Metering With Clc - Minolta SR-T 200 Owner's Manual

METERING WITH CLC
Minolta's exclusive CLC ("Constrast Light
Compensator") metering system employs two
CdS cells mounted on the pentaprism to take
separate, overlapping light readings.
These cells are circu ited so that the reading
of each affects that of the other to automatical-
ly yield optimum exposure in both normal and
most high-contrast situations. For best results,
the photographer should thus generally not
make compensatory adjustment for such differ-
ences. One exception is that exposure should
generally be decreased one to two stops if the
most important su bject area is much brighter
than the rest of the picture (e.g., is in a
spotlight or shaft of sunlight). Some photo-
graphers also prefer to increase exposure a half
stop or more with a backlighted subject or one
whose most important area is considerably
darker than the area surrounding it. (Exposure
adjustment instructions are given on p. 25. )
Though the SR- T's special system and finder
are designed to minimize the effect on the
meter of light entering through the finder
:eyepiece under usual conditions, care must be
exercisec;l to prevent this especially if you wear
eyeglasses. Use of a rubber finder eyecup is
further recommended when the subject is in
shade and the camera is in sunlight, when bright
sidelight falls between eye and eyepiece, or
when stop-down metering is used, particularly
at small apertures.
Besides offering exceptionally long service
life and consistent conversion of light to electri-
cal values, the CdS cells in your SR-T, like all
others, have characteristics comparable to
human vision. They are able to "see" about the
same light and color as your eyes and photo
film can; this is a great advantage for accurate
exposure. Like your eyes, however, their time
of response varies with the intensity of the light
falling on them. It thus takes them a while to
become accustomed to low light levels after
exposure to bright light. For accurate exposure,
you should thus be careful not to point the
camera at very bright natural or artificial light
sources before making exposures. And you
should give your CdS electric eyes a short time
to get accustomed to darker conditions, when,
for example, taking pictures in shadow or
indoors after shooting in bright sunl ight.
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