Cytat:
Q: My EOS 20D in aperture priority mode with manual diaphragm lenses exposes properly at f/2.8 and f/4, begins to overexpose from f/5.6 to f/8, then comes back down around f/11. How can this be possible? Is there a solution besides using an external meter?
A: The EOS 20D focusing screen is optimized for superior brightness at moderate apertures from about f/3.5 and smaller, compared to conventional ground glass designs. This makes the viewfinder image brighter and easier to focus manually at those moderate apertures, but the trade-off is that it passes disproportionately more light to the metering system. When a Canon EF lens is mounted to an EOS camera, a variable exposure compensation factor (a program curve, not just a fixed compensation factor) for this phenomenon is fed through the system in order to provide correct metering for all apertures. However, when using a non-coupled manual diaphragm lens as you describe, no such communication takes place, so the responsibility for exposure compensation reverts to you. It's unnecessary to use an external meter. Instead, you can take a series of test shots at the working aperture(s) you plan to use, then analyze the test photos to determine the most desirable exposure compensation factor for each aperture. The 20D's auto exposure bracketing (AEB) function speeds up the process of taking the test photos, and you can use the Info palette in Photoshop to determine the most accurate exposure. If you can standardize on one or two particular apertures you plan to use (for maximum sharpness, desired depth of field, etc.), it will simplify the calibration process by eliminating the need for tests at other apertures.