Light meters for the Blind

[venchka]

From my other thread about the Minolta Auto Meter IV F:

Being old and vision challenged is really a drag. Trying to use my old Luna Pro or the slightly better Weston Master V is a drag. I'm really looking for a meter that has a big digital display. I can work my lenses and shutter speeds from memory. Or more or less make out the numbers without my glasses. I always take my glasses off for framing and composing. The light meters are driving me crazy. Glasses on. Glasses off. Glasses on. Glasses off. You get the idea.

I guess I like my metered bodies because they all show exposure information in the viewfinder. Without my glasses.

Before I jump on the Minolta meter from an individual for $150, what other meters should I consider? Gossen & Sekonic have new models under $300. Tony Rose has a Japanese version of the Sekonic L758D for $360 (+ or -, can't remember exactly).

Maybe I should just give up using a hand held meter and meterless cameras? 😱 I'm almost serious. I could buy the metering prism for the Pentax 6x7 for what a digital meter costs. That only leaves the Canon & Konica rangefinders without meters. I'm not using them enough to matter. What to do? What to do? I'm really tired of "Glasses on. Glasses off. Glasses on. Glasses off."

The Hexar RF and Zeiss Icon bodies have AE? 😱

 

[ISO]

My eyes are still OK and/ but I use a Gossen Variosix (flash), and that is a lightmeter to recommend to a "blind man". Once set up (where you will probably need your glasses) the digital display should be good to read. Very easy to use - All you have to do is press one button for the measurement, that is it. Still the Gossen are not cheap, but worth the investment for me, since I want / need a meter also for flash. With built in meters or AE you will measure the scene NOT the light itself. This can give you wrong exposures in special situations, because the meters are adjusted to a neutral "Kodak Gray". With a hand-held meter you measure the light and your exposure is "perfect" every time. That is why I like to use a hand-held meter and manual settings on the camera. It is so disappointing when the pictures turn out too dark or too bright, especially when you shoot film. So if I where you I would watch out for a ( digital ) hand-held meter with "huge" numbers.

When shooting I measure the light from time to time and set my camera up for the light conditions. If I have the feeling the light changed or I am in a new scene I measure again. That works fine for me. But OK, in a lot of situations the built in lightmeter can do a fine job but still is not able to think for the photographer. black background ? white background ? If you know what I mean...

I just checked the Minolta Auto Meter IV F. If you are happy with buy it. It is sure a good meter and I guess that is a fair price, if it is in good shape. But there also exist smaller digital meters, if you want to carry it in your pocket. My Gossen Variosix (flash) has the size of a Olympus XA. If you do not need it for (studio)- flash maybe the even smaller Gossen "digisix" is worth a look.

 

[Doug]

Left a suggestion on the other thread for Gossen Luna Star F digital meter, very nice.

 

[ISO]

yes, that is the meter I have as well... Here it is called "Variosix F2".

Mine was $175 used in exc. condition.

 

[Doug]

Ah, thanks, Gossen's different naming for different markets is confusing! 🙁

 

[ISO]

I am not 100% sure about the different naming and models, but at least venchka "can see now" what design we are talking about.

 

[venchka]

I see the light! Thanks! Sorry I'm late.