Nikon R8 - what exposure compensation for hand held metering with sekonic

[Stephen Perera]

OK so I have a Nikon R8 super 8 camera I'm going to use for the first time at a friend's wedding. It's a no-pressure-ish situation where they're paying for the film and processing and not my time as it's a favour for a friend of a friend. Regardless there IS pressure 'cos I wanna do a great job.

So, the WeinCell 1.35V batteries I have ordered for the Nikon R8's internal meter will probs not arrive on time before Saturday thus I have to use my Sekonic light meter. No worries.

OK so I am told there is light loss through the lens as the light also feeds the viewfinder + have to take into account the internal 85A filter so what compensation should I have on my Sekonic. Im thinking 1.5 stops????

I'm shooting at 18fps with 160 degree shutter

Edited September 4, 2025 by Stephen Perera

[Stephen Perera]

Anybody?

[Mark Dunn]

Well the assumption always used to be that the viewfinder and zoom took 2/3 stop. 2/3 for the 85 and you're about right. Maybe set 64 for the 200 and 160 for the 500?

[Joerg Polzfusz]

When comparing the readings from the Sekonic with the Nikon (given that the Weincells are there on time), keep in mind that Kodak‘s bizarre notch-system for Super8 does not define notches for 200 and 500 ASA. Unless the camera has a manual ASA setting, it will not measure at box speed, but only at cartridge speed.

On top, most (or all?) manuals for S8-cameras lack details about the measurement method: does the exposure meter take the whole image into account or only a center section? Or does the camera have several measurement points that are equally or differently weighted?

Hence, expect to have slightly different results with the Sekonic.

[Stephen Perera]

35 minutes ago, Joerg Polzfusz said:

When comparing the readings from the Sekonic with the Nikon (given that the Weincells are there on time), keep in mind that Kodak‘s bizarre notch-system for Super8 does not define notches for 200 and 500 ASA. Unless the camera has a manual ASA setting, it will not measure at box speed, but only at cartridge speed.

On top, most (or all?) manuals for S8-cameras lack details about the measurement method: does the exposure meter take the whole image into account or only a center section? Or does the camera have several measurement points that are equally or differently weighted?

Hence, expect to have slightly different results with the Sekonic.

OK so what would you do!!!!!???? and thanks for the help.....I simply didn't have time to shoot a test and send to lab...the camera arrived on such a date and from that moment the lab could not turnaround for me given have to send it by post too

Edited September 5, 2025 by Stephen Perera

[Mark Dunn]

1 minute ago, Stephen Perera said:

OK so what would you do!!!!!???? and thanks for the help.....

You shoot film- do what you usually do. Incident readings where possible.

[Stephen Perera]

Just now, Mark Dunn said:

You shoot film- do what you usually do. Incident readings where possible.

yeah good advice......I'm gonna just do what I always do....and hope for the best.....err on the side of overexposure and "publish and be damned"

[Joerg Polzfusz]

7 hours ago, Stephen Perera said:

OK so what would you do!!!!!????

Simply use Mark‘s values and shoot. They’re true for most S8-cameras. And Vision3 is very forgiving. So it doesn’t really matter whether they‘re 100% correct or +/- 0.5 f-stops off.