Ilott Vintage Ilott Vintage
  • Cameras
    • Argus C3
    • Canonet
    • Canonet QL17
    • Canonet QL17 G-III
    • Canon Demi EE17
    • Fujica 35SE
    • Fujica V2
    • Konica Auto S
    • Konica Auto S2
    • Konica SII
    • Minolta AL
    • Minolta Hi-Matic 7/7s
    • Minolta Hi-Matic 9
    • Minolta V2
    • Minoltina AL-s
    • Minolta Repo-S
    • Zorki 10
  • Gallery
  • Glossary
  • Publications
  • Portfolio
  • Cameras
  • Gallery
  • Glossary
  • Publications
  • Portfolio

Be meter free

It is important to note that reflected light meters aren’t as clever as the educated photographer when it comes to exposure compensation. Expecting to see an average scene, reflected light meters can be easily fooled and will give too short an exposure for a predominantly light subject, and too long an exposure for a predominately dark subject, resulting in images that could be up to 2 stops off the result the photographer had envisioned. The good news is that vintage mechanical cameras work perfectly when operated manually without batteries, and only need electronically powered light meters to operate in Auto mode.

An understanding of the relationship between film speed, aperture and shutter speed settings not only liberate from needing a light meter but give you creative control over your photos. There’s a romantic ideal about knowing what you are doing without relying on electronic circuits. Legends such as Cartier Bresson didn’t need a battery to capture his ‘decisive moments’ and usually estimated exposure, as was routine practice. Vacarro had to think quickly in potentially deadly combat situations.

If you know what you’re doing, if you understand the principles of photography, you can be self sufficient. There’s no need to worry about batteries being discontinued; a mechanical camera and knowledge of fundamentals are all you, your children and your grandchildren will ever need.

  • Rangefinder Cameras
  • Focal Plane
  • Focal Length & Aperture
  • f-stop
  • Numbers on a lens
  • Prime lens
  • Fast lens
  • Angle-of-view (AOV)
  • Elements & Groups
  • Coatings
  • Leaf shutters
  • Shutter speed
  • Film speed ASA/ISO
  • EV / Exposure Value
  • LV / Light Value
  • LV Tables
  • Priority
  • Depth-of-field
  • Bokeh
  • Apparent Subject Motion
  • Light meters
  • Be meter free
  • The Sunny 16 Rule
  • Double & half
  • Parallax
  • Rangefinder Vs. SLR
  • Filters
  • Filters: UV
  • Filters: Skylight
  • Filters: Polarizing
  • Filters: ND
  • Filters: Black & White
  • Diffraction
  • Multiple Exposures
  • Sharpest Aperture
  • C-41 B&W
  • Zone focusing
  • Half-frame
  • Vignetting
  • Guide Number
  • X & M
About Ilott Vintage

A valuable reference for anyone wanting to learn more about rangefinder cameras, manual film photography, or both, this website is intended to serve not only as a resource to discover some amazing objects but also as a place to learn more about them, to understand exactly what they are capable of, and why. Read More

See Also
  • Canon Demi EE17 A fully manual half-frame classic
  • Minolta AL
  • Argus C3 vintage rangefinder
    Argus C3 The Brick
Contact

info@ilottvintage.com

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    © 2017 Ilott Vintage. Website by Bellamy Studio
    Wednesday 8th February 2023