Minolta XG-A - Automatic Exposure Control; Automatic Operation Mode

22
METERING WITH THE XG -A
The center-weighted metering system in
your XG-A employs two CdS cells mounted
behind the pentaprism so that light from all
parts
of the viewfield (picture area) is measured
but influence from a broad central area is
greatest. Thus the reading should yield satisfac-
tory exposure without adjustment as long as
the main subject area occupies a major part of
the frame.
If the subject area to be measured occupies
a relatively small
part of the frame, move the
camera so that the main subject fills most of
the frame. Note the shutter-speed setting in this
position
and compensate for the exposure
difference with the shutter-function selector
when making
the exposure from the original
position. Further, if the most important area is
very much brighter or darker than the rest of
the frame and does not fill most of it, exposure
should be decreased or increased with the same
control from 1/2 to 2 stops, the exact amount
varying with the specific brightness difference
and the effect desired. (p. 29).
As with most metering systems, strong
sources of
direct light or other very bright areas
may influence
the reading adversely if allowed
to dominate the frame.
Though
your XG·A finder is 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 glasses. Use
of a
rubber 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-d, own metering
is used, particularly at small apertures (see
p.44). When viewing is unnecessary, the eye-
piece
cap (see p. 25) can be used to completely
eliminate this
problem .