my kingdom for a meter

back alley · 03-26-2005

not a rant, more like a whine...

it all started with wanting a meter that was more sensitive in low light than my pilot 2.
one of our own, a very nice rff member sent me an old metrastar meter and said to send him something, anything that i thought was of a similar value. and that he wasn't in a hurry as i was without any idea of what to send in return.

i was pretty pleased when i opened the package and saw this handsome and incredibly solid hunk of metel.
but it didn't work, the needle didn't move.
i opened the battery compartment to double check and sure enough the battery was there. it was even a mercury one. i tested it and it read good. hhhmmm.
after putting it back into the meter i noticed the needle moving. great!

so i took it out one rather cold saturday morning and the needle wouldn't move again. later, at home i did the remove/return thing and the needle jumped back to life once again.
then the other night i playing with it and noticed that the readings were off between it and the pilot 2 and then they agreed.
last night in the bar, set at asa 400 the meter told me to shoot at 1/30 second and f 32.
that was it for me. i put it back into the bag.

today, i went out and bought a used gossen sixtar, still wanting something more sensitive in low light than my pilot 2.
at the shop, i pointed it towards the large window and it read f16 at 500 sec with 400 speed film. seemed about right to me.

but now, every reading i take is about 2 stops out from the pilot 2, which has proven accurate so far. these are readings taken outdoors or at the window in bright light. same diff indoors too.

my plan was to use the sixtar while the metrastar was in the shop.
now it looks like i need to send them both for repair.

as far as indoors, guess i'll start at 1/30 sec and 2.8 and go from there.

joe

Brian Sweeney · 03-26-2005

Joe,
Are these CDS based meters? CDS cells can go bad, loosing sensitivity high and low. "bulls-eye" meters and hand meters are probably the most susceptible, as they are exposed to light most of the time. Age can also get to them. They still make CDS cells, so they could be replaced. But after all of that, how does the new clip on VC meter look?

nwcanonman · 03-26-2005

Bummer Joe. Have you tried a used Sekonic digital, or do you prefer the older needle reading meters?

back alley · 03-26-2005

brian,

yes they are cds cells. the vc meter isn't all that sensitive in low light is it? besides my pilot 2 can sit on the shoe also but i don't care for that look or i'd get a canon meter to sit on top.

h*, part of my criteria was for used and not too big. both the metrastar & sixtar are medium sized and to my liking.
maybe i need to advertise for another used meter as i think i'll just bring the sixtar back on monday.
he had a few but they were bigger but he did have a gossen sbc there also. that should be ok if it's working properly.

joe

nwcanonman · 03-26-2005

Joe,
My Sekonic L316B is about the size of a cigarette pack and uses one AA. I got it used on the Baye for $50, not bad for a decent digital meter.
Best of luck for your search.

Chaser · 03-26-2005

joe, i sent you a pm

back alley · 03-27-2005

ah if only it were that easy...

i have tried that from the other end, i lifted the contacts a bit and just now, i bent the cover as you suggested. contact with the battery is being made but the meter is still way off.

you know that small vf you look through to see what you are metering, well, when i look through it i see myself looking down into it.
i fear that in shipping this rugged looking meter took a beating.

i need to find a place, preferably in canada that will look at it and repair it for me.
i'm guessing that when put right this meter could last another 20 years easy.

ironically, i just ordered a manual for it...
thanks for the help though.

joe

rover · 03-27-2005

I am holding out and the next meter I buy will be a Luna Pro S with a low EV limit of -4. My Sekonic 308bII is fine for me, though not that good in low light. When I feel the urge I am going big and do it right.

back alley · 03-27-2005

they look nice but...adorama has a new one for 295 bucks and a used one for 233 bucks. ouch!
i may be too cheap for that.

i'm hoping the used sbc, at the used camera shop i bought this sixtar, is not too pricey and that it's accurate.

joe

kabkos · 03-27-2005

I also have a Metrastar meter that was having similar problems. Turns out that the battery contacts had a thin film of contamination on them. I wiped the cotacts and the battery down with isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol and then the meter started working more consistently. Since then I bought a product called "Battery Saver" and use it on the contacts and battery whenever I replace a battery in a camera or a lightmeter. I have even salvaged some old lightmeters that I thought had gone south. I think I got the stuff from Fargo MicroTools. Hope that helps.

karl

back alley · 03-27-2005

did that too.

meter works now but it is way off in measurement.

and no amount of cleaning/fiddling will move that small mirror back to where it belongs.

i'm afraid it needs reapair if i want it work properly again.

joe

bmattock · 03-27-2005

Joe,

Sorry to hear about all the problems. I have a 'reference' meter I judge/zero all the others by - a Sekonic L358. My wife got it for me for Christmas one year. Very nice meter; not cheap, but it is nice to have at least one meter that is a 'gold standard' and then you can figure out how the others feel based on that yardstick.

Just a thought..

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

back alley · 03-27-2005

i've been using the pilot 2 as a 'reference' as it's the one that has worked for me in the past.
it still works so i'm not suffering but i do want to get something that will be accurate in loe light.
come tomorrow i'll trade in my wild sixtar for that sbc gossen, providing that one works.

joe

GeneW · 03-27-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by backalley photo

yes they are cds cells. the vc meter isn't all that sensitive in low light is it?

I'm curious -- what *is* the low-light sensitivity of the VC meter? I own one and it seems to accurately measure any light in which I can handhold iso400 film. I'm wondering how accurate it would be indoors if I were shooting iso1600.

Gene

back alley · 03-27-2005

VC Meter II |

Type Fixed-point matching type exposure meter for steady light

Photometry angle Approx. 30 degree

Photosensitive element Silicon photodiode

Display Fixed-point matching system by 3p-LED display

Photometry range EV1(1 sec. F1.4) to EV20(1/2000, F22)

Film sensitivity ISO 25/15 to 3200/36

Battery Two LR44 Alkaline or SR44 silver oxide batteries or one CR-1/3N battery

Dimensions & Weight 38W X 36.9D X 24.9H, 42g

joe

peter_n · 03-27-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by rover

I am holding out and the next meter I buy will be a Luna Pro S with a low EV limit of -4. My Sekonic 308bII is fine for me, though not that good in low light. When I feel the urge I am going big and do it right.

It goes down to EV -4? Wow!

Is that the most sensitive meter there is or are there others that go even lower?

Pherdinand · 03-30-2005

Peter, the quantum calculight i just bought from scottgee1 goes that far as well.

peter_n · 03-30-2005

OK I'll take a look at it. Thanks for the info Pherdinand!