Gossen Luna Pro SBC or Weston Master V?

[Wade D]

I have seen both on ebay in good shape for little money. I have been using the meter in my Maxxum 7000 for MF & LF readings but would rather not have to lug it along any more. Any thoughts or preferences?

 

[Ian Grant]

The Weston is a lot smaller, but beware many are dodgy as the selenium cells age badly. The LunaPro SBC is far more accurate particularly in low light levels and you can get a 7/15 degree spot attachment, as well as other extra, but it's a big meter.

Ian

 

[Jesper]

One more vote for the Gossen meter.
True, it is a big meter but if you can live with that the rest is excellent.
There are also a lot of accessories available.

 

[removed account4]

the luna pro is a great meter!
someone "in the know" once told
me it reads blue light so it can really
give you good readings in low light ...
not sure if it is true or not, but i have been
using one for 20+ years ... and aside from
all the cool attachments you can get for it,
one of the best things is it takes a standard 9 volt battery!

 

[RobertV]

The Luna pro is a great meter. I have the EU version Lunasix-3 with spott metering 7,5 degree.
The meter use 2x 1,35V mercury battery but the set can be replaced by an adapter with Silver Oxide battery and diode. The measuring range is very wide and precise.

 

[Ian Grant]

Robert, the Luna Pro/Lunasix is quite a different to the Luna Pro SBC/Profisix SBC which is a Null meter and larger, I have both bought via APUG adverts

Ian

 

[Stephanie Brim]

I just bought a Luna Pro SBC to replace my Pro-F that decided to die on me after my daughter went and dropped it. I *love* it. Works very well, even in the lowest light I've thrown at it.

 

[williamtheis]

the spot meter attachment is to imprecise for the Luna Pro... but then again, the Weston has none. I use a Pentax spotmeter... the V is analogue and the others are digital. all work well, if you know the zone system... Phil Davis would council for an incident reading meter like the Luna Pro/Weston with the "ping pong ball" translucent receptor in front of the element. just take the reading and it's 18% gray... transfer directly to the camera...

 

[jamesgignac]

I've been putting my Luna Pro SBC for about six months now and am loving it - I only now have learned that it's considered 'big'

I'll vote for the Luna though I can't say I've had much experience elsewhere (outside of internal metering.)

 

[AgX]

I consider the main feature of the Luna Pro SBC / Profisix that one can "place" object luminance very easily at relative values.

 

[rmolson]

weston

Weston Meter

If you have the option and can find a good one, the Weston is fine instrument with a built in Zone scale on the dial..I have both the Weston and Luna Pro SBC with null dial. For anyone learning the zone system the Weston dial makes understanding zone placement much easier

 

[Ian Grant]

I've been putting my Luna Pro SBC for about six months now and am loving it - I only now have learned that it's considered 'big'

I'll vote for the Luna though I can't say I've had much experience elsewhere (outside of internal metering.)

Compared to a Luna Pro/Lunasix it's a bit larger & bulkier, but a Weston is very mush smaller & lighter, and my Russian Leningrad is smaller still.

I consider the main feature of the Luna Pro / Profisix that one can "place" object luminance very easily at relative values.

The Luna Pro SBC/Profisix SBC allows you to take a null reading which it stores then compare other needle readings to it, without referring to the exposure dial, just a different way of working, some say it's an advantage.

Ian

 

[Paul Goutiere]

I have a Gossen Luna Pro modified to take silver 625 batteries. The Gossen is pretty good, but I have a Weston Master V as well, who's readings generally concur with the Gossen.
Not having to rely on batteries is nice with the Weston, and it is quite a bit smaller. I always have it along as a spare.

The Gossen as I recall was fairly expensive but the Weston I picked up at a junk store as not working for $5.00. It did and does work.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I recommend Gossen Luna Pro. I really like mine.

Jeff

 

[Anscojohn]

OP asked about the Luna Pro SBC and the Weston Master V. They are poles apart. The Lunapro/Six is closer to the Master V and, I think, are like comparing apples. The SBC is an orange.

I have an old Luna Pro and I have two Weston Master Vs, and a Weston Euro-Master. I use them all.
And it was once said to me that when you understand the Weston Master V dial, you shall understand what exposure is all about.

