How to Read a Handheld Light Meter

Taking portraits? Perhaps you don't enjoy fumbling with wheels and dials trying to find the best f-stop/shutter speed combination. A handheld meter is particularly useful for photographers who use a tripod, since it frees them from having to hover over the viewfinder while finding the right settings.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Camera Flashes
• Camera Tripod
• Cameras
• Film
• Cameras

1. Make sure the film speed is set correctly on the ISO dial.

2. Know what the angle of acceptance is for your meter. This is simply the area that the meter reads. If you're trying to meter (or shoot the picture) out of range, you won't necessarily get the best shot.

3. Point the meter at the subject and press the meter button. If a flash is involved with the shot, fire the flash off when you meter.

4. Set your f-stop and shutter speed according to the reading on the meter.

Tips & Warnings

• Read the light reflected by your subject by using the meter from the camera position. Read the light falling on the subject (incidental light) by operating the meter where the subject is instead of where the camera is. When you expose the film according to this reading, you can ensure that the subject will be properly exposed and a too-light or too-dark background won't interfere.