to pay attention to the Highlight Alert feature, which shows any clipping as "blinking" in the playback view. (See page 108 of your User's Guide.