Gossen Luna Pro SBC VS Luna Pro Gray

[Hubigpielover]

Looking at a Luna Pro SBC or a Luna Pro Gray. A couple of differences stand out. One is that the SBC takes a 9 volt, the Gray has no EF adjustment. Does anyone have any suggestions on which way to go? Likes and dislikes.

Also open to other brands but I want a meter that is good in low light.

Thanks

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

SBC

 

[Hubigpielover]

SBC

Well that is fast. Thanks.

 

[jvo]

like the sbc over luna pro... if you use the zone system you might want to look at the gossen luna lux...

 

[Hubigpielover]

like the sbc over luna pro... if you use the zone system you might want to look at the gossen luna lux...

Not yet but I will get into it eventually. It is baby steps getting back into film.

 

[bdial]

+1 on the SBC, if only because it takes current batteries.
Actually, if I were buying one now I'd look for an "F" version which includes flash metering.

 

[Hubigpielover]

+1 on the SBC, if only because it takes current batteries.
Actually, if I were buying one now I'd look for an "F" version which includes flash metering.

I looked at them but I don't have a flash on my camera. Thanks

 

[Kodachromeguy]

By Luna Pro gray, if you mean the older CDS type, no. Definitely opt for the Luna Pro SBC. Three reasons: 1. The SBC uses a common 9-volt battery. 2. The SBC is what I call one-step. Push the button, spin the dial until the needle is at the center, and directly read the f-stop and shutter speed. The older CDS is 2-step, where you need to read the number on the dial beneath the pointer, and then transfer it to the other dial. 3. The older CDS needs mercury 1.35 volt cells unless you have the adapter device. Most of the numbskull sellers on ePrey claim their CDS units are in "perfect working order." How do they know? Did they install mercury cells? I think not. If you really want once of the CDS units, buy a newer one in the black plastic case. Many of the gray ones are brittle and are disintegrating inside where screws attach the mechanism (I know from personal experience).

 

[MattKing]

The "F" version does offer flash metering, but it doesn't offer quite as much extended low light sensitivity.
By the way, you would almost never use flash metering with on-camera flash.
I had a Profisix (as the Luna-Pro SBC was known in Canada and most of the world) for 30 + years from when I bought it new in the 1970s until it ceased to function properly a few years ago. During that time, I had it serviced once, as a precautionary measure. I had the flash metering accessory for it. I used the Profisix for everything, including weddings.
I bought a used Luna-Pro F (Profisix F in Canada and most of the world) a couple of years ago. I rarely if ever need the extra extended low light sensitivity of the SBC/Profisix.
The only down side of either the SBC or F is its size. Because of that, I also have a Gossen Digiflash.

 

[Hubigpielover]

The "F" version does offer flash metering, but it doesn't offer quite as much extended low light sensitivity.
By the way, you would almost never use flash metering with on-camera flash.
I had a Profisix (as the Luna-Pro SBC was known in Canada and most of the world) for 30 + years from when I bought it new in the 1970s until it ceased to function properly a few years ago. During that time, I had it serviced once, as a precautionary measure. I had the flash metering accessory for it. I used the Profisix for everything, including weddings.
I bought a used Luna-Pro F (Profisix F in Canada and most of the world) a couple of years ago. I rarely if ever need the extra extended low light sensitivity of the SBC/Profisix.
The only down side of either the SBC or F is its size. Because of that, I also have a Gossen Digiflash.

Thanks for the help everyone. Went ahead and got the SBC. I tend to overthink stuff when it comes to buying things. It seems like all my research has pointed me to SBC.

 

[benjiboy]

By Luna Pro gray, if you mean the older CDS type, no. Definitely opt for the Luna Pro SBC. Three reasons: 1. The SBC uses a common 9-volt battery. 2. The SBC is what I call one-step. Push the button, spin the dial until the needle is at the center, and directly read the f-stop and shutter speed. The older CDS is 2-step, where you need to read the number on the dial beneath the pointer, and then transfer it to the other dial. 3. The older CDS needs mercury 1.35 volt cells unless you have the adapter device. Most of the numbskull sellers on ePrey claim their CDS units are in "perfect working order." How do they know? Did they install mercury cells? I think not. If you really want once of the CDS units, buy a newer one in the black plastic case. Many of the gray ones are brittle and are disintegrating inside where screws attach the mechanism (I know from personal experience).

In addition the Luna Pro S.B.C. uses a silicon blue cell that has a cell that's much more sensitive to low light levels, and has a better spectral response to colours than the CDS cell in the Luna Pro gray meter.

 

[MattKing]

There is a late (black?) version of the original Luna Pro that has a more modern than CDS cell.

 

[darkroommike]

The SBC uses a Silicon Blue Cell (SBC) a more modern meter cell, uses a 9 volt battery (Not mercury), but takes most/all? of the older accessories. The F does all of that and flash metering, there's another model with an LED readout that is nice--Luna Lux, fixing the meter needle is expensive (never loan your favorite meter to ANYONE).

 

[Kodachromeguy]

There is a late (black?) version of the original Luna Pro that has a more modern than CDS cell.

The later Luna Pro has the same CDS cell as the earlier one but used a different plastic. But it still needed a mercury battery unless you used a Wein cell or installed one of the adapter devices for silver cells. In the USA, B&H sells "Gossen Adapter Kit/Battery Holder for Luna Pro Meter" for $25.

 

[MattKing]

The later Luna Pro has the same CDS cell as the earlier one but used a different plastic. But it still needed a mercury battery unless you used a Wein cell or installed one of the adapter devices for silver cells. In the USA, B&H sells "Gossen Adapter Kit/Battery Holder for Luna Pro Meter" for $25.

Memory can be a faulty thing (I could have sworn that I encountered the exception!)
But in penance, here is a link to a useful Gossen brochure put out by the US distributor, Bogen.
It can be found on Mike Butkus' site, so if you use it, I'd suggest making his requested donation: http://www.cameramanuals.org/flashes_meters/gossen_meters.pdf

 

[Helios 1984]

SBC or Luna Pro F / Lunasix F

 

[Sirius Glass]

SBC

 

[Hubigpielover]

I got my brand new to me light meter today. Went with the SBC and I will put her through the paces this weekend. Just going through the manual and reading up on reflective and incidental light and when to use each.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[AgX]

The SBC got:

-) zero-centered display (let's you "place" object luminance !!!)
-) super high sensitivity
-) takes accessories, coupled electrically as only mechanical



Luna Pro F is less sensitive.

 

[Fujicaman1957]

The SBC is much better if you live in a rural area like I do....you can get 9V batteries almost everywhere-try finding 625 batteries on a Sunday afternoon !

 

[HiHoSilver]

FWIW, I asked a bout a meter - was told SBC. 'Bought from a member. Its *way* better than I am. 'Particularly good at metering low light.