Minolta Flash meter IV User Guide

Flash
Meter
lV
analyze
function
ln actual flash
photography
the total
light
used
for the exposure
contains some
degree
of ambient
light-unless
you're
working
in
total darkness.
This means conventional
flash meters
(e.9.
the
Minolta Flash Meter III)
express the
required exposure as the
sum of both constant
and
flash illumination striking the
receptor
within the
period
the
shutter
is
open.
Accordingly, the
photographer
does
not know the amount
of
illumination
provided
by only
the flash or ambient
light, and the
meter
seems
to
indicate a constant
exposure even
ijthe shutter speed
was changed after
light
metering
was completed.
The Flash Meter IV employs separate
metering and adjustment
for ambient and
flash exposures. lt then stores
these values
to calculate
the
exposure
setting.
Accordingly,
the ratio between
flash and
ambient light can be
read from an analog
scale on the
Flash Meter IV and used
to
retain
the effects
o{ ambient
light
(whether
natural light
or modeling
lights)
or
to emphasize shadows,
Furthermore,
this
ralio
can
be controlled
by changing the
shutter speed
to vary the amount of
the ambient
light or
the
guide
value can be adjusted
to vary the
amount
of
flash
light after
metering
is
completed.
When metering the scene shown
in the
photographs
at
right
with the
Flash Meter IV,
set
the normallanalyze switch
at ANALYZE lo
meter the flash
light; the three
pointers
appear on
the analog scale and
the exposure
required for the overall
light level is shown
on the
digital
display.
The
pointers
in
pholograph
B
indicate:
(1)
Total
exposure
value of the ambient
light and
electronic
flash
light
(the pointer
at
0
on the
.
contrast
scale)
(2)Proportion
of the
flash light
(blinking
pointer)
(3)
Proportion of
ambient light
The
difference
between
flash
and ambient
light
levels can be determined
with
pointers (2)
and
(3).
The difference
here is approximately
1/4 stop,
indicating nearly
equal
portions
of flash and ambient
light in the exposure
(see photograph
B at right).
p
In
photograph
A, the
shutter
speed
was lowered lo
increase the tungsten
(ambient)
light
component,
As shown on
the contrast scale, the
ratio of flash
to tungsten
light is
clear:
the flash
light
to total
light ratio is indicated at 2
stops while tungsten
light
is
indicated
at
1/4
stops.
In
photograph
C the situation
was reversed: the
flash
units
power
level was
increased
to
increase the
amount oJ
flash
light in the exposure.
The
tungsten
light
to
total light
ratio
is
-
2.5 stops,
making the
flash the
main light source.
flffhile
the
same
ratio can
be obtained
by
increasing the shutter
speed,
the total
light level will
also changq
and
the display
will
indicate a
larger aperture
is required.)
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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