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exposure meter

exposure meter

4.3
A tool that measures light to set camera settings
  • noun
  • /ɪkˈspoʊʒər ˈmiːtər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : exposición
  • To achieve the best results, use an exposure meter to measure the light intensity before taking the photograph.

Examples

  • The use of an exposure meter, if one is available, would give a starting point for exposure calculations.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Focus on the scan lines of the screen and take a reading with the exposure meter.

    Academic text (1993)
  • After consulting with several experienced photographers, I learned I should have used daylight readings in manual exposure meter mode.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Later, I also "survived" cameras that didn't have any automatic features or even an exposure "meter" (I've used all "still" formats from 16mm to 4x5).

    Blog text (34)
  • The photographer adjusted the settings on the camera based on the reading from the exposure meter.

  • Before shooting in bright sunlight, she relied on her exposure meter to determine the correct exposure.

Synonyms

meter
vsexposure meter
127 3.2

A device that measures how much gas, water, or electricity you use

is specific to measuring light for photography exposure not general quantities
light meter
vsexposure meter
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A small device that measures light to help set camera settings

is the same device but called by a different name in photography
photometer
vsexposure meter
  • Specialized
1 8.6

A tool that measures how bright light is

is focused on photographic exposure settings rather than general light measurement

Surface Forms

Morphology

exposure + meter

The compound is directly compositional: 'exposure' refers to the amount of light on film/sensor and 'meter' denotes an instrument that measures. A B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer it is a device that measures exposure/light, so the meaning is immediately derivable.

Etymology

Exposure meter shows its meaning clearly: exposure is how much light reaches the film or sensor, and a meter is a small tool that measures things. Photographers used to carry a separate meter to check the light before taking a picture, so the name now means 'a device that measures light to set the right exposure'.