Another Question on metering

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

Sorry you guys, I feel so stupid asking this but I want to be sure.

I use the L358 Sekonic and I'm really getting the hang of it now, in the studio it works now perfect.

But I have problems with 2 situations and I hope someone here can help me out, both with natural light.

Situation one.
A model for a large window with diffuse material, how to meter if I want the window to just blow out.
I tried pointing from the camera to the window with the dome in and out but never got a reading I could use (way too low).

Situation two.
Maybe the same, measuring the sky.
I tried in the garden and it was spot on on our garage, garden seats, grass etc. but when pointed at the sky it was again WAY too low, my camera say's F11 and the meter tells me F3.4 (on the grass it said F2.8 which was correct).

Now I tried to get the dome off to measure with the naked unit and that does seem to do the trick, is it normal that for metering from the camera postion for skies etc. I need to get the dome off ???

Greetings,
Frank

sorry for the many questions, but I want to learn quick and thorough :D.

[kawter2]

that only measures the light falling on it, verses a reflective meter (i.e. what is in your camera) that measures the light reflecting off of a subject..

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

Can't do anything with that answer, sorry.
What do you mean.

When I take the dome away I do get a rather good reading, there is a grid with my meter I'm beginning to think I need to use that, although the manual states that it's only to be used with measuring buildings.

[crc_408]

Per the manual, for reflected light, use the lumigrid,

" This method measures the brightness (luminance) of the light reflected from the subject. It is
useful for distant objects such as landscapes, when you cannot go to the position of the subject,
or for metering subjects that generate light (neon signs, etc.), highly reflective surfaces or
translucent subjects (stained glass, etc.). "

Mine arrives tomorrow... can't wait!

[Jon]

With the dome in, you'reactually taking what's called an "incident" meter reading, of the light falling on the subject. When you take an incident meter reading, you hold the meter at the subject's position and aim it at the camera. What you're trying to do is take a "reflected" meter reading, where you measure the light reflected from the subject to the camera (and meter) position. As Chris said, when metering from the camera position, you need to use the grid, not the dome. But in your situation, you might achieve better results by taking an incident reading.

[blue_max]

My understanding of how meters work.

With a dome on - put the meter as close to the subject as possible and measure the light falling onto the subject. Point towards the camera.

Using it as a spot meter - take a reading from an area that looks like 18% grey. If there is nowhere that looks like that, then use white and adjust a stop or so and the same for a darker area. What you are trying to achieve is link an area of the subject to a known value.

If that particular meter is not a spot meter (I don't know), then this is not relevant, so sorry for the irrelevant info. You will have to use the info and adjust to get the effect you require (don't forget this will give a reading for a regular scene or 18% grey).

Graham

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

I think I have to use it with the grid than.
Which is a shame because I use alot of mixed light with sky's and flash.

For the ease of it I will be using the meter in the cam for the sky and the flash will be measured with the L358.
Also a good option :D.