 

[DLawson]

the spot meter attachment is to imprecise for the Luna Pro...

Imprecise in what way?

I have the multi-angle attachment, but I haven't put it to any practical use yet. (It's as large as the meter, so doesn't lend itself to stuffing in my pocket.)

 

[Ian Grant]

Imprecise in what way?

I have the multi-angle attachment, but I haven't put it to any practical use yet. (It's as large as the meter, so doesn't lend itself to stuffing in my pocket.)

In some ways he's right, until recently (2 years ago) I used my 2 Spot-meters exclusively, great no exposure problems, tight precise exposures no bracketing even with E6.

But both have issues, a dodgy switch on one and no spare parts, I bought a Luna Pro (Lunasix) at a great price with a 7.5/15° attachment via this site and in all honesty my exposures are just as fight. It's a very useful attachment.

You learn how to use a particular meter, I began with Weaston's, some got stolen, others dropped by employee's and I must find out where my good one is (I lent it to someone). Until I bought a Pentax Sp V I used a Weston Master V or Euromaster for the Zone system & all my E6 work with no issues.

So after 20 + years of just using Spot-meters I actually found I really liked my Luna Pro, and Spot attachment, so much so I bought a second although this time a Luna Pro (Profisix) SBC. Negatives are so consistent it's almost boring.

Having said all that I bought a Minolta Spotmeter a few weeks ago, but I won't get it until I next return to the UK.

Ian

 

[Wade D]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm leaning toward the Luna Pro and wouldn't mind having both. A dedicated spot meter (Pentax, Soligor, Minolta, etc.) would be nice as well. The prices are a bit high for my budget. I have a 40's GE meter and a 60's Sekonic. Neither are accurate any more. Even the Maxxum meter isn't spot on and needs tweaking for best exposures.

 

[Mike1234]

I've owned a LP SBC for MANY, MANY years and it's never let me down... accurate, sensitive, and never needed adjustment. I also like the common 9v battery it uses.

 

[benjiboy]

I've owned both these meters for more than twenty years, I would recommend the Luna Pro SBC, and although It's battery dependant the 9volt PP3 it takes can be bought anywhere, and last for years.

 

[John Koehrer]

+1
Both meters have their place. The Weston is compact & has lots of information on the dial, The Gossen with the null indicator & 9V battery is fast & accurate with an extended low light range.

 

[MattKing]

Just one minor caution about the Profisix/Luna Pro SBC.

A couple of years ago I took mine in to a repair technician to have him perform the meter equivalent of a CLA.

I figured after 30 years of dependable use, my meter deserved a "spa day" .

The technician mentioned to me that it was probably a good idea to do so, because they were starting to encounter some part supply problems with Gossen meters of this vintage.

I also had a shoemaker repair the hinge on the leather case.

Everything continues to work great.

Matt

 

[frperdurabo]

Ansel Adams is the reason I photograph, and I want to love the Weston meter.

But even if you find one that's working, it probably won't stay working. The selenium cells age and can't be replaced. This is the sad voice of experience saying "Get the Luna Pro. There really is no alternative."

 

[R.Gould]

Weston any time, the Weston 4/5/euromaster's should be fine, I prefer my Westons to annything else, I have a 5 and a Weston Euromaster, also a East Kilbride Euromaster, East Kilbride came about after Weston closed, and kept making the Euromaster's but could not use the name Weston, and as far as repairing them or replaceing the cells it can be done Ian Partridge over this side of the pond repairs the 4/5/and Euromaster, including new sells, as far as them not lasting long, I have a 2 that is still working and is accurate according to my Sekonic that I keep for flash metering, checked it the other day and it is accurate to within 1/3 of a stop, my 5 and euromaster's are accurate to the exact stop according to my Sekonic, I have used the weston's for pretty much all of my 57 or more years taking photographs and never had one die on me
Richard

 

[Sirius Glass]

I own and like using my Gossen Luna Pro SBC. I also have the so called spot meter attachment - so called because it is for 15 degrees and 7.5 degrees, not 1 degree. I use it for my cameras which do no have light meters. My preference is to use the built in meters [Nikons and Hasselblad] unless I need an incident reading. So I use the Gossen when I am using the 4"x5" cameras.