Digital BW, The Print

Sorry for the way off topic, but can't find any info on this..
I've got an old Nikon F2 that only goes up to 2 second exposures but 
heard that it's possible to meter for up to 10-15 second exposures.  
Does anyone know how to do this?  I've got a night shoot coming up 
and this could really come in handy.  
I don't have a light meter, but could get one if necessary.

Thanks for the help!
  -Daniel Perez

Daniel -
 
Long exposures and night photography, while related, are not the same animal.  Assuming that you night shoot is going to be large areas of black, you can't really get along without a good meter, a spot meter.  Then, you REALLY need to know how to use it.  That will get your basic exposure for the night soots.  Now, if the indicated exposure is over a certain LENGTH, you need to factor in reciprocity numbers.  These vary for each film.  They will be REQUIRED to achieve acceptable results.  The reciprocity data is available from the film maker.  Also, if you are shooting color, the reciprocity problem will generally require use of a filter(s).  When this is the situation, you need to adjust you exposure further to compensate for the filer factor.  This, in turn, CAN affect you basic exposure to the point where further reciprocity adjustments would be required.  Also, if you are using color film, and there is lighting other than tungsten in the scene, you will have additional filtering
 considerations.  Some of the other lighting types are not at all compatible, and cannot, effectively, be sorted out without some undesireable color cast in you finished product.  (Unless you then scan and digitize, where you can work on the image in your favorite image manipulator.)
 
If you are shooting b&w (since you are on the discussion group, I asume and hope that's the case) the problem is not so big.  Generally, just reciprocity factors.  But, the different types of light in the scene can affect some b&w films, as well. 
 
To get good results you MUST master the meter in this case.  Unless, of course, you want to guess and bracket the exposures in great quantities.
 
Good luck.
 
Tom Baker


tronicart <tronicart@...> wrote:
Sorry for the way off topic, but can't find any info on this..
I've got an old Nikon F2 that only goes up to 2 second exposures but 
heard that it's possible to meter for up to 10-15 second exposures.  
Does anyone know how to do this?  I've got a night shoot coming up 
and this could really come in handy.  
I don't have a light meter, but could get one if necessary.

Thanks for the help!
  -Daniel Perez



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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

One word (OK, two): Black Cat

http://www.blackcatphotoproducts.com/guide.html

I carry a Pentax spotmeter and a LunaPro most of the time, but this thing
never stays at home.  Reciprocity failure compensation is built in to the
readings.  Of course, some bracketing is necessary.  If you use TriX, it's
going to be difficult to get too much light on the negative.  You'll
probably get times much longer than 10-15 seconds, but then you use the bulb
setting and a cable release.

Regards,

  --Ken Carney
    www.kencarney.com

-----Original Message-----
From: tronicart [mailto:tronicart@...]
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2003 12:40 AM
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Digital BW] OT: metering for long exposures..


Sorry for the way off topic, but can't find any info on this..
I've got an old Nikon F2 that only goes up to 2 second exposures but
heard that it's possible to meter for up to 10-15 second exposures.
Does anyone know how to do this?  I've got a night shoot coming up
and this could really come in handy.
I don't have a light meter, but could get one if necessary.

Thanks for the help!
  -Daniel Perez




Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, Bookmarks, Polls and
other resources as they are often being updated. The page is at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint

If you wish to receive no emails or just a daily digest, or you wish to
unsubscribe, please edit your Membership preferences by visiting this same
page.

Please follow these basic guidelines:
- Include your full name with your message.
- Include the address of your website, if you have one.
- As threads develop, trim off excess portions of earlier messages to keep
them short.
- As the topic of a thread changes remember to change the subject header.
- Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or flames
- Complete your Yahoo profile.
- Before posting a question, search the message archives and the various
resources on the homepage.




Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/