Gossen Lunasix Battery Adapter Kit ?

pryan9 · Nov 15, 2010

So your telling me, all I have to do is "Drop" this battery holder kit from B&H...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/89868-REG/Gossen_GO_4145_Adapter_Kit_Battery_Holder_for.html

...into the battery compartment of my Lunsix light meter (photo attached below) and my readings will be accurate??

CGW · Nov 15, 2010

Lots of views on the subject, many of them expressed here:

http://photo.net/medium-format-photography-forum/00KsfP

pryan9 · Nov 15, 2010

Thanks for the link

bwfans · Nov 15, 2010

My new acquired Lunasix has exactly the same battery converter inside the battery chamber. With 2 LR44 cell batteries. I just checked the light readings with my Canon 40D and Minolta Flash Meter 3. The difference is negligible. And I don't even know which is more accurate.

I think the battery converter is quite usable. But I am not sure if there is any circuit inside the converter. May be just a battery holder/adapter.

wiltw · Nov 15, 2010

bwfans said:
But I am not sure if there is any circuit inside the converter. May be just a battery holder/adapter.

It is certain more than a holder...the silver oxide battery has 1.5v and its voltage drops slowly over time. Mercuric oxide battery (which the Lunasix requires) has a constant 1.35v output, when it suddenly drops dead. So the device sold at B&H is a convertor which takes the 3.0v (and lower) output of the two silver oxide cells and voltage regulates the output to a constant 2.7v needed by the meter.

Dan Fromm · Nov 15, 2010

In the thread that CGW referenced, I advocated using the Gossen adapter with two SR-44s in old Lunasixes. I also made the point that simply giving the meter a power source that delivers the correct voltage won't make the meter accurate. Based on a sample of two Lunasixes and one Weston Master V, all used meters need recalibration before they'll give consistently right readings. That a meter functions doesn't mean that it is on calibration or even responds linearly.

pryan9, if you want to stick with your Lunasix, do so. They're good meters. But send it to Bogen for service. They'll send it back calibrated and with an SR-44 adapter.

pryan9 · Nov 15, 2010

Thanks Dan, any contact info for Bogen? And what might the estimated price be for that?

CGW · Nov 15, 2010

Dan Fromm said:
In the thread that CGW referenced, I advocated using the Gossen adapter with two SR-44s in old Lunasixes. I also made the point that simply giving the meter a power source that delivers the correct voltage won't make the meter accurate. Based on a sample of two Lunasixes and one Weston Master V, all used meters need recalibration before they'll give consistently right readings. That a meter functions doesn't mean that it is on calibration or even responds linearly.

pryan9, if you want to stick with your Lunasix, do so. They're good meters. But send it to Bogen for service. They'll send it back calibrated and with an SR-44 adapter.

Amen. I was part of the thread, too. Working meters aren't necessarily accurate meters, as Dan states. Comparing meters just recalls the old saying: a man with one clock always knows the time but a man with two is never sure. Any meter, whether in-camera or handheld, that used mercury oxide cells will not work optimally with silver oxide or alkaline replacements, thanks to the nearly-flat discharge curve of the old batteries. Silver oxides are different, as shown here:

http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/357-303_EU.pdf

Frankly, I see old meters as a false economy unless film and processing are free or dirt cheap, which they usually aren't. If you can get them professionally calibrated and pegged as linear, great; otherwise, you're just guessing.

bwfans · Nov 15, 2010

Just checked: 2 LR44s with 3.18v is down to 2.93v after dropping into the battery converter.

Dan Fromm · Nov 15, 2010

Google "Bogen" and the first hit will be where you want to go. I just tried it. I'm not giving you the URL because I don't want to reward laziness. People with good manners search before asking, ask only if the search fails.

Mark Fisher · Nov 15, 2010

I have one and I sent it back to get adapted and calibrated. The cost was pretty reasonable and the readings are now perfect with modern batteries. When I did it, it wasn't that much more than the adapter. Worth checking out.

Jose LS Gil · Nov 18, 2010

Mark, where did you send the meter to get serviced and calibrated? I have a Lunasix, and it is an attractive paper weight at this time.

Dan Fromm · Nov 19, 2010

Jose, try Quality Light Metric. They're in or near Hollywood, Google them and be aware that most of the hits Google will return will give you old addresses and phone numbers. There's lots of garbage on the web and Google finds it.

The factory service center is run by Bogen. Google Bogen, the first hit should be the one you want. I can't believe you didn't read this thread from the top.

Jose LS Gil · Nov 21, 2010

Dan, thanks for your info. I have spoken to George at Qualilty Light, he didn't seem to interested in fixing my meters. His advise was to spend my money on a newer Minolta meter. He didn't see my meters, we just spoke over the phone.

That is why I would like a second opinion on the Lunasix meter. My Pentax and Westons meters will probably end up as vintage dust collectors

Gossen Lunasix Battery Adapter Kit ?

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