Gossen Digisix - Incident light readings

[arclight]

Back in my film days I used a Weston V meter with invercone. Incident light readings were taken by pointing the invercone at the source of light falling on the subject.

I have recently got a Gossen Digisix and the instructions for taking incident light readings are not exactly crystal clear. The instructions give no advice as to where to point the meter, but simply say "In this mode [incident] the Digisix measures from the subject towards the camera".

(Reflected light readings also measure from subject to camera.)

I did experiment with a "difficult" subject - a black dog in sunlight and pointing the cone towards it produced an accurate exposure.

Nevertheless, I wonder why the Westo V and Gossen appear to operate differently.

Anyone got an explanation, please.

 

[bindex]

Even with a Weston master V for incident reading I always pointed it towards the camera position. Of course that may be me never tending to read instructions
I doubt it would make a huge difference in exposure readings though?
I use a Minolta Autometer IV F now whenever I use a separate meter and still point that one towards the camera too! And honestly I haven't a clue what the manual says I *should* do.

But as to why Weston and Gossen (another top class make) should be different... I'd love to know as well.

cheers

 

[Steve Smith]

Incident light readings were taken by pointing the invercone at the source of light falling on the subject.

Incident readings are always taken by pointing the meter at the camera. Even with a Weston meter!


Steve.

 

[HoppyUK]

It can be confusing because an incident reading is supposed to measure the brightness of the light falling on the subject, which usually means you're measuring the brightness of the sun. It is also easier that way, saves you walking back and forth, and it works fine until you get a strongly back-lit subject which is effectively in shadow. This is when you're glad you pointed the meter towards the camera, from the subject position (which is not the same as from the camera, towards the subject position ).

 

[arclight]

Incident readings are always taken by pointing the meter at the camera. Even with a Weston meter!


Steve.

Perhaps my memory is letting me down and I did, in fact, hold my Weston vertically at arm's length which would be the equivalent of pointing it towards the camera.
Yesterday when I used the Gossen the sun was directly behind me.
Pointing the meter at the subject gave EV15 and at the sun EV16.
I'll try again today with the meter pointed at the camera.

 

[HoppyUK]

You need to aim an incident meter in the direction of the light falling on the subject, as seen by the camera.

On an overcast day, it usually doesn't matter where you point it. On a bright sunny day, it can sometimes make a little difference, and occasionally a very big difference, eg strong back lighting. When setting up studio lights, you always point directly at the light during set up, then directly towards the camera for final exposure calculation.

From the subject position, aim the meter towards the camera, then aim it towards the sun/light source. If there's a difference, you may want to make a slight adjustment mainly on grounds of personal preference (eg to avoid highlight clipping, or maybe to shift the histogram to the right a bit) but if in doubt, always go with the subject-to-camera reading.

Give it a go and do a few test shots/readings, check the histogram etc. When you're aiming to get exposure dead right, one of the biggest variables is personal preference.

 

[arclight]

I was out in the garden an hour ago in strong sunlight.

Tried with the meter pointing towards the camera. That did the trick.

Wish I had kept my Weston. The Gossen Digisx is a fiddly little thing.

 

[markta]

I was out in the garden an hour ago in strong sunlight.

Tried with the meter pointing towards the camera. That did the trick.

Wish I had kept my Weston. The Gossen Digisx is a fiddly little thing.

That is the way to do an incident meter reading, as the lightmeter will measure light falling onto the subject, as opposed to what cameras meter for, which is light reflecting off the subject..

 

[Suvv]

The instructions give no advice as to where to point the meter, but simply say "In this mode [incident] the Digisix measures from the subject towards the camera".

(Reflected light readings also measure from subject to camera.)

The bold text means that you measure from where the subject is pointing towards the camera. So you stand where the subject is and point the meter towards the camera.

It does not mean that the Digisix should measure the light coming from the subject towards the camera.

 

[arclight]

The bold text means that you measure from where the subject is pointing towards the camera. So you stand where the subject is and point the meter towards the camera.

It does not mean that the Digisix should measure the light coming from the subject towards the camera.

Yes, thanks, now I read that again I can see what is meant.

 

[awp]

Incident readings are always taken by pointing the meter at the camera. Even with a Weston meter!


Steve.

100% correct. Incident light is light falling ON the subject - as opposed to reflected BY the subject and is the more acurate way to measure the light.