metering reversal film for flash and ambient

[asteroid_death]

Although I've had many great experiences shooting slides, I don't have much experience shooting it with flash in a studio, and due to its highlight sensitivity I need advice on a good flash/incident meter.

I have been looking at the Minolta line, and the IV seems like a good meter for its 'analyze' mode of interpreting ambient and flash results simultaneously, but I'd like to get some input from members on other options.

Also, if you have any pointers on balancing ambient with strobe lighting let me know. I will be shooting a few rolls of expired astia and ektachrome 120 film and I have no idea how these films will react, so I'd like to be as prepared as possible. This will be a 1950's styled pin up shoot so ultimately I am going for a technicolor look i.e. excessive, flat unnatural lighting.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Subscribed. Thanks.

 

[asteroid_death]

Anyone use the Flash Meter IV?

Just picked one up. I have no problem metering for flash, or anything while in the contrast mode, but when I set it to shutter priority f.no 'time' mode, the shutter number rolls to 'cine' and stops at 64 and I can't make the adjustments the manual says i.e. I can't adjust the shutter. Essentially none of the buttons work and it eventually turns off.

From the manual:

Ambient Light Measurements 'Time' Mode
Single Measurements

Analog Display: F.No
Digital Display: F.No
Normal/Analyze: Norm
Single/Multi: Single

Setting the Analog Display switch to Contrast allows me to change/choose modes (fstop,iso,gv,time), but I can't get it to do anything in F.No mode - and once it shuts off automatically it will not turn back on unless I set it back to Contrast mode.

Is it broken? Or am I missing something?