- 1). Enter the ASA of your film into the light meter. The number may also be referred to as ISO on either your film or light meter, and these values are interchangeable. Digital video cameras have their ASA set within the camera's menu, while film will have its ASA value printed on the package. The process for entering the ASA into your light meter depends on your particular brand of meter, so consult the user guide if you need assistance.
- 2). Enter the shutter speed of your video camera into the light meter. The default for most light meters is 24 frames per second. The process for entering the shutter speed varies depending on your meter, so consult your user guide for help.
- 3). Hold an incident light meter next to the subject you will be recording. If you are using a spot meter, point the meter's sensor at a neutral 18-percent gray card (which can be obtained from any video or photography store).
- 4). Examine the light meter's digital display for the suggested f-stop setting. The f-stop refers to the ratio of the camera's focal length to the diameter of the opening in the lens's iris.
- 5). Enter the suggested f-stop value into the video camera. This will typically be under a menu option named "aperture" or "iris." Your camera may also use the term t-stop, which is interchangeable with f-stop. Consult your camera's user guide to learn how to change this value on your video camera.
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