Nikon FE Metering.

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Neil Purling - 04 Nov 2006 21:19 GMT

I have looked and seen that the battery test LED isn't a accurate indication
of a good battery.
Has anyone noted that the meter becomes innacurate with a weakening battery?
I was shooting the Nikon loaded with Pan F (50ASA) and a Fed 1 loaded with
200ASA col neg.
I saw the meter of the Nikon wasn't giving a reading of 3 stops more
exposure than the hand held meter for the Fed.
It seems it reads 1 stop under at 50ASA and around 2 stops under at 400ASA.
I have shot some 400ASA colour neg that seemed a bit underexposed. I thought
that was down to the film being rather outdated. Now i'm not so sure.

I hope two new LR44s will sort the problem.

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Chris Loffredo - 04 Nov 2006 22:39 GMT

> I have looked and seen that the battery test LED isn't a accurate indication
> of a good battery.
> Has anyone noted that the meter becomes innacurate with a weakening battery?

My experiences with a Nikon FM & FE2 are that metering is basically "all
or nothing" (other cameras can of course behave differently).

> I was shooting the Nikon loaded with Pan F (50ASA) and a Fed 1 loaded with
> 200ASA col neg.
> I saw the meter of the Nikon wasn't giving a reading of 3 stops more
> exposure than the hand held meter for the Fed.

50 ISO to 200 ISO is actually 2 stops difference.

> It seems it reads 1 stop under at 50ASA and around 2 stops under at 400ASA.
> I have shot some 400ASA colour neg that seemed a bit underexposed. I thought
> that was down to the film being rather outdated. Now i'm not so sure.
>
> I hope two new LR44s will sort the problem.

Are you sure the AI tab isn't raised? (are you using AI lenses?)

How are you measuring the subject?

When I need to critically calibrate or compare meters, I tape a sheet of
white paper to a window (on a day where the light isn't constantly
changing due to alternating clouds & clear sky) and meter with the lens
- focused at infinity - pressed directly onto the paper (or with a hand
held meter held close enough so that it only reads the paper).

In real life, it is rare for two meters to agree exactly in all
situations, so plus or minus 1/3 stop is pretty good!

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William Graham - 04 Nov 2006 22:58 GMT

In real life, it is rare for two meters to agree exactly in all

> situations, so plus or minus 1/3 stop is pretty good!

Ain't it the truth....As a diabetic, I can tell you that it is rare for two
different glucosometers to read the same within 10%, and try sending your
blood to two different labs for a cholesterol or triglyceride
measurement....Readings within 20% can be considered excellent!

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Norm Fleming - 05 Nov 2006 18:33 GMT

>> I have looked and seen that the battery test LED isn't a accurate
>> indication of a good battery.
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> In real life, it is rare for two meters to agree exactly in all
> situations, so plus or minus 1/3 stop is pretty good!

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Scott Schuckert - 04 Nov 2006 22:58 GMT

> I hope two new LR44s will sort the problem.

Probably not. It's been a good while since camera manufacturers sold
anything dependent on precise battery voltage, and the FE isn't one of
them.

There are many, many reasons why a built in meter and a handheld one
(or any two meters) don't agree completely, but three stops seems
excessive. If possible, check it against another Nikon body with the
same lens, or better still have it checked professionally if you're
really concerned.

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Norm Fleming - 05 Nov 2006 18:32 GMT

>I have looked and seen that the battery test LED isn't a accurate
>indication of a good battery.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> I hope two new LR44s will sort the problem.

That's your problem right there. You are using alkaline batteries that have
a long gradual discharge slope, so that towards the end of their life they
deliver significantly less than the rated 1.5 volts, and will screw up your
readings. Just switch to silver oxide equivalents (SR44/357 etc.) which
deliver full voltage for most of their life with a flat discharge curve,
then drop suddenly at the end. I also have a Nikon FE which I've used for
years with silver oxide batteries with spot-on metering.

Cheers

NF

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Neil Purling - 06 Nov 2006 12:18 GMT

I am hoping that something as simple as changing the batteries will make the
meter read normally.
I did wonder if this phenomena was a common effect of weakening batteries.
If this is a actual fault it does not stop me using the camera, but it
denies me the ability to use the aperture priority automatic exposure.

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Geoffrey S. Mendelson - 06 Nov 2006 13:00 GMT

> I saw the meter of the Nikon wasn't giving a reading of 3 stops more
> exposure than the hand held meter for the Fed.
> It seems it reads 1 stop under at 50ASA and around 2 stops under at 400ASA.
> I have shot some 400ASA colour neg that seemed a bit underexposed. I thought
> that was down to the film being rather outdated. Now i'm not so sure.

Is the exposure compensation set?

Check out: http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/manuals/pages/nikonfe3233.jpg

Geoff.

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IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 Fax ONLY: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838
Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/

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Neil Purling - 07 Nov 2006 09:03 GMT

I have been fiddling with the beast again. Fresh batteries made no
difference. I took the lens (Nikkor 50mm f1.8 AI-S 'pancake') off and
replaced it again.
The accuracy seems to be consistently 1 stop underexposed from 12 ASA
through to 400 ASA.
Aahh stuff it, leve the compensation dial set to + 1 stop permanently.
I have no idea of what it's previous history was. The battery compartment is
clean as a whistle, as are the contacts.

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