Minolta XE-1 - Viewfinder Information

XE.l
METERING
POINTERS
Minolta's
exclusive
contrast-compensator
metering system
employs two
CdS
cel
ls mount-
ed on the
pentaprism
to take separate,
over-
lapping light
readings.
These
cells are circuited
so
that
the reading
of each affects
that of the
other to
automatically
yield
optimum exposure
in both normal
and most
high-contrast
situa-
tions. For
best results, the
photographer
should
thus
generally
not make
compensatory adjust-
ment for
such
differences. One exception
is
that exposure
should
generally
be decreased
one
to two stops if the most important
subject
area is much
brighter
then the rest
of the
picture
.
(e.9.,
is in
a
spotlight
or
shaft
of
sunlight). Some
photographers
also
prefer
to
increase
exposure
a half stop
or more with
a
backlighted subject
or one
whose most impor-
tant area
is considerably darker
than the area
surrounding it.
(For
further
details,
see
p.48).
Though
the XE-1's
special system
and finder
are designed to
minimize the
effect on the
meter of
light entering
through the
finder
eyepiece
under usual
conditions,
care must
be
exercised to
prevent
this especially
if
you
wear
eyeglasses. Use of
a rubber
finder
eyecup
is
further recommended
when
the
subject
is in
shade and
the
camera is in
sunlight,
when
bright
sidelight falls
between eye
and eyepiece,
or
when
stop-down
metering
is
used,
particularly
at small
apertures.
When
viewing is
unnecessary,
the
eyepiece
shutter
(see
p.
26l,
can be used to
completely
eliminate
this
problem.
Besides
offering exceptionally
long
service
life
and consistent
conversion
of light
to elec-
trical
values, the
CdS
cells in
your
XE-1,
like
all
others, have
characteristics
comparable
to hu-
man vision.
They
are
able to
"see"
about the
same
light
and color
as
your
eyes
and
photo
film
can;
this
is
a
great
advantage for
accurate
exposure.
Like
your
eyes,
however,
their
time
of response
varies
with the
intensity
of
the light
falling
on
them.
lt
thus
takes them
a while
to
become
accustomed
to low
light levels
after
exposure
to bright light.
For
accurate exposure,
you
should thus
be
careful not to
point
the
camera
at
very
bright natural
or
artificial light
sources
before making
exposures.
And
you
should
give your
CdS electric
eyes
a short time
to
get
accustomed
to
darker conditions,
when,
for example,
taking
pictures
in shadow
or
indoors
after
shooting
in
bright sunlight.
21
www.orphancameras.com