How on earth does this light meter work?

[Forest_rain]

I want to buy a shoe mount light meter for my non-metered cameras. Looking at this one, seller claims it works but how on earth do you use it? I couldn't find a manual for it. Here's a picture:


How do you determine the aperture/shutter speed combinations? It seems like a very basic meter.

 

[dourbalistar]

Check this Flickr post:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lux4u2/4834563103/

Frankly, though, I wouldn't bother with these old selenium light meters. Some of them might work fine, but most of them don't. Or you don't know how much longer the selenium cells are good for. Would a small, pocket meter like the Sekonic Twinmate L-208 not work for you?

 

[Rob-F]

I see it. You set the shutter speed opposite the film's ASA rating. The meter needle points to the aperture setting. And it looks like if you set the "LV ASA" mark to the film speed, then the meter points to the light value.

 

[Scrambler]

I think it has 2, maybe 3 or even 5 ways of being used. Rob-F has one- put the LV mark aganst your ISO/ASA and your LV is readable. Another would be to set the shutter speed against your ISO and read the aperture you need. Or set the aperture you want to use against the meter reading and read the shutter speed off from the ISO mark. Less probably, you might be able to use the aperture against the film speed and shutter speed against the meter.

I working selenium meter is simple in use, but a non-working one is a paperweight. Last I heard the Weston meters were still repairable but even that must surely end some day.

 

[Forest_rain]

Thanks guys for your helpful responses. I mean if it's cheap I might as well pick it up, I've had good luck with selenium meters on cameras even from the 50's been still good and spot on.


Not the forever solution but probably good enough for the time being.

 

[santino]

It’s not exactly what you are looking for but the cheapest solution would be an app for your phone. iPhones work pretty good as light meters.

 

[Forest_rain]

It’s not exactly what you are looking for but the cheapest solution would be an app for your phone. iPhones work pretty good as light meters.

Yes I've been using my phone on my Yashica-C but I feel like i need 3 hands to do so and it's a bit inconvenient and slow. Better to have it mounted on the camera. Plus, using a phone kind of breaks the immersion of using an old camera and doesn't really feel right, I'd rather use a manual meter 🙂


The phone is also quite distracting and I've been trying to avoid using mine too much, too many apps and social media messages and I'd rather just be enjoying the moment which I find easier to do using a film camera.

 

[Horatio]

Who needs a meter? Sunny 16 rules!

Just kidding. I've been using my iPhone app, but it is a PITA, so I'm practicing with Sunny 16 as a back-up. There are some new, electronic meters that fit in the cold shoe. I was just watching a review on YouTube yesterday. May get one for Christmas.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Don't mess with selenium meters.
Get a good Luna Pro and never look back.
Phil Forrest

 

[mh2000]

you can put a Sekonic Twinmate L-208 in a hotshoe if that's what you're looking for. I love the meter, but keep it in my pocket if I use it. Really I use Sunny-16 95% of the time. This little meter does look kind of cool though, so if it's cheap, I might give it a try... but I haven't had very good luck with selenium meters in the past. I have a couple old Russian models that actually still work, but most other ones don't.

 

[raid]

I use My Lightmeter Pro app.
Or I use a Pentax digital spot meter

 

[Richard G]

Just bought a second lightmeter. Sekonic L308X. Grabbed it last evening and the Hasselblad and caught the last rays of sun on the new bird bath legs. A minute later was too late. I wouldn’t do without a good quick meter.