Gossen Luna Pro Question

januaryman

januaryman

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I recently got a Gossen Luna Pro on the "E" auction site and it seems "off" I opened the back and the batteries were corroded. I cleaned it out and then dropped in 2 varta 625 batteries (1.5) - Using the directions, I slid the ribbed slider in back and it moved the needle near the red zone as it should. But outside, set for ASA 400 in sunny skies, it recommended 1/500 at 5.6. Now, using the sunny sixteen rule that I keep in my head, this was way off.

Question - are the batteries to blame? Have I killed it with the more powerul batteries voltage? What other battery could be used? If "broken" can it be fixed? I find it very simple and nice to use and hope to be able to get it going!

Thanks.
 
I have a Gossen Lunasix and unless you use the proper 1.35v batteries it will give you false readings, you can get an adapter to allow you to use the 1.5v batteries although I have no experience with this. Otherwise you can usually quite easily find some replacement cells from Wein. Try searching for Wein Cell PX625 on google, I believe that is the correct cell for the Gossens.
 
Gossen Luna Pro battery

Gossen Luna Pro battery

I have several old cameras that need the old 625 mercury battery. The alkalines have the wrong power curve. I get around this by using hearing aid batteries. These are size 625 that I got at Walgreens. These are air cells like the Weins. There are six air holes in the back. For hearing aids that's fine. But for a lower drain thing like a light meter,they don't last that long. I take a tooth pick dipped in nail polish and cover 4 of the holes. Be careful not to get excess polish on the battery because it may lift the battery high enough to impede electrical contact. Fewer open holes makes the battery last much longer. I use an O-ring as a bushing. I used a short piece of 1/2 inch PVC pipe with one camera. Let your thinking flex.
The best thing are that these batteries are very inexpensive.
 
Hey I'm sorry, but I put down the wrong size for the hearing aid battery. I said 525 but that's wrong. THE CORRECT SIZE IS 675. These put out 1.4 volts which works fine in my old equiptment.
 
Just get the battery adapter from Gossen -- it's that easy. Instead of mucking around with Wein cells or the like, or (illegally) importing mercury cells, just get the adapter from Gossen. All the usual suspects (B&H etc. ) have them...

My wife hangs on to her old Gossen Luna Pro for sentimental reasons, and did the same with great results...
 
Thanks for the glowing reviews -- is there any place cheaper to get them? They used to be $18 straight from Bogen....

(Yes, I too have a Luna Pro on the way)
 
The adapter works for me too. Here it is from Adorama's online catalog:

Gossen Luna PRO S Battery Replacement Kit

SKU # GSLPSB

Mfr. Part # GO4145

Our Price: $38.95

Description
For older Luna-Pro and Luna-Pro S only, includes two SR44 cells.
 
Here is what I did on my Lunasix3 Gossen lightmeter:

http://www.colyngoodson.com/cameras.html

Once the diode(s) are in place, be sure to use silver cells, as their voltage discharge curves are more stable. The diode(s) will reduce the 1.5 volts to match the system required 1.35 volts. If the camera/meter takes 1 battery, 1 diode is required. If the camera/meter takes 2 batteries, then 2 diodes are required.
 
Last edited:
Gossen

Gossen

I bought my Gossen new back when I had hair and used it without a problem until batteries got hard to find. It was time for a good CLA so I sent it to Gossen and had a tune-up and modified for modern batteries. 35 years old, still ties every bundle!!
 
puderse said:
I bought my Gossen new back when I had hair and used it without a problem until batteries got hard to find. It was time for a good CLA so I sent it to Gossen and had a tune-up and modified for modern batteries. 35 years old, still ties every bundle!!
Click to expand...

puderse, was this done recently? Do remember what they charged?

I still have my faithful old Luna-Pro - I bought it new in 1978 or so. I'd love to have it rebuilt and put back in service!
 
I still have (most of) the pieces of my Luna Pro F that fell from the roof of my car as I drove off, after placing it there and forgetting about it.
 
alecto said:
I have a Gossen Lunasix and unless you use the proper 1.35v batteries it will give you false readings, you can get an adapter to allow you to use the 1.5v batteries although I have no experience with this. Otherwise you can usually quite easily find some replacement cells from Wein. Try searching for Wein Cell PX625 on google, I believe that is the correct cell for the Gossens.
Click to expand...

I think that it. Hoped that everything is OK.
hearing aids
 
Same here. I ordered some home built battery adapters though, they work the same.

But 40$ for the Gossen adapter? Come on, just buy it 😀

Mostly I use its baby brother, the Gossen Digiflash, mainly because the old Lunasix is bulkier and the silver oxide cells I put in were bad. I thought the adapters were to blame, but the same silver oxide cells in one of my old Nikons were dead just as quickly.
 
I tend to favor the Super Pilot SBC, but when I went shopping for a Luna Pro I restricted the selection to models using a 9v "transistor" battery to avoid the button cell issue entirely. Luna Pro SBC is the way to go, or Luna Pro F with flash metering feature. The Luna Star series digital meters also take the 9v battery.

Once in possession of an older Luna Pro, though, I'd second the idea of using Gossen's adapter.
 
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