Exposure Metering; Turning The Exposure Meter On/Off - Leica M8 Instructions Manual

Exposure metering

On the LEICA M8, exposure metering for the available
ambient light is done through the lens with the work-
ing aperture and with a strongly concentrated center-
weighted characteristic. The light reflected by a bright
blade in the first shutter curtain is captured by a
photo diode and measured. This silicon photo diode
with forward-facing convex lens is positioned at the
center lower edge, on the camera bottom.
– 0,5 EV – 1 EV – 2 EV
– 3 EV – 4 EV
The appropriate shutter speed/aperture combinations
for a correct exposure are displayed by or determined
using the viewfinder displays. When using aperture
priority mode the aperture is set manually, and the
appropriate shutter speed is then set automatically by
the camera. In this mode a digital LED display indi-
cates the resulting shutter speed (e.g.
For manual setting of both values, a light balance con-
sisting of three red LEDs ( • ) is used to adjust the
exposure. When the setting is correct, only the central
circular LED is lit up.

Turning the exposure meter on/off

The exposure meter is activated by pressing down the
shutter release button (1.20) to its first pressure
point, provided that the camera is switched on with
the main switch (1.19) and the shutter speed dial
(1.18) is not set to
The exposure meter is ready to use when by one of
the displays in the viewfinder lights up continuously:
– For aperture priority mode, the digital LED display of
the shutter speed,
– For manual mode, either of the two triangular LEDs,
either individually or in conjunction with the center
circular LED.
If the shutter release button is let go, without activat-
ing the shutter, the exposure meter remains turned on
for around 12 s more, and the respective LED(s)
remain lit for the same time.
If the shutter speed dial is set to
meter is disabled.
)
1000
B .
B , the exposure
Notes:
• If the displays go out, the camera is in "standby"
mode.
• With very little ambient light, i.e. at the limits of the
exposure meter's range, it can take around 0.2 s for
the LEDs to light up.
• If in aperture priority mode, correct exposure can-
not be achieved using the available shutter speeds,
the shutter speed display gives a warning by flash-
ing (for more details, refer to the section under
"Aperture priority" on p. 106).
• If, under very low lighting conditions, and in manual
mode the exposure meter reading is out of range,
the left hand triangular LED gives a warning by
flashing. In aperture priority mode the shutter
speed remains displayed. If the required exposure
exceeds the longest possible shutter speed of 32 s,
this display also flashes.
• If the camera is out of use for an extended period or
is stored in a case, always switch it off with the
main switch. This prevents any power consumption,
including that which continues to occur in standby
mode after the exposure meter is turned off auto-
matically and the display is extinguished. This also
prevents taking pictures accidentally.
Comprehensive instructions / 105