D50 light meter

[mavb]

I am confused about using the light meter in my D50 in relation to Shutter speed and aperature. Can someone explain this to me?
Thanks
Mark

[cyclohexane]

for newcomers to this thread, the diagrams got screwed-up in the import from the old board

If the thing's stacked too far one way, turn the dial the other way until you return it to the center. Here's a crude diagram:

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The meter is telling you here that the current shutter and aperture settings (let's say they're 1/250 second, f/4.0) will result in more than three-stop overexposure (let's say it's four stops overexposed). To get the correct exposure, you adjust the settings accordingly to achieve the correct exposure. In this instance, I like the depth of field at f/4.0, so I won't touch the aperture key. Turning the dial to the right will increase the shutter speed (each click is 1/3 stop) and reduce the exposure. The first three turns aren't going to have any effect- remember, in this case, we are four stops overexposed. Now, as we continue turning the dial, the lines along the bottom will start to recede back towards the center like this:

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Now, we are still 1 and 1/3 stops overexposed. Turn the dial a bit more until you're centered.

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________

Now, when the meter looks like this (everything centered), the exposure is "correct"- correct for however you've metered the scene. Using the situation from before (1/250 sec, f/4, 4 stops overexposed), your exposure settings should now be 1/4000 second at f/4 - it's a bright day, I guess.

I usually choose my aperture first, as I like to control depth-of-field, so I set the aperture and then use the shutter speed to control the exposure. You can also pick a shutter speed (i.e. 1/500) and adjust the aperture using the light meter in the same way to control your exposure.

Hopefully, this'll start you off. Come back with anything else you need answered, as the above is far from complete.

[mavb]

I assume for the meter to work , I must have the mode dial on one of the manual/semi-manual settings.
I will play with this today and let you know how things go.
I new that you would be one of the first to answer my question. So for that you get a Karma
HAve a great day.
Mark

[cyclohexane]

The meter doesn't show up in the viewfinder unless you're in manual (M). When you dial in exposure compensation in the P,S,A modes, it displays how much exposure compensation you've dialed in as a reminder that you are using EC.

Thanks for the well wishes. You be sure to have one too =)

[mavb]

I played around with it and have a better grasp on it. Thanks a lot
Mark

[cyclohexane]

Glad I was able to help. Have fun.

[DigitalPhotography]

Mark,

The camera meter assumes that the subject you are pointing is middle tone (medium: gray, blue, red, ...) If what you are metering is lighter or darker than medium tone, you need to adjust the exposure or your image with be medium tone when in fact it was lighter or darker than medium tone. To adjust your exposure form non medium tone, you can either meter on something that is medium tone AND in the same light then recompose your shot or you can increase (lighter) or decrease (darker) the exposure from what the meter is telling you.

[dennylee60]

By the way, I found this site a while back http://www.nikondigitutor.com/eng/d50/index.shtml. This site has a bunch of great flash tutorials on the how to use features of the D50.

[cyclohexane]

Welcome to the Camel, dennylee.

[angelsfort]

I know this is an old thread... sorry for bringing it back up... but I have a question here...

but I've been playing around with the settings on my camera, D50, and now the thing won't snap pictures when I hit the button!!! Okay, sometimes it does and then other times it doesn't... I don't know why it won't snap the picture...

I'm still trying to figure this thing out (I've had my camera for almost a year now and I've been extremely stubborn, and NOT asking questions... so I'm finally at the point where I know that I have to admit that I'm just not getting it and ask for help... it's tough for me to admit that!)

I've figured out how to change the ISO and I can change the F-stop when it's in A or P mode - but I don't have a clue how to use M at all.

Before I began messing with the settings, I was able to take some pretty decent pictures... in fact, I took pictures of my pastors children for he and his wife and most of the pictures turned out really good. They've got them proudly displayed over their mantle! Trust me, I truly believe these shots were an accident!! I didn't know how to work any of the settings on the camera!!

Tomorrow another member of our church wants me to come to her house and take some pictures of their newborn and their 2 year old son (indoors)- and some family pictures (outside) ? and now that I've messed with my camera settings, I scared!!

Can somebody please help me? I'm afraid I'm going to end up taking all the pictures in AUTO mode!! YIKES!!

Dianna

[cyclohexane]

now the thing won't snap pictures when I hit the button!!! Okay, sometimes it does and then other times it doesn't... I don't know why it won't snap the picture...

The camera probably doesn't think the picture is in focus. I'm pretty sure the D50 lacks a "release priority", even in continuous ("AF-C") focus mode, unlike other Nikons. Are you seeing the green focus confirmation light when it won't take the picture?

By the way I'm going to go back and try to fix the diagrams in my original post in the thread... they got screwed up in the import from the old board.

[cyclohexane]

Originally Posted by angelsfort

I've figured out how to change the ISO and I can change the F-stop when it's in A or P mode - but I don't have a clue how to use M at all.

Dianna

Hold the exposure compensation button ("+/-") and turn the rear dial to change your aperture in M mode; it's got a little picture of the lens diaphragm next to it.

[angelsfort]

Ah thank you!! And you were correct in your assumption that it didn't think it was in focus... that little green indicator wasn't lit at all in the shots I was trying to take... when I turned the camera towards another location BINGO the light came on the camera took the shot.

and my little AH-HA moment!! I was playing with that +/- button but I didn't notice that it was doing anything... but it was! geez, I'm such a dope sometimes! (thus my need to ASK for advice instead of being so darned stubborn)

again, thank you very much!

[cyclohexane]

The metering diagrams are still a little screwed-up, but hopefully they get the point across...

I was playing with that +/- button but I didn't notice that it was doing anything... but it was!

By the way, make sure the exposure compensation value is set to 0, otherwise it'll affect your meter in all modes where you can dial in exposure compensation (PSA; with other cameras that don't use the button to set aperture it is also applicable in M mode, so I'd assume the D50 remembers EC from the other modes).