Shepherd DM 170 light meter.

[pityacka]

I am new to this group, having found it by chance this morning, and I hope my post is in the right compartment !
I have a Shepherd DM 170 (digital read out) light meter which has performed flawlessly for 3-4 years. It is now giving reading 3-4 stops higher than it should,ie. EV 14 when it should be only 10 or 11. My last set of Med.Format slides were underexposed. I found a site on the web for the instructions, and also on the same site were details of how to re-tune/re-calibrate it, but that is way beyond my capability. If anyone has any experience of the fault, and how to rectify it, I would appreciate the info. Other than that I cannot see it being worth sending off for a professional re-tune. I presume the cost would be more than I paid for the meter.

 

[fotch]

Hello pityacka and welcome to APUG. Have no advice on your meter however, others may have experience that will help. Good Luck.

 

[pityacka]

Thanks for the welcome, fotch. Will keep an eye open here. If no suitable advice will look for another light meter. I have a Gossen Bix 3, which is reflected light only, and very basic. However, it works well and that is how I found out the Shepherd was out by 3/4 stops. I realised after I had exposed 120 roll film that the meter was inaccurate, but I never thought of asking the lab. to adjust by two stops. Not to worry- put it all down to experience.

 

[John Koehrer]

Have you tried a new battery? Sorry if it sound silly but thing happen.
Welcome home!

 

[pityacka]

John Koehrer, Yes, Put a new battery in after I had not used it for several months. It was working OK, then went a bit haywire - reading 3-4 stops higher than correct. I came across a site on google re this meter, found a page showing the instructions, then something showing how to fine tune/re-calibarate it, which was way beyond me.

 

[paulie]

hi my Shepard does the exact same thing when the battery needs replacing, where did you find the online instructions?

paul

 

[pityacka]

paulie, Sorry for the delay. Just seen your query this morning. For instructions go to : Yahoo flickr, then feed in Shepherd DM 170 light meter, and you should come up with the following : yenyangyang's photostream/Tag/dm170
Instructions are there, and there is also a section to show you how to fine-tune or calibrate it. That is way beyond me. I posted this info. on another photo site a month back, and some guy in the US was over the moon as he was looking to re-calibrate his. The screw-in socket at the top right corner is for attaching an accessory. It is classed as a basic meter, but if you find the site, and view the circuits inside, I would say it is other than a basic meter.
Regards, Fred.