Minolta Flash meter IV User Guide

Determining
the
lighting
ratio
The
lighting
ratio, or contrast,
is the
ratio between
the
highlight and
shadow
areas
of a subject.
In
normal
color
photography,
a
lighting
ratio of
between
4:
1
and
8:1, or two
to three
stops,
will
produce
the
most natural
rendition of
colors
and contrast.
The
lighting
ratio can be
used
to control
the overall
lighting effect,
including the
relationshtp
between
the
main subject
and
background
or
the effect
of shadows
on the
main subject
during
portrait
or
product
photo-
graphy
in a studio
environment.
The
Minolta
Flash
Meter
IV
can
meter
illumination
of
the subject
from
a number
of
individual
light
sources
using
a
flat diffuser
and store
readings
in the
memory
for easy
comparison
on the
exposure
index
number
(ExlN.)
display
and contrast
scale
to
determine
the
lighting
ratio.
To illustrate
how the
lighting
ratio can
be determined,
refer to the
photographs
on
the
page
at
right. This shot
was illumrnated
with two
lights:
the
main light
source
and a
fill light.
The lighting
ratio
was determined
as
follows:
(1)
Attach a
flat
diffuser
to the
light
receptor.
(2)Set
the
film speed
and
metering
mode
as described
in
"Basic
operation"
on
Page
9.
.
Make sure
the
function selector
is set to
TIME
(3)
Foint the
flat diffuser
directly
at the
main
light source
from the subject
position
and store
the
reading
in the
memory.
(4)
Now
meter the
fill light
in the same
way and store
the
reading.
.
The flat diffuser
should
be
shielded
that
no
illumination
from
the
main
light source
directly
strikes
the flat diffuser.
(5)The
difference
between
these
two
readings
can be
read
from
the contrast
scale
(or
the f-number
scale).
Stored
values
can also
be
recalled to obtain
the
difference.
This difference
is the
ratio of
the two
light
sources
on
the subject.
(See
Table
1 and
Fig. 3.)
For example,
if the exposure
index number
Jor
the
main
light
source
is 1O.2
(11322)
and
that of the
fill
light is t122,
the difference
in
sources
is
10.2-
9.2:1.O
stop, or
a
lighting
ratio of the main
light
to the
fill
light
oI2:1.
*The
lighting
ratio
is normally determined
in order
to check
the
actual
lighting situation
when
photographing
subjects
wlth a
normal reflection
ratio.
Extreme dlfferences
in the
reflection
ratio of the subjects
composing
the
picture
may exceed
the
latitude of the
film even
after the
llghting
is adjusted.
In such
situations
the techniques
used
Jor determining
exposure
based on subject
contrast
as
described
on
page
22under
reflected light
metering should
be used.
Meter
the
main
light
(memorized)
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.
j
.
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.
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Meter the fill
light
(memorized)
-4.-3s.
2
.i
.
0.
1
.
2x.
3.4.
@r r-,
t:, Li
[
-,
co"o
tso
r.'J
\ -
J.E
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|
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trrN
-4.-3s.-2
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r
.
0
.
1
.
2x. 3.4.
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Minolta Flash meter IV Specifications

General

Light Receptor	Silicon photo cell
ISO Range	ISO 3 to 8000
Shutter Speed Range	30 min to 1/8000 sec
Display	LCD
Type	Handheld Flash Meter
Measuring Modes	Ambient, Flash
Measuring Range (Ambient)	EV -2 to EV 19.9 (ISO 100)
Measuring Range (Flash)	f/1.0 to f/90.9