Mysterious LightMeter

[.Lucifuge.]

Can any body help me with this meter, I mean is it worth of buying, is it acurate?

[cruz]

Looks like spotmeter to me, but never seen such meter before, try to read that russian instruction it might brighten few things:D

[.Lucifuge.]

Thing is that I'm about to buy this meter and I don't have that russian instruction;)

[Rogrund]

It's a Rapri spot meter. You can read about it here (http://www.ussrphoto.com/Wiki/default.asp?WikiCatID=42&ParentID=3&ContentID=435&Item=Rapri) and here (http://www.commiecameras.com/sov/lightmeters/index.htm)

[dll927]

I've read that Russian meters used a different system than anything we are used to - neither ASA (ISO) nor the European DIN. So it may take some figuring out and getting used to. Odd, since the cameras use the same speeds/apertures we do.

About that instruction book - One Zorki 3 I ordered came with an instruction book. Fine, except that it's in Russian, which I am totally innocent of. It might as well be in Greek, Hebrew, or some other non-Roman alphabet. The illustrations look sensible, but the words are a total loss to me.

Being an organist, I've sometimes wondered if Russian organs (yes, they do exist) have the stops named in Russian. If so, I'd hate to be a western concert organist trying to give a concert in Moscow.

[oscroft]

I've read that Russian meters used a different system than anything we are used to - neither ASA (ISO) nor the European DIN.
Yes, they use GOST, which is approx ISO x 0.9, so ISO 400 = 360 GOST. If you're shooting B&W, which is the only time I'll trust my old Soviet meters, then GOST and ISO are close enough to make little difference.

There's a table on Wikipedia, here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_speed), which shows a comparison of ISO, DIN and GOST

[Per Bostrom]

Sverdlovsk-4 was/is(?) made in an "international" version based on ASA.
The Sverdlovsk is a very good meter, the best I have and I own Gossens, Sekonics and Westons.