Comparison of Behind-the-lens Meter Readings and Incident Light Meter Readings in Producing 35mm Color Slides for Technical Training Classes

Book excerpt: The study reported here relates to the possibility that behind-the-lens meters in 35mm cameras might facilitate the taking of colored slides by simplifying the technique for determining exposure. A series of test slides, representing various types of slides used in technical training classes, briefings, and presentations was made and evaluated. These pictures included indoor shots of charts, graphs, newspaper clippings, colored posters, and live subjects. The data indicate that exposure estimates obtained from behind-the-lens meters vary significantly from those obtained from incident light meters. In approximately one-half of the 48 cases compared, the difference was at least one f-stop. The difference was not systematic but varied in both degree and direction. When viewing the slides in pairs, both a group of 37 university students and a group of 17 adult members of a photography club exhibited a strong tendency to find the slide based on the incident light meter to be more acceptable than the slide based on the behind-the-lens meter. (Author).