Exposure Modes; Aperture Priority - Leica M Instruction Manual

EXpOSURE MODES

The Leica M provides two exposure modes: Aperture priority mode
and manual mode. Depending on the subject, situation and your
individual preferences, you can thus choose between
– the familiar "semi automatic" operation, or
– setting a fixed shutter speed and aperture.

ApERTURE pRIORITY

If the shutter speed dial (18) is in the
electronics automatically set the appropriate shutter speed,
continuously in the range /
1
4000
sensitivity, the measured brightness and the manually selected
aperture. The calculated shutter speed is displayed in half steps to
provide a better overview.
For shutter speeds slower than 2s the remaining exposure time is
counted down and displayed in seconds after the shutter release. The
actually generated and continuously controlled exposure time can
however vary from the half step value displayed: For example, if the
display shows 16 (the closest value) before releasing the shutter, but
the calculated exposure time is longer, the countdown after releasing
the shutter may actually start from 19.
Under extreme lighting conditions, based on all the parameters the
exposure meter may generate a shutter speed that is outside the
working range, i.e. brightness values that would require shorter
exposures than / s or longer than 60s. In such cases the specified
1
4000
minimum or maximum shutter speed is nevertheless used, and these
values flash in the viewfinder as a warning.
position, the camera
A
s to 60s, depending on the set
Notes:
• As described in connection with the ISO setting on p. 167, a
certain amount of noise becomes apparent when using higher
sensitivities, and particularly with uniform dark surfaces. To reduce
this annoying phenomenon, after pictures with slow shutter speeds
and high ISO values the Leica M automatically takes a second
"black picture" (taken with the shutter closed). The noise present
in this parallel picture is then digitally "subtracted" from the data
for the real picture. As a result, the message
appears for in the monitor. This doubling of the "exposure"
12s
1
time can be significant at longer exposure times, and must be
allowed for. During this time the camera should not be turned off.
• If the B function is used in conjunction with the self-timer (see p.
188), there is no need to keep the shutter release button pressed;
the shutter will remain open until the shutter release button is
pressed a second time (this is then equivalent to a
Time data is an example
1
182
Noise reduction
function).
T