P2 Metering

Fred D Hummel · Dec 30, 2021

Just acquired a Sinar P2 with a metering 4x5 back, without probe or meter. I'm trying to decide whether to buy a probe & a suitable meter and meter through the back or to buy a stand alone spot meter. Using camera for some studio work and general landscape.
Any thoughts will help.

B.S.Kumar · Dec 30, 2021

There are two alternatives. You can use a metering probe for Minolta meters. or the SinarSix for Gossen meters. Both require the appropriate stand-alone meter which is connected to the probe. The advantage with the probe is that bellows extension and filters are taken care of while metering. The probes let you use a regular meter like a spot meter, at least while using the Sinar.

Kumar

wiltw · Dec 30, 2021

Unless you shoot macro, I see no particular benefit of the Sinar metering back with probe, versus a handheld spotmeter.

Here is what Sinar claims for its products...
https://galerie-photo.com/manuels/sinar-shutter-system.pdf

AgX · Dec 30, 2021

B.S.Kumar said:
There are two alternatives. You can use a metering probe for Minolta meters. or the SinarSix for Gossen meters.

There was no such as as SinarSix for Gossen meters. Instead is was a probe fixed to a special Gossen meter made for Sinar.

The 3rd alternative would be the Gossen probe Profi Select TTL and the Gossen meter Profisix or Mastersix.

The 4th alternative would be the Gossen probe Profi Flex and the Gossen meter Profisix or Mastersix.

The 5th alternative would be the Gossen probe Probe and the Gossen meter Lunasix 3, Profisix or Mastersix.

Fred D Hummel · Dec 31, 2021

Thanks for the responses. I can think of advantages and disadvantages each way, just looking for thoughts from those who have used the back previously.
This is my fourth view camera since 1977 but I've never dealt with the metering back before.

AgX · Dec 31, 2021

TTL metering as such got its benefits. In case of LF cameras though it is a hassle compared to 35mm cameras, but on the other hand you then can meter at any point of the image.
(With the Gossen sticks and the dedicated metering cassette the complete reach is limited to smaller formats.)

With LF one easily gets into the macro range, then TTL spares one corrective calculations or looking up tables.

Bob S · Dec 31, 2021

AgX said:
TTL metering as such got its benefits. In case of LF cameras though it is a hassle compared to 35mm cameras, but on the other hand you then can meter at any point of the image.
(With the Gossen sticks and the dedicated metering cassette the complete reach is limited to smaller formats.)

With LF one easily gets into the macro range, then TTL spares one corrective calculations or looking up tables.

So does metering off the gg once you correct for absorption by the gg and Fresnel screen. Using the Gossen microscope adapter, or Minolta’s, you measure a circle about the diameter of a quarter. I used Linhof’s Focus/Metering bellows with the Gossen to do this. But, if you don’t have the Focus/Metering bellows option a dark cloth works as well. And you are metering an in focus image.

AgX · Dec 31, 2021

The SinarSix respectivly Profi select TTL are intentended to be used in the space where otherwise the film cassette is located, thus in front, lens side, of the groundglass.
But all other devices for LF TTL metering indeed are intended to meter at the rear of the groundglass.

P2 Metering

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