Light Meter suggestions ?

[dee]

I have just bought a Leningrad 4 light meter to complement a new Jessops [ own brand UK ] Cds lightmeter , which had excellent reviews .
Styling is 1970s Hong Kong and it's so plastic to be truly naff .
The Leninngrad seems positively luxury by comparison !

I also have a lovely Weston V , but it's as heavy as the camera !

I was wondering what meter most of you use ? I would like something
small and exquiste !

 

[Paul T.]

BEST COMPACT METER THREAD

 

[Al Kaplan]

If a Weston Master V feels heavy you need to work out more!

 

[arbib]

I have shoe mount Vivtar CDS that uses a currently made battery, About the size of a Bessa Shoe mount meter. easy to read dial too. with an on/off switch too. I use it on my MIR and Zarya.
$5-20 on EBay. Has about a 30* AOV.

 

[rbiemer]

Dee,
I have and like the Sverdlovsk 4 meter. It was made to use a no longer available battery but that is easy to remedy. Somewhere (in the FSU forum?) here, there is a discussion about it and its battery. But if you google the meter you can find the info fairly quickly. Basically, any battery that will fit into it and is close to the meeter's required voltage will work after calibrating the meter. Which does not require any tools or disassembly. And they originally came with an attachment that holds three AA batteries and then you're set. But with the AA holder the meter is no longer small or especially light. The meter is either incident or reflective and accurate. Pretty inexpensive, too.
Rob

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

All my 35mm cameras have built in meters, so I just use them. When I shoot medium format, I have to use a handheld and I use a Sekonic L508. It is big, but I just hang it around my neck. Basically, I say use what you've got....you have several meters, why spend money on another? I use the big 508 cause it, and an even bigger Gossen Ultra-Spot are what I own.

 

[kdemas]

Among others I enjoy the VC meters on my meterless cameras. Compact and do the job 🙂

I want to get a VC II that can work on my Nikon rangefinders, the V1 doesn't fit properly

Kent.

 

[wolves3012]

Dee,
I have and like the Sverdlovsk 4 meter. It was made to use a no longer available battery but that is easy to remedy. Somewhere (in the FSU forum?) here, there is a discussion about it and its battery. But if you google the meter you can find the info fairly quickly. Basically, any battery that will fit into it and is close to the meeter's required voltage will work after calibrating the meter. Which does not require any tools or disassembly. And they originally came with an attachment that holds three AA batteries and then you're set. But with the AA holder the meter is no longer small or especially light. The meter is either incident or reflective and accurate. Pretty inexpensive, too.
Rob

I'll second the opinion on the Sverdlovsk, I find mine really good. The slight downside it that you have to twiddle the thumbwheel for a reading so they aren't as quick to use as a direct-reading meter. Since Dee is in the UK I can say that the battery is no problem - Maplin Electronics sells a 3.6V one that drops straight in and will last years.

 

[rbiemer]

Good to know. I'll go see if Maplin sells online.
I don't mind the thumb wheel too much but on my example, the dial to set film speed moves every time I take it out of its case--that is, for me, the meter's weak point.
Rob

Since Dee is in the UK I can say that the battery is no problem - Maplin Electronics sells a 3.6V one that drops straight in and will last years.

 

[nikon_sam]

I have several meters...Luna Pro sbc, Luna Pro. Pilot, Sekonic L-8...but the one I'm using the most these days is a mint condition, and just tuned-up by George at QLM, Weston Master II meter...I love it!!!

 

[luketrash]

I use a Gossen Digisix. I would like to own the Digiflash, but I have a flash meter for my studio lights.

The digisix isn't exquisite, but it's light, reliable, and small.

 

[hiromu]

I use Digisix and VC II. I like Digisix better because it can read incident light with a little white cover.

 

[dee]

Thanks everyone .
I love using my Dad's Weston V , so I will continue to use it , though it is a couple of
stops out
I shall also buy a broken Weston V , and eventually , have it fixed with new cell
for another 30 years !
Service cost in UK is under £70 , which seems sensible in comparison to the cost of a CV meter .

 

[nikon_sam]

Dee,

As I've stated earlier, I have a near mint Weston Master II that I had serviced by George at Quality Light Metric out here in California...
I love using this meter and it works just fine now...I have been testing a, new to me, Kodak Ektar lens for my 4x5 camera and at the same time using the Weston for all my metering...so far I've been doing a good job in using the meter and it's been giving me good readings...
I'm looking to learn how best to use this meter and to get the most out of it..so far it's done a great job and hopefully it will last as long as I'm still shooting...I figure it's about 60+ years old...

 

[venchka]

Without battery: Weston Master Whatever. Mine is a V.
With battery: Gossen Luna-Pro sbc

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[wolves3012]

Good to know. I'll go see if Maplin sells online.
I don't mind the thumb wheel too much but on my example, the dial to set film speed moves every time I take it out of its case--that is, for me, the meter's weak point.
Rob

I've just re-checked that - the cell I was thinking of is an ER3S and it might be a couple of mm too long. I use a rechargeable computer backup battery (Maplin order code BN22Y) but you do need a means to charge it at 8mA (too low for most chargers). Mine runs for months between charges since it's actually "on" for so little time.