Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free:   AG Photographic   The Imaging Warehouse   Process Supplies   RH Designs   Second-hand Darkroom Supplies  

Notices

Go Back   Film and Darkroom User > Equipment > Equipment miscellaneous

  ***   Click here for the FADU 2015/2014 Yearbooks   ***

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 24th July 2021, 08:26 PM
dudeinv dudeinv is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 30
Default Comparison of hand held meters

I recently put batteries in three of my handheld light meters. They are Sekonic 558, Sekonic 508, and my Gossen Luna Pro digital. The Sekonic were among the top listers. My Gossen Luna Pro digital was a lower end in the Gossen line. Amazingly all three measured within tenths of a second of each other.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 24th July 2021, 09:12 PM
Rob Archer's Avatar
Rob Archer Rob Archer is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Kings Lynn, Norfolk - flatlands and big skies.
Posts: 1,243
Default

I use an ancient Gossen Bisix 2 for nearly everything and it's as accurate as a top-end Sekonic I borrowed from a friend, as well as pretty much all my in-camera meters (nearly all Olympus OM). It doesn't actually matter how accurate a meter is, as long as it's consistent.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 25th July 2021, 05:47 AM
Uwe Pilz's Avatar
Uwe Pilz Uwe Pilz is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Leipzig, Germany.
Posts: 354
Default

I have several meters, but like my very old Gossen Sixtomat most. It is based on a continuous wedge and a measuring bridge. I get very accurate results from it.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 25th July 2021, 06:12 AM
John King John King is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: County Durham
Posts: 3,318
Default Hand Held Metering

I very rarely use one now but when I do it is with a quite old Minolta Autometer 3. I bought it with the optional Spot meter attachment which actually give a sort of spot meter reading, but is I think about 5 degree and not 1 degree as per true spot meters, but good enough.

It is consistently accurate in any mode (spot reflective or incident). It is there as a back up should I need it with B&W macro to judge and depth of shadows/highlights.

I also have a Weston Euromaster which may or maybe accurate depending on what day of the week it is! It is still sensitive but I can use it one day with the needle zero'd and the next it is reading up to 1 stop out. It probably just needs a good clean!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 25th July 2021, 07:45 AM
Nat Polton Nat Polton is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 758
Default

Top marks to Rob Archer.

Accuracy and consistency are two different things.


What does a camera technician use for a standard reference light source to calibrate cameras and meters?

Cheers.
__________________
It will all be over by Christmas.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 25th July 2021, 08:39 PM
John King John King is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: County Durham
Posts: 3,318
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nat Polton View Post
Top marks to Rob Archer.

Accuracy and consistency are two different things.


What does a camera technician use for a standard reference light source to calibrate cameras and meters?

Cheers.
Is there one? I would have thought that they would have their own variation and note what is correct and stick to that setting as a base line.

On the other hand, the independent Nikon F2engineer Sover Wong uses a Nikon calibrated electronic device so he can adjust the finder meter/ shutter to a max of approx .125 of a stop (1/8th)
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 6th August 2021, 12:27 AM
Stocky Stocky is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 276
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob Archer View Post
..... It doesn't actually matter how accurate a meter is, as long as it's consistent.
Well, yes, as long as you always have it. Like thermometers, if you use one that's consistent but actually inaccurate and you break it, you have lost your calibration. It's good to compare to some others just in case.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 6th August 2021, 11:29 AM
Martin Aislabie's Avatar
Martin Aislabie Martin Aislabie is online now
Friend
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, England
Posts: 2,080
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob Archer View Post
It doesn't actually matter how accurate a meter is, as long as it's consistent.
Rob is absolutely spot on.

However, it's worth having a few meters and know how they correspond to one another.

My favourite is a Weston Euromaster, which is about 40 years old but I had it re-celled and cleaned about 10 years ago.

When the light is more challenging, I will break out my spot meter to work out where the zones will fall.

I always try and guess what the exposure will be as a bit of a game but I always rely on a meter.

Martin
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 8th August 2021, 10:04 PM
JOReynolds JOReynolds is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: St Albans UK/Agde France
Posts: 1,074
Default

The settings recommended in the leaflet in the film carton or printed inside it give an excellent guide. Take a meter reading when the lighting condition matches the printed guide and check for agreement.
There was a time when meters were calibrated with an EV scale that corresponded with the scale marked on lenses with shutters linked to the aperture scale. They relied on ASA/ISO to be set on the meter. Come to think of it, that's the way my (relatively) modern Sekonic works.
Reply With Quote
Reply
Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free:   AG Photographic   The Imaging Warehouse   Process Supplies   RH Designs   Second-hand Darkroom Supplies  

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Price Comparison John King Photography in general 2 22nd May 2021 01:13 PM
Comparison HC-110 / D76 CambsIan Photography in general 5 8th January 2019 10:35 AM
Weston meters alexmuir Equipment miscellaneous 11 15th April 2014 10:26 AM
Hand held shutter speeds. Bill Photography in general 20 29th April 2011 07:45 AM
Comparison of Films - Digital Truth Mike O'Pray Monochrome Film 11 6th November 2010 03:45 PM


All times are GMT. The time now is 04:51 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.