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Maybe a meter in my future

HiHoSilver said:
But I haven't seen one that illuminates the display - when its too dark to see.
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My favourite meter is the Gossen Profisix.
It easily let you "place" the luminance at the dial. It is the one which readings are understandable to me....

Concerning the lighting of the scale. When photographing in very subdued light a flashlight of some kind is helpful for searching inside ones bag or case anyway. Furthermore there are so many miniature lights, a LED running on a button cell ("keylight"), that some should fit your meter in that you fix it to the meter with a velco patch whenever necessary. If you only have one hand free, look for a model that has a continuous switch or some DIY work would be necessary.
 
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the display digits on my Gossen Luna Star are large enough to see them even in very dim lightand it also does flash; no need foran illuminated display; just eats up the battery.
 
Ralph, Thank You! I appreciate your kind help.
 
The smart phone is a great idea and coupled with a voice recorder app you can make exposure notes as well. There are any number of small, low power led lights you can find. I have one clipped to my bag that's about 2" long and 1/2" around that works nicely. Recently TSA disassembled it thinking it was a bullet.



OH... And I love my Luna Pro's with beam splitter attachments.
 
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I agree on both. I use it mostly in EV so that is not a problem. The lack of a spot reading feature is a small annoyance. It allows 1 f/top, 0.5 f/stop or 0.3 f/stop readings. I have not used the flash readings. I do not like the fact that I cannot set it for filter corrections nor use it for Zone readings.
 
For available dark, There are always the old fashioned charts from the Kodak Master Photo Guide or
many other publications. They're based on testing and experience.
Like most things photographic,the meter is a guide; the results aren't written in stone.
Besides, taking a picture with lights ini the background needs interpretation if you want foreground detail at all.
Silhouettes, no problem.
 
I have owned a bunch of meters over the years. I have pretty much had all the standards. My favorite is the Luna Pro SBC for all the reason others like it. I have a regular Luna Pro as well, but it is slooooow to respond. I use a Weston Master IV from time to time as well just for fun when I am shooting the Leicas. Sometimes I use an old Zeiss Ikophot as well. I have owned quite a few spot meters too, but just never could get along with them. The great thing about the SBC and other dial meters is you can look down and see every permutation of an exposure. Digital meters obviously don't allow that fluidity.
 
Luna Pro SBC (in the USA) = Profisix (in the rest of the world)
 
I too have a Digiflash and I do like it.

I have switched it to another, slightly larger case, and I always have an extra battery in with it. The batteries are 3 for $1.00 at our local Dollar stores.
 

I use a Zone VI Pentax Digital Spotmeter - it has the Zone System markings, the internal baffles, and I think something they did to compensate for UV. I always use it with my Hasselblads or other medium / large format. The Sekonic was intended for my Minox III or IIIs. Amazingly, my Minox B meter works and is consistent.
 
Poisson Du Jour said:
Erm...well yes, they do. But you have to know how this is done and few actually bother.
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Um, no they don't. The SBC for example displays the corresponding exposure for every f-stop or shutter speed right on the dial; no further button presses or mathematics necessary. Fluidity. No digital (LCD based) meter does that. I'll leave it there.
 
Thanks to you kind Gents

frank said:
So did the OP buy the Luna Pro SBC in the classifieds for $55?
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He did by the Luna Pro in the classifieds. As one would expect, working w/ the seller was a pleasure. I don't relish using a larger, heavier 9v & alot of you mention the Gossens eat batteries, but its gotta be alot more bang for the buck than 4x the price for a digisix or digiflash.

But not is all sweetness & light (meter). I uh sinned boldly... 'Didn't have all the funds in my pocket, so a deposit on an Ikonta I'll pick up Monday managed to depart from my possession. (2.8 Tessar, coupled rangefinder) 'Would have liked something smaller, but not quite ready for scale focus. I did try some today w/ a roll of 120 in the blad. 'Kept tabs on the light, ratcheting down 1F for the yellow filter. First shots were at 5.6 & /125, next were at f8/60, anticipating slow-strolling subjects walking into focus range at the local fleece (flea) market.
 
There are quite some accessories for your new meter. I think the most useful is the "Tele"-attachment.
 
AgX said:
There are quite some accessories for your new meter. I think the most useful is the "Tele"-attachment.
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I have one of those.
 
So now, I'll have a camera AND meter that work better than I do. In other disciplines, I tell beginners - persistence and stupidity (too dumb to know when to quit). Both work. I suffer my bumps & bruises learning - sometimes not even noticing 'cause I love it.
 
luna pro sbc is my choice for low light n night use.

not only is it very sensative, it locks your reading in so you'll be able to use your flashlight to read the dial n set your camera.
 
Poisson, you were kind and helpful in this thread & I got sidetracked before letting you know I appreciate it.

"Low light photography takes experience and one should never be discouraged by mistakes or stuff-ups in the course of building that experience."

That graciousness gives the person trying hard to learn the room to foul up and keep getting up & trying some more. In any discipline, that is really important to the life of the group. Somewhat because of encouragement from Frank & others, I tried the scale focus technique with a role of HP5 yesterday. Wet negs are hanging as I write. Exposure isn't too bad. I'll see how focus did when they dry.

Even when some discussion is over my head for the time being, I tend to remember it & a light goes on later when the understanding catches up. 'Hard to say how much the kindness & encouragement is appreciated.
 
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