LF TTL Metering Systems Need Experience Please

[Nokton48]

LF TTL Metering Systems 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr

LF TTL Metering Systems 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

I am renovating the storage space in my basement into a retro 1960s/1970s commercial studio.

I have some interest in getting these items up and running. On the right is a Broncolor FCM2 Meter hooked up to a Broncolor FCM Booster (TTL probe). I have the original instructions but they don't reference these two items together. I am looking for some information regarding using this as intended. I have Impact 21 and 41 Brocolor Monolights which work wireless with these and are about the same vintage. The Metering Cassette is Sinar Norma.

On the left is the Plaubel Peco Profia TTL Metering System as near as I can tell. I remember Arthur Kramer covering this in Modern Photography about mid 1970s. My Peco Profia catalog references 97309 Adapter For Measuring Light on Ground Glass PS1/440/2. I think that is what I have here?

I have four Sinarsix Norma units 4x5 5x7 and 8x10 which I use for ambient TTL light measurement with my Normas. Amazingly all four still function correctly

 

[wiltw]

That Broncolor product was from around 1990, so it would not belong in a studio of the 1960s or 1970s. It permitted separate measurement of flash light and environmental light in one common procedure.

 

[Nokton48]

Wiltw,

Thanks for that. My Broncolor Impact 21's and 41's are newer and have long served me well, I'm hoping the FCM2 Meter and the FCM Booster are compatible with those. I guess I'll run through the instructions and test everything to find out.

The Plaubel Light Measuring Adapter is a Gossen Lunapro Microscope Adapter, which I think fits the regular Gossen Luna Pro. Just bought a good working Luna Pro for $37 from Roberts Camera delivered. I do have MR9 adapters and 368 cells so I think I will power it that way.

 

[AgX]

The Metering Cassette is Sinar Norma.

This metering cassette was made in collaboration with Gossen.

A later version of that probe was sold as part of the Gossen Profi-Select TTL, with the probe itself either bearing Sinar or Sinar Gossen and having hints at the Sinarsix, which also was made by Gossen.
Seemingly that TTL thing started as something custom-made by Gossen for Sinar and ended as a Gossen own item.

Of that cassette 2 diferent versions exist, the later one having an arrest for the probe.

 

[AgX]

I am renovating the storage space in my basement into a retro 1960s/1970s commercial studio.

The Broncolor FCM2 though is 80s. You would need to substitute it for the Sinarsix. However that you likely would not get alone, but with a probe already wired to it.

 

[Nokton48]

You would need to substitute it for the Sinarsix.

4x5 5x7 8x10 Normas by Nokton48, on Flickr

Third Norma Shutter came back repaired today. So you can see I have an original Sinarsix TTL on each of my three field Normas; the 4x5, 5x7, and 8x10

 

[AgX]

You should turm your home into a museum.

 

[Mick Fagan]

That Broncolor product was from around 1990, so it would not belong in a studio of the 1960s or 1970s. It permitted separate measurement of flash light and environmental light in one common procedure.

I agree, I seem to remember the rep coming to the studio and trying to flog one off to us about the same time. Pretty handy, but oh so expensive, and, if I remember correctly, they didn't have one for 8x10".

They left it with us for a few weeks to let all of the photographers use it, some took to it like a duck to water. Others kept on making small mistakes, usually not re-focusing after metering furiously, they usually didn't want a bar of it. Management made a commercial decision that on a cost versus value adding to the process, it didn't make it commercially viable. We didn't get to keep it.

They were also trying to sell us cameras and were very disappointed when we purchased a line of Toyo G cameras, 45G, 57G and 810G. Sounds like an expensive purchase, but we had the 57G thrown in when we bought the 45G and 810G; essentially it was just the rear standard and bellows. I loved those Toyo cameras and always dreamed of owning one, but at around $3,500 new at the time not a hope. For $300.00 AUD, I picked up a mint 45G at a camera flea market some years ago.

Mick.

 

[wiltw]

I found an old datasheet for the FCM 2 http://www.studionm.pl/katalogi/broncolor/dane/bron_flashmeter_dane.pdf

"Compatibility Power packs Grafit 2, 4, A2, A4, A2 RFS, A4 RFS, A8 RFS, A2 plus, A4 plus Topas A2, A4, A8 Nano 2, Mobil Primo, Primo A, Primo A fashion, Primo 4 Pulso 2, A2, 4, A4, 8, Opus 2, A2, 4, A4, A8 Minipuls C*

"The Minipuls C units can only be triggered with the FCM 2 from (year of production 1/95) over the additional channel "9".​

 

[AgX]

The Broncolor FCM2 though is 80s. You would need to substitute it for the Sinarsix. However that you likely would not get alone, but with a probe already wired to it.

I meant instead the FCM.

 

[Nokton48]

Plaubel Peco Profia TTL Metering Setup by Nokton48, on Flickr

This is a 1970s-vintage Plaubel Peco Profia TTL Metering Attachment, with the appropriate fully functioning Gossen Luna Pro. The meter is reliable and appears to be working perfectly.

