Luna Pro-F

[KenM]

I recently picked up a minty Luna Pro-F meter. I've never used a meter like this before: my primary meter is a Minolta Spotmeter-F, so I'm a bit confused by the reading I'm getting from the Luna Pro.

The exposure compentation dial is currently zeroed out - the white tick mark is opposite the black '1' on the VFx/EF scale. When I take a meter reading with the 7.5 spot attachment, and rotate the dial so the needle is on '0', that means that using that exposure, I'll get middle gray. Is that correct?

I ask, since when I compare the meter reading with my Minolta, the Luna is off by more than a couple of stops. I can rotate the exposure compensation dial to make the readings match, but should I have to do that? If I do rotate the black ring to make the readings match, the white tick mark is pointing at nothing (it's to the right of the VFx/EF scale) - the LW/EV+ scale is just a hair under '3'...

Yes, the film speed is set to the same speed on both meters.

Can someone help me out here? I'm confungled!

 

[papagene]

With the 7.5 spot attachment, move the white tick mark to 3 and you should be fine. It should tell you that on the back of the spot attachment.
It is a good meter and very accurate, although it is big by today's size standards.

gene

 

[KenM]

With the 7.5 spot attachment, move the white tick mark to 3 and you should be fine. It should tell you that on the back of the spot attachment.
It is a good meter and very accurate, although it is big by today's size standards.

gene

Ah! The 7.5 degree spot attachment sucks up 3 stops worth of light. I get it. I just took the spot attachment off, and moved closer to my target. Sure enough, the spot measurement was almost spot (!) on with my Minolta. It appears that the 15 degree takes up about 1.5 stops....

The spot attachment didn't have anything written on it. It looks like a fairly recent (whatever that means for this meter) accessory, so perhaps they stopped embossing the compensation factor on later versions.

Thanks for the tip Gene.

 

[Curt]

I bought one, Minty, with a spot attachment also just to have a backup. It's a very nice meter that appears to be very accurate. I have a Zone IV 1 degree spot for the primary. Three stops for the 7.5 and 1.5 for the 15 degree. Have fun with it.

 

[Mick Fagan]

The better attachment for real accuracy on these meters, is the Gossen PROFI-spot, which uses an optical system with dioptre correction and the ability to switch on the fly from 1, 5 and 10 degrees.

I have this for my Profisix meter which as I understand it, is the same as your USA version.

The downside is that it really makes for a bulky accessory. If it wasn't for the fact that I got it secondhand about 18 years ago super cheap, I wouldn't have worried.

One of the other nice accessories for these meters, is the flat copy attachment. This allows you to quite easily measure light falling onto a flat surface for reprographic photography.

The first accessory I bought for my meter was the Profi-lab attachment, cost me $20 and turned the meter into an enlarging meter for the darkroom. The meter can, with this accessory, also give you a good guide as to the correct grade of paper to use.

This was my first enlarging meter and worked wonders in the darkroom and camera bag, until I picked up an Ilford EM10 meter for the enlarger. Since then it has stayed in the camera bag.

Mick.

 

[Lee L]

The spot attachment didn't have anything written on it. It looks like a fairly recent (whatever that means for this meter) accessory, so perhaps they stopped embossing the compensation factor on later versions.

On my pre-1982 vintage 7.5/15 degree attachment, the EV factor is on a silver label on the bottom, not embossed. Perhaps yours fell off. AFAIK, this accessory was available during the whole production run for the Profi series meters.

The label reads (as closely as I can type the equivalent symbols):

< 7.5 degrees = +3 LW/EV
< 15 degrees = +1 LW/EV

where < has a little radius hash to indicate angle.

The manual differs a bit, recommending + 1 1/3 stops compensation at 15 degrees.

As mentioned, you can just dial in these factors on the exposure compensation dial and then use as normal. The exposure compensation dial is also commonly used for filter factors. When the compensation dial is not zeroed, the tab to the right of the scale uncovers a red mark that serves as a reminder that you've got compensation dialed in. However, it's too subtle a reminder for a lot of people.

Lee

 

[wilsonneal]

The better attachment for real accuracy on these meters, is the Gossen PROFI-spot, which uses an optical system with dioptre correction and the ability to switch on the fly from 1, 5 and 10 degrees.

I have this for my Profisix meter which as I understand it, is the same as your USA version.

I am not sure that the Profisix is the same as the Luna-Pro F. I got excited when I read your post, as I have a Luna-Pro F that is very accurate and NEED a spotmeter. I bought a Soligor Spot II on eBay recently and it was not working.

In any event, I ran to my camera bag and grabbed the meter and saw the little door that should pop off and expose the place where the accessories plug in. I worked the door off carefully and noticed that where there were jack holes, they didn't have proper connections inside them. And, the door was held in place by a little glue. I think the Luna Pro F has the same chassis as the Mastersix, but not necessarily the same features. I think it may be the Luna Pro SBC that allows for the attachment you describe. I glued my door back in place.

Neal

 

[Lee L]

In any event, I ran to my camera bag and grabbed the meter and saw the little door that should pop off and expose the place where the accessories plug in. I worked the door off carefully and noticed that where there were jack holes, they didn't have proper connections inside them. And, the door was held in place by a little glue. I think the Luna Pro F has the same chassis as the Mastersix, but not necessarily the same features. I think it may be the Luna Pro SBC that allows for the attachment you describe. I glued my door back in place.

Neal

My 1982 manual for the Luna-Pro F doesn't mention the Profi-Spot as an accessory for the F, nor does it show the panel below the accessory clip recess to be removable. Which is where the Profi-Spot would need to plug in, IIRC. I don't have an SBC to check. I needed the flash reading capacity and already had a Minolta Spot Meter M.

Lee

 

[Helen B]

...I think it may be the Luna Pro SBC that allows for the attachment you describe...

That's how I understand it - the Luna Pro SBC is the same as the Profisix SBC.

Best,
Helen

 

[papagene]

The Luna Pro F does not take the 1 degree spot attachment - if it did I would have bought that instead of the 7.5. But that said, the 7.5 works just fine for my B&W work.

gene

 

[Daniel_OB]

Luna-Pro F = LunaSix F not Profisix

Spot attachment corrections:
by book
7.5 degrees = +3 LW/EV
15 degrees = +1 LW/EV

as I tested against 18% kodak card
7.5 degrees = +2 2/3 LW/EV
15 degrees = +2/3 LW/EV

If you have (minolta spotmeter F) what is a reason to use Luna-Pro F. Minolta is 1 degree and is really 1 deg, and also very accurate 9and for all colors too), usefull and for flash, the same as your Gossen. I personally like needle better, but even that I use minolta spot F and just forgot for my LunaSif F that cannot go below 7.5 deg. My Gossen LunaSixF actually finished in my darkroom for enlarging purpose.
Note that measuring the same color pattern with your new Gossen and minolta spot F you will find the difference, at certain colors, up to 1.5 F stop. Up to you which one to beleive in. Experience from use only can prove the choice is right or not. Also and some films will prove Gossen is correct and some films will prove minolta is right. So.... up to you.
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