When metering a portrait inside using hot lights, is using an incident reading or a reflected reading with a gray card more accurate?
When metering a portrait inside using hot lights, is using an incident reading or a reflected reading with a gray card more accurate?
Generalizations are made because they are Generally true...
It depends on what you're comfortable using.
I use an incident meter, and I have used one for everything; the job can be done just as well using a reflected-light meter if you know how to interpret the readings.
Accuracy is a matter of opinion.
I haven't seen someone pull out a grey card (except to shoot it) in ages. The vast majority of cinematographers and gaffers use incident meters. What Ari said. I use a spot meter for landscapes and an incident meter for people if I have one with me. Otherwise, I'm completely fine with my spot meter knowing what various shades of skin need as far as +/- the reading.
Easy spot meter the face.
Yup, I just spotmeter a lit part of the face and assign that a zone. It doesn't really even change much in trickier situations like strong backlight.Originally Posted by C_Remington
-Chris
Perhaps another way to ask the question is not which type of meter, but how best to use each type of meter.
We can use a spot meter and get unfortunate results, and we can do the same with an incident meter.
Last edited by Ken Lee; 21-Jul-2013 at 12:27.
I always meter incident, when i could as it gives me better middle tone concept.
Tungsten will half your shooting speed.
Tungsten will half your shooting speed.
Very true.
You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. ~ Mark Twain
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