The accuracy of my Weston Master II

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I have this weird old exposure meter collection. Most of them are not accurate but they look cool. I just acquired a old Weston Master II and checked the accuracy. It keeps up with my modern digital meter with reflected readings. I thought the Weston meter wouldn't be any good in low light, but it still accurate. I always thought the selenium cell meters had it's quirks, but I'm now thinking differently. These old light meters in their day costed a lot of money and now, they're sold on eBay for under $20. I find that kind of sad.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

I have a Master II reconditioned by George Milton of Quality Light Metric in California in 2010. Keeps pace with my Nikon F5 meter. I hear he's no longer able to source selenium cells. Too bad. I have the Invercone for incident metering as well. That works wonderfully.

 

[BAC1967]

I have the first Weston Master (model 715) that still gives accurate readings. They stopped making them in 1945, that’s pretty incredible. The Master meters are my favorite, I have every model, not all are working though. I mostly use the Master V.

http://www.jollinger.com/photo/meters/meters/weston_715-m1.html

 

[btaylor]

I got a Master II with my baby Speed Graphic outfit in 1968. I thought the camera was quite antique- it was 20 years old! I used that meter for decades, and finally had George calibrate it in about 2010. Over the years I have picked up a couple of Master III’s for maybe $5 each. I recently found a Master V and bought it for $20, in mint condition in its original box with the invercone. The bonus was a sticker from George indicating he had calibrated it in 2011. They are all accurate, I enjoy using them- they feel great in the hand and never need batteries!

 

[John Bragg]

Great meters. I have had a II for about 30 years and a V which I got from ebay recently. Both fully functional.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

I love the way they feel in the hand. A solid precision device.

 

[ic-racer]

I have one Weston that still works well. However, it is a Cine and it doesn't have the correct speeds for my Bolex and uses Weston speeds. So it is too cumbersome to use with either my Bolex or still cameras, since one would need a conversion table.

My Norwood Director, when I last checked, has stopped working. Too bad because I used that for many years.

My Argus C44 came with the matching meter, but it stopped working about 40 years ago.

My Ricoh 500 rangefinder also came with its matching meter, but it stopped working about 40 years ago also.

 

[bernard_L]

Found more than once Selenium meters that are pessimistic for high LVs, but accurate for lower LVs (say 12 or less). Probably due to increased internal resistance. But who needs a lightmeter under sunny weather, anyway?

 

[Dan Fromm]

Catman, if you want to use your Master II, ask George whether he thinks he can make it work.

 

[BrianShaw]

I’m quite modern compared to most of you... I routinely use a Weston III.

 

[AndyH]

I have Models II through V, at least a couple of each. Bernard_L is correct on their better accuracy under lower light conditions. I also have a late model "Euro-Master" which is smaller, but feels cheap and "plasticky". It's very accurate, though, and sits in my Leica bag customarily.

Andy

PS: I also have a number of Norwood/Brockway/Sekonic incident meters of varying degrees of usefulness, a number of small oddball hand held models, and three Metrophot shoe mounted models, including the rare booster attachment. The Metrophots have not stood up well over the years and none are really usable.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I’m quite modern compared to most of you... I routinely use a Weston III.

Is it a selenium meter?

 

[BrianShaw]

Is it a selenium meter?

Yes. Basically same as Weston II but silver colored and with ASA ratings.

 

[John Bragg]

I have one Weston that still works well. However, it is a Cine and it doesn't have the correct speeds for my Bolex and uses Weston speeds. So it is too cumbersome to use with either my Bolex or still cameras, since one would need a conversion table.

My Norwood Director, when I last checked, has stopped working. Too bad because I used that for many years.

My Argus C44 came with the matching meter, but it stopped working about 40 years ago.

My Ricoh 500 rangefinder also came with its matching meter, but it stopped working about 40 years ago also.

Converting Weston to ASA is easy. 80 Weston = 100 ASA and the relationship is linear. Eg for 400 ASA set 320 Weston

http://www.westonmeter.org.uk/speeds.htm

 

[Alan Johnson]

My Weston Master II is my go to meter for unmetered cameras. When I first got it I was surprised to find that it gave the same readings (correcting for Weston speeds) as my more modern Canon camera meters.