Which Minolta light meter for using with Sinar Booster 1?

Dazzer123 · Sep 3, 2023

Hi folks,

I just bought a Sinar Booster 1 to use with my recently acquired Sinar P2 camera.

My question: which Minolta light meter should i buy to use with it?

As far as i can see, my choices are:

Minolta flashmeter III & IV
Autometer IV

But i have no idea if one is better than the other or what the actual differences are.
If it's a few tens of euro's difference, i'd prefer to just get the best option.

Thanks in advance!

B.S.Kumar · Sep 3, 2023

All of them are good meters, but differ in the features they offer. Some of the more advanced features may not be useful to you. It is best to decide yourself after reading the manuals at www.butkus.org
I have the IV and IVf listed for sale here: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/fs-two-minolta-flash-meters-iv-ivf.200196/

Kumar

xkaes · Sep 3, 2023

The electrical connection on the Sinar Booster 1 can be used on Minolta meters going all the way back to the Autometer II and the Flashmeter II. I use the Minolta Booster & Booster II on both of them. Which meter to choose depends on what features you need -- but I don't think any of the Spot meters have that connection. My needs are pretty basic, and the Autometer II and the Flashmeter II do the job!

Here's a list of the Minolta meters that might help -- there's a lot to choose from.

http://www.subclub.org/minman/meters.htm

Dazzer123 · Sep 4, 2023

Many thanks guys!

I checked it and it seems the Flashmeter is superior to the Autometer, so, with the prices of Flashmeter IV or Vs being quite affordable, i guess i'll just go for that.

Another question if you don't mind!

Showing what a noob i am with Sinar, i now realize that to use the Booster 1, I'll need a metering back.

I see a few available on Ebay that include the ground glass, but the cheapest one by far is this one:

My question is: as the whole system is fully modular, i can just buy this and swap out my ground glass (and whatever other bits are missing) from the back i already have, correct?

Below is an image to another metering back that has, apart from the ground glass, an extra bit of frame visible, but i presume i can swap this part also from what i already have?

(i don't have my Sinar with me now, otherwise i could probably check this myself)

Thanks!

B.S.Kumar · Sep 6, 2023

Yes, Sinar backs are modular and you can use your screen frame with the metering back. I have the back as well, if you'd like to buy.

Kumar

Dazzer123 · Sep 7, 2023

Thanks!

One other quick question:

I bought that metering back shown above (Ebay) and i already received it.

Playing around with it, i notice there's a latch that you use (i think) to lock the Booster 1 in place.

However, even when i lock it, the rotatable entry port (don't know if that's the correct term) still moves pretty easily.

Although i didn't get my Booster yet (ordered on Ebay, waiting for it to arrive), i can't imagine it'll stay in place when locked, it's too loose.

Please take a look at the video linked below to see what i mean. Is this how it should be, and, if not, is there any way to tighten it up?

xkaes · Sep 7, 2023

I did not look at the video, but the Gossen back meter I had, "it" moved around so you could pick where you wanted to meter on the ground glass. Yours may be different.

digital_archivist · Mar 17, 2025

Sorry to re-open an old thread, but can anyone confirm if I can use a Sinar Booster 1 with a Kenko KFM1100? I believe the Kenko should be a clone of the IVf.

Chan Tran · Mar 17, 2025

The flashmeter IV and autometer IV F both came out at about the same time but the flashmeter IV is a higher end meter.

Chan Tran · Mar 17, 2025

digital_archivist said:
Sorry to re-open an old thread, but can anyone confirm if I can use a Sinar Booster 1 with a Kenko KFM1100? I believe the Kenko should be a clone of the IVf.

I think the Kenko is the clone of the Autometer V f.

digital_archivist · Mar 17, 2025

Good to know - thank you.

i don't suppose the Booster 1 works with an Autometer Vf?

Chan Tran · Mar 17, 2025

digital_archivist said:
Good to know - thank you.

i don't suppose the Booster 1 works with an Autometer Vf?

The manual doesn't say either the booster 1 or 2 is an accessory of the Vf but it does have the jack that you can plug the booster in.

digital_archivist · Mar 18, 2025

I imagine it might just work then. I'll see about buying a Kenko on a returnable basis and give it a try.

My Flashmeter III is old and beat-up, and won't last forever. And it would be nice not to fuss with the shutter speed dial to puzzle out the correct exposure.

Thanks again!

Chan Tran · Mar 18, 2025

digital_archivist said:
I imagine it might just work then. I'll see about buying a Kenko on a returnable basis and give it a try.

My Flashmeter III is old and beat-up, and won't last forever. And it would be nice not to fuss with the shutter speed dial to puzzle out the correct exposure.

Thanks again!

Kenko has discontinued the entire line of meters. I don't know if you can still buy one new. I think B&H still have some but Kenko told me that they discontinued all meters. I used my booster II with my autometer II and flashmeter III. I have the flashmeter VI but that one doesn't support the booster.

digital_archivist · Mar 18, 2025

Sorry to see that Kenko discontinued their meters. I'll have to shop for a clean Flashmeter IV.

Chan Tran · Mar 18, 2025

digital_archivist said:
Sorry to see that Kenko discontinued their meters. I'll have to shop for a clean Flashmeter IV.

The flashmeter V is the ultimate Minolta meter in a sense. It lacks the spotmode of the flashmeter VI but it has more function than the VI plus it supports the booster II.

Nokton48 · Mar 18, 2025

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

1960's Sinar Norma meets 2000's Broncolor TTL Ambient and Flash Metering. I am a solid User of the Olde original Norma TTL Sinarsixes, I have four of them, and all the accessories. Shown here are the 4x5, 5x7, and 8x10 Sinar Norma Meter Cassettes. These are all on the money (YAY!) Gossen Lunasix TTL Meters. Have always enabled me to NAIL the exposure. There are over a dozen variables which are minimized by using TTL Metering. Now, 2000's Era Broncolor Meter Probes measure both anmbient and Flash Lighting TTL, including mixed light situations. My goal here is to learn this new to me technology, which completely eliminates wasteful film bracketing. And my time to shoot and process the extra frames. Exposures are controlled TTL to 1/10 F/Stop TTL, and my Broncolor Pulso Power Packs can be remotely controlled via these FMC2 Meters. I was also told that Larry in Broncolor Service (GREAT GUY!) modified the earlier FCM Meter, by increasing the cells inside from two to four. Yay. These are matching FCM2 Meters, they are reading identically for me. So a bit of a learning curve ahead but all worth it in the end.

Which Minolta light meter for using with Sinar Booster 1?

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