incident vs reflective metering for film

[jdphoto]

Using an incident meter to measure color negative film is pretty accurate. However, some cameras I use have a built in meter that acts like a reflective meter. What's the best way to use a cameras built in meter to get the same results as an incident meter. One thought is to use the reflective meter as I would shooting black and white film by placing what I perceive to be middle gray or in other words, the zone method.

 

[seablister]

Your idea works. Point built-in camera mater at back of hand. Pretty close to 18% gray. Green grass, bright red also works. To build confidence try all three and compare to incident meter readings.

Side note. Neg film pretty tolerant of less than optimum exposure.

 

[Shashin]

I echo seablister. Learn good targets in a scene to meter off. Generally, if you take the area that is in the middle tone of a scene, you will be fine. Personally, I have always used an incident meter and set the camera from that. I find it fast and simple. But it does come with experience.

 

[jdphoto]

I appreciate the comments! Thank you. There are times when using the camera's meter is more convenient, but thankfully color film is very forgiving of overexposure. I'm tempted to get a Sekonic L398A meter. Old school technique that could teach me too.

 

[seablister]

The discontinued Minolta Auto Meter IV or IVf are great meters. Come up on eBay frequently. Just a thought.