CdS Shoe-Mount Light Meter

[spieg16]

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone happened to have a working budget (aka not a Voightlander VC II) clip-on/shoe-mount CdS (edit: or silicon cell) light meter for sale. I've been having some terrible luck on eBay, and have gotten 3 (2 Vivitar 24s and 1 Kopil) that have each had a different issue (sticking needle, battery corrosion, etc.) causing them to be useless (luckily I was able to return 2 of the 3).

Thanks in advance.

 

[ruby.monkey]

Does it have to be CdS? Sekonic and Gossen both make excellent compact meters (L-208 TwinMate, Digisix 2) that can be shoe-mounted but (like the VC meter you mentioned) use silicon cell sensors.

 

[spieg16]

Not at all, just something other than selenium, really. I just want to keep it under $50 if possible.

 

[Ronald M]

Always be careful.. Ebay is where people sell off their bad stuff.

CDS cells are old and frequently bad rendering them useless. There is one Nikon repairman in UK who had a batch made for his use.

SBC cells take 1.5 volt battery and preform MUCH better.

 

[a.noctilux]

CdS cells can be reliable but not all.
For example, I have many Leicameter MR and MR4 that 1 over 4 has CdS cell dead, but the other still work if they had not some faulse contacts, I'd recommend Leicameter MR.

In my 3 x M5, the CdS cell and all functions work since new and reliable.

For $50, you would only have old and not very reliable meter.
In your shoes, I'd go for modern hand held meter for a bit more than $50.

Why not VCMeter II, for years this one replaces my "not reliable" Leicameter MRs.

 

[ruby.monkey]

Going cheap is usually a false economy and I'll bet it had a large part to do with your prior 'bad luck'. You'd be better off doing without for a little longer and saving up for a higher-quality meter.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

The Kopil shoe-mounted meter is another option, but runs on a PX-625 battery which will be hard to source these days. And it is rather big.