Weston Master III vs IV

Can someone help with the differences between the Weston Master III vs IV or point me to a useful FAQ on the meter line. TIA.

Welcome to APUG Henry, this should help http://www.westonmeter.org.uk/
Please note the Western 111 has no I.S.O settings only the old Western film speeds, although it's easy to convert them, I.M.O the Western V or later models are a much better buy than either of these.

In my experience with about 20 Weston meters, the IV (which has a nuisance pointer lock) is the least likely to be found in a working condition. II and III models almost always are found working and can occasionally be found new in the box for the ridiculous price of less than $15. V models are a toss up as to whether they are working of not but have modern shutter speeds. Euromaster and Euromaster II models are usually pretty good. Ranger 9 models are little known but very usable and highly sensitive and Quality Light Metric can recalibrate them for today's batteries. All my camera kits include a Weston of one vintage or another as back up.

I have a Master II I picked up cheap and had Quality Light Metric repair and calibrate. I have about $100 invested. Works great and will probably last longer than I do. Takes a little testing to dial it in but once done you'll figure out why there are so many of them.

If they need a new cell, you can usually find someone to replace it. In the UK, Newton Ellis repair them. I'm sure there is a US repairer too.

I have a Weston III which is very accurate. Its scale has Weston numbers which are 0.8 x ISO. e.g. for ISO 100, set it to 80. for ISO 400, set it to 320, etc.

During his career as a part time wedding photographer, my father went through all of the Weston models. His full time career was a central heating system designer. Sangamo Weston also made timers and controllers for central heating systems and every time a sales representative came to visit, he would give my father a new meter and take the previous one away.

I think he managed to keep them occasionally as I was given a Master IV when I was about ten years old to help me get the settings right on my Agfa Isolette.


Steve.

benjiboy said:

Welcome to APUG Henry, this should help http://www.westonmeter.org.uk/

Click to expand...

Super link. Thanks! And thanks to the others who replied too.

My dad had a Weston I dearly loved. He bought it during the Korean War. Years later it needed repair. I don't recall where I sent it but I foolishly accepted their offer to swap for a newer model and ended up with plastic dreck. I know I can't get dad's back but when I figure out which it was I hope to buy another.

The V was the first model to use standard LV numbers (i.e. 15 = the bright sun 'sunny 16' setting) if that is important to you.



Steve.

Henry, because these meters can be bought so cheaply these days I can see no reason to buy any one earlier than a Western Master V, and make sure it's complete with the Invercone Incidental light receptor.