I have been trying to figure out on my own how to meter screw mounted lenses on my Konica via the Pratica Adapter. I imaging metering using T-mounted, or Non-AI, Exakta mounted lenses would be the same.

Here is what I do: I manually stop down the lens to whatever apateur I want, lets say f8. Then I will look at my viewfinder meter and select a shutter speed that will give me f8. OR am I supposed to take a light reading on the Konica THEN stop the lens down?

Any suggestions on how to meter this correctly?

Thanks,

Mike

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2001

Answers

Metering Screw Mount lenses

Mike - Have a look at page 23 of the T3 manual you recently posted.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2001

Metering manually

Hah! Good answer, James!

But, just in case anyone out there doesn't have access to that manual due to a lack of Acrobat Reader software or lack patience with a 3.7MB download via a 28.8 AOL connection...

T4, T3 and earlier models with the needle swinging away in the viewfinder... with the film speed set, and the camera turned on, adjust the shutter speed and aperture setting on the lens to get the needle to match that little bump next to f1.4 on the aperture scale. Get as close as you can, to use the exact meter reading of the camera.

FT-1 (and I presume the other electronic models, but haven't used personally) uses LEDs instead of the swingin' needle. To set the lens manually, you'll need to try to adjust the shutter speed and aperture to get the LED located where F1.0 would be (2nd from the top) to light steadily. All the while, the top LED will be blinking to indicate you are in manual mode. A little over-exposure will cause f1.0 and f1.4 to blink alternately. I often find myself checking & double checking. (personally I find the needle easier to use, but I'm getting used to the FT-1)

You can use these techniques with various lens/adapter combinations, bellows, extension rings and macro lenses set on manual. It will work with "preset" lenses, although you have to remember to move both the aperture rings. It will also work with fixed lenses, such as your 1000/11 Cat, Mike, but in that case you'll need to use neutral density filters to reduce the effective aperture, if you wish, or only adjust the shutter speed.

Until you are comfortable with the method appropriate for your camera, it would be a good idea to check against a hand-held meter. Of course, that is another way to set those lenses! Just check the exposure with your hand-held meter and set the aperture/shutter per the meter's reading.

Call me paranoid, but I'm always checking with a separate meter anyway. Have a Minolta IIIF & Sekonic 398 in my bags right now. Plus, a 1 degree Spot Meter that I frequently take along.

Alan Myers San Jose, Calif.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2001

Metering manually - clarification

Whoops.

Upon rereading my posting, it occurs to me I need to clarify....

The above proccedure (called "match needle" metering in the Konica user booklets I've seen) is for lenses which *do not* couple to the metering system. As mentioned, these would be most T-mount lenses, mirror lenses, lenses using adapters (even Konica made adapters) such as Nikon, Pentax screw mount & Exacta/Topcon. Also for non-auto extension rings and all bellows (AFAIK).

However, manual metering is slightly different with any lens that is capable of coupling with the metering system: Hexanons & Hexars (of course), many 3rd party lenses in K/AR mount and auto extension rings used with one of those lenses. Basically, anything with AE or EE on the aperture ring.

With these types of lenses in manual mode, the camera will "recommend" an aperture setting. So your lens setting is what the needle or LED indicates, unless you are purposefully over or under exposing and then it is your starting point.

Sorry for the incomplete info earlier.

Alan

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

Manual Metering of Autoreflex Cameras

Mike,

To meter manually for non-automatic lenses, stop down the aperture to the f stop of your choice and turn the shutter speed dial until the meter needle aligns with the manual metering index point next to the 1.4 indicator on the meter scale.

FM

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2001