This attachment goes onto a Plaubel Peco Profia Bag Bellows Viewer, which attaches behind the ground glass. To meter through the camera, you first press the black metal tube (on the right side in the photo) onto the ground glass, you can see the glass highly magnified, and select an area to be metered. The push all the way in the long silver rod on the unit, and activate the Luna Pro with it's rocker switch, to take and lock in a light reading.

Is anybody here familiar with this unit? I would like some help in getting accurate exposure readings with this unit.

 

[Bob S]

Plaubel Peco Profia TTL Metering Setup by Nokton48, on Flickr

This is a 1970s-vintage Plaubel Peco Profia TTL Metering Attachment, with the appropriate fully functioning Gossen Luna Pro. The meter is reliable and appears to be working perfectly.

This attachment goes onto a Plaubel Peco Profia Bag Bellows Viewer, which attaches behind the ground glass. To meter through the camera, you first press the black metal tube (on the right side in the photo) onto the ground glass, you can see the glass highly magnified, and select an area to be metered. The push all the way in the long silver rod on the unit, and activate the Luna Pro with it's rocker switch, to take and lock in a light reading.

Is anybody here familiar with this unit? I would like some help in getting accurate exposure readings with this unit.

I answered this on the other forum.

 

[gorbas]

Dan, does this long silver rod activate meter or it just brings in prism or mirror and then you activate meter with right hand?

 

[AgX]

Nokton, I was even unaware of this Plaubel TTL device. What is that circular(?) plate for?

By the way: the adapter to attach the Gossen meter to the eyepiece is the Gossen Profimicro Adapter

 

[Nokton48]

Dan, does this long silver rod activate meter or it just brings in prism or mirror and then you activate meter with right hand?

Hi Goran,

The silver rod pushes a front surface mirror into the path of the meter cell. So it's a two hand operation. You move the mirror into the path, then hit the rocker switch on the meter to take and hold a reading.

 

[gorbas]

Very interesting contraption Dan! Can you use SinarSix to Plaubel?Good luck with it!

 

[Nokton48]

Very interesting contraption Dan! Can you use SinarSix to Plaubel?Good luck with it!

Goran,

Yep all my Sinarsixes will fit other view cameras, including my Peco Profias.

They did not make that much stuff for the Peco Profias. I'm trying to find all the bits and pieces.

 

[Nokton48]

I answered this on the other forum.

Thanks again Bob! Appreciate the help

 

[Nokton48]

Nokton, I was even unaware of this Plaubel TTL device. What is that circular(?) plate for? /QUOTE]

This entire unit attaches to a Peco Profia Bag Bellows for viewing. BTW there is a similar plate with magnifying lens, which allows the entire 4x5 screen to be viewed as from a monocular. And it works very well, I enjoy using it.

So snap off the circular viewing monocular, and snap on the TTL Meter mechanism and set exposure through the lens. Especially valuable when using extensive swing and tilt, it meters lens light falloff, which is valuable info.

LF TTL Metering Systems 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Nokton48]

Sinar Norma Handy w TTL Sinarsix metering by Nokton48, on Flickr

I have found another use for my Sinarsixes!

This is my homemade Sinar Norma Handy camera, with 65mm f8 Super Angulon. Reading TTL with the Sinarsix through the camera, at EI 250 HP5+ I am reading EV9 which equates to 1/125 at F8 on a heavy overcast day.

This in my experience is a believable light reading. And on bright days it will read through the center filter and I can read all four corners TTL

 

[Dan Fromm]

Dan, its moot since you have a perfectly fine TTL meter that meets your needs, but the Horseman 4x5 sized TTL meter is an averaging alternative for 4x5, not larger sizes. There's also a 2x3 size for 2x3 (6x9 in metric) cameras that has an optional adapter for 4x5.

When I wrote my article about these beasties I investigated whether using a 2x3 meter on 4x5 with a w/a lens is safe. Short answer, no, with a 4x5 camera a 4x5 sized Horseman meter is much, much better. But I use my 2x3er on 2x3 where it is just fine with w/a lenses. The 4x5 meter isn't really safe for shooting 2x3 on a 4x5 camera.

 

[Nokton48]

Dan,

Thanks for contributing. I've seen the Horseman meters around.

According to my Norma Sinarsix instructions (more like a full fledged course IMO) the metering probe measures no more than 1/150th of the 4x5/9x12 field. So it is quite selective. I'm enjoying rediscovering what this can do. Actually it is capable of doing quite a lot, as long as it is ambient light.

Operating speed and accuracy of results are the Norma goal

 

[Dan Fromm]

Not to denigrate the Norma Sinarsix, as I said it meets your needs well, but the Horseman is faster working and accurate. If, that is, you have a Horseman in good order. There are no more parts and many of the ones on offer are badly off calibration or completely dead.