Anyone shoot in Manual mode WITHOUT a light meter?

[contributor_M]

Reading up and doing research, I see a lot of people shoot in manual mode, but they use a light meter.

Is it necessary to use one of these? I would (for the time being) like to learn how to shoot in manual without the need of any additional tools.

Why would one want to use one in the first place, and is it recommended that a noob get one to use?

[wwong]

No, a light meter is not necessary for M mode.

I put my camera meter in spot mode, take reading of different areas, do some f/shutter math in my head (and fingers), and then set the camera accordingly. That's all I need.

[billbunton]

Uhm Wilfred, what do you think you're using when you put the camera meter (i.e. light meter) in spot mode?

Adrian, do you mean without a light meter, or do you actually mean without a separate light meter?

And no, neither one is truly necessary. The Sunny 16 rule works as well today as it did 40 years ago :-). That said, they are helpful, either in-camera or an external meter. As Wilfred points out, a spot meter will allow you to see the range of brightness you really have in a scene, and since the sun isn't up for half the day there are times the sunny 16 rule doesn't apply.

I'd definitely recommend _having_ one, though it can certainly be the one in your camera. I do carry a separate meter, since it's frequently more convenient than using the camera's meter, and it's also a flash meter.

[ldelacruz]

Like Bill said your camera has a built in light meter. Do you know how to use it? If not take some time to play with it and see how the different settings effect the picture ( aperture, shutter and ISO ).

[lscottpht]

I always shoot in manual mode and never use a meter, not even the spot meter. I just judge the scene and what I think it should be, then make adjustments accordingly.

[R0ger]

I often use older manual focus lens on my Nikon, and even though the camera has a meter, it will not work with them. Use the Sunny 16 rule like Bill said (google it) and you have instant feedback through the LCD.

[wwong]

Bill: Oh, I assumed Adrian means external light meter.

Adrian: Like Leslie and Roger, one can eyeball a scene/use Sunny 16, dial his/her preferred shutter and aperture settings, and click. That's what M mode is for - you have complete control regardless of what the camera meter say.

[TXFZ1]

One of the lessons is to walk around all day with a light meter and guess the light, then check your guess against a spot or incident meter. It will train your eye to see the light and be in the ballpark and is kinda fun in a geeky way.

David

[Tom]

I use the camera meter some, but I barely look at it now. I shoot so much that I can judge the exposure and color temp of just about any room with pretty good accuracy.

[The Philos]

I just got a metered prism for my Bronica yesterday (I've had it for nearly two years now) so yes I've shot manual without a meter (which isn't so easy with ISO 25 film). I don't own a cool Pentax spot meter so let's not talk 4x5 ;).

[texkam]

Camera meter to get me in the ballpark then as Leslie says, I just judge the scene and what I think it should be, then make adjustments accordingly.

[janikphoto]

I can say that I use the camera's internal light meter a lot, but I can also guess at the proper setting and get pretty close in situations that I've shot a million times. Concerts and nightclubs... I'm usually spot on without checking the meter. A quick chimp of the screen confirms that I'm good to go after snapping a frame or two.

Even in the studio, I know my lights well enough that I can dial in a proper setting, sometimes without even taking a test shot. But, to answer your original question: I still use a meter while in manual mode a lot - usually the in-camera meter and sometimes my external Sekonic meter.

[shooter 1]

I must be the strange one. I just use the back preview screen on the camera. When the image looks good . Thats good for me...