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Minolta IV F in the darkroom

eli griggs

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Although I have a color analyzer, I want to know if, the IV F can be used like the Minolta III meter as a darkroom meter, with a special iris disk replacing the dome?

Anyone using the IV F in the darkroom, please speak up as to your thoughts on this meter!
 

xkaes

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The biggest difference between the Minolta Autometer III F and IV F is the body design. It uses a AA battery (vs 544), and is not quite as sensitive in low light. The darkroom disk works on either -- as well as the Autometer II, Flashmeter II, etc. -- as well as the spot attachments, etc.
 

Alan Edward Klein

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The IIIF uses a 10 degree spot attachment. The IVF a 5-degree. They aren;t interchangeable.
 

RalphLambrecht

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I tried this, but after a lot of experimenting, I went back to a proper darkroom meter.
 

xkaes

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If you already have a Minolta meter I'd try that first, but an enlarger disk might be hard to find. And if you find one, it might be more expensive than a simple darkroom exposure meter, such as the one mentioned above.

I find the Minolta meter to be very useful under the enlarger -- after you determine the ISO of the paper you are using (with a simple step table test). The Minolta disc is white so you know what you are reading, and the hole in the middle is small, so you can meter exactly what you want (ex. mid-tone, clear film, etc.).

Of course which meter you use makes a difference. I use an Auto Meter II which shows the complete range of shutter speed and f-stops. So I select the f-stop first, and dial in the speed in the timer. If your meter is "shutter-preferred", where you select the shutter first, and it gives you the f-stop, I would find that less convenient.