Light meter calibration?

[BetterSense]

I have heard there are places that you can send light meters to have them professionally calibrated against and standard. Does anyone know of any such places, and what methods they use for the calibration?

 

[Zathras]

This is THE place to have your meters fixed in the US;

Quality Light Metric Co
(323) 467-2265
7095 Hollywood Blvd Ste 550
Los Angeles, CA 90028

You need to contact them by phone, no website.

here are 4 online reviews

 

[SWphoto]

+1 on Quality Light Metric. Check the address when you call- I have Ste 550, but could have dropped in that extra "0" in error.

 

[Zathras]

+1 on Quality Light Metric. Check the address when you call- I have Ste 550, but could have dropped in that extra "0" in error.

EEk!!! Yer right. I was doing a cut & paste job and I somehow lost the zero. I'll edit my post to correct it.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

This is THE place to have your meters fixed in the US;

Quality Light Metric Co
(323) 467-2265
7095 Hollywood Blvd Ste 550
Los Angeles, CA 90028

Absolutely correct.

I have personally used them in the past and would not hesitate to do so again in the future. These guys know what they're doing.

Ken

 

[michaelbsc]

Another plus vote from personal experiences with multiple meters. They're outstanding.

 

[jerry lebens]

I think Michaelbsc makes an interesting point referring to multiple meters. If there's something actually wrong with your meter then get it fixed by all means. But, if you only have the one meter and you think the calibration is a little wayward, as long as it's consistent it probably doesn't matter. If your exposure/development regime already works and is internally consistent, readings that differ from the standard are already compensated for within the system itself. It's only when you come to compare the readings from your meter to another meter that any problems will arise.

If you've already got an exposure/development regime that works, having your meter calibrated (if it is inaccurate) will throw your current system out and you'll have to start calibrating your film speeds etc all over again.

Similarly, if you're using a mechanical camera, it's also unlikely that all the shutter speeds and apertures will be consistently accurate. Being accurate against the standard might be useful, say if you have to work with other professionals, but only in certain circumstances. It doesn't surprise me that the place to get meters calibrated is on Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles - if there's one place in the world where people need standardised meters, it's Hollywood. Imagine the problems if two guys where working on the same film from different meters a couple of stops apart!

Even if you want to use the Zone System, it doesn't really matter if your meter is a bit off. If I recall correctly, it was one of the main considerations of AA's system that it was originally designed as a 'closed system', using one meter one camera and one enlarger, thus ironing out any irregularities. It's more important that you know how to take readings properly. In the past, when most photographers were using Weston meters, and even battery powered Gossens, it was quite common to find that the needle was way off zero or, in the case of the Westons, they weren't being held at the correct angle ; meaning that all the readings were 'off', but consistently off., so it didn't matter.

So, unless I knew my meter was actually faulty, I'd save the money for getting my meter recalibrated and buy more film.

Regards
Jerry

 

[BetterSense]

If your exposure/development regime already works and is internally consistent, readings that differ from the standard are already compensated for within the system itself.

Only if the error is a simple offset. I have a feeling my meter has a linearity error so in effect my personal EI would vary with light level. So I don't trust it. Since I don't trust it I don't use it.

If you've already got an exposure/development regime that works, having your meter calibrated (if it is inaccurate) will throw your current system out

My exposure/development routine consists of guessing as to both. It works pretty well, but sometimes I could use some help, such as when I visited Ohio recently and wasn't able to interpret/differentiate the multiple varieties of 'cloudy' they have up there.

 

[jerry lebens]

Hi Bettersense,

Yes, if the error is inconsistent, then no system will work and you need a better meter. However, I'd compare the price of buying a new meter against having an old one, which suffers from problems, repaired. The newer meters with digital displays are, in my opinion, less prone to error than the older types with needles.

Here in the UK the weather and cloud formations are highly changeable and careful metering pretty much obligatory. I wouldn't like to operate on the sunny 16 principle...

Regards
Jerry