How Accurate is the Metering on a Zenit EM

[martinsmith99]

Got one of these off of ebay, mainly for the lens. I have a few m42 lenses and intend putting a few rolls of film through it to see how well it works.

The photocell on the camera seems very crude (I've only just got into film previously shooting only on digital). Can I rely on the camera metering or will I need to use my light meter? And what about using longer/shorter lenses?

[LucisPictor]

I have always used the sunny-16 with the Zenit EM. Not because I wouldn't trust the meter, but it's rather unconveniant where it is.

[martinsmith99]

Ok, so it's just short of usless I take it.

No worries. I may even get to use my light meter now.

Thanks

[montecarlo]

Well, what I like at Zenit E (EM, ET, 11) is exactly this. I don't have to put the camera to the eye to fix the right settings. My Zenit E's light meter (similar with the one on the EM) is pretty exact but if you have a dSLR or another camera with more electronics of which you know that has a reliable lightmeter you can compar the readings. Also you can compare the readings against the sunny 16 rule.
As an advice , to not deteriorate the lightmeter keep the camera in dark places when you don't make photos. Aster a while the light meter starts to be make you overexpose being less and less sensitive to the light (even there is sunny the camera "thinks" is cloudy, so you'll set a slower speed and this way , here you have an overexposure).
Good luck.