Sparrow
Veteran
My new to me Minox seems to be consistently underexposing.
I ran a test film, the same scene at each of the camera's asa settings ... and it looks to me to be 2 to 2.5 stops off, sorry about the photo, a tube has gone on my light box so I had to use the monitor
the film was fuji 400 superia
this is the same thing inverted desaturated, the little red No's are the grey% of that grey card as CS sees it
Two questions, first, do you think 2 stops?
and secondly, anybody know how to adjust it?
I may just print another sticker for the asa dial that goes from 100 to 3200 asa
I ran a test film, the same scene at each of the camera's asa settings ... and it looks to me to be 2 to 2.5 stops off, sorry about the photo, a tube has gone on my light box so I had to use the monitor
the film was fuji 400 superia
this is the same thing inverted desaturated, the little red No's are the grey% of that grey card as CS sees it
Two questions, first, do you think 2 stops?
and secondly, anybody know how to adjust it?
I may just print another sticker for the asa dial that goes from 100 to 3200 asa
btgc
Veteran
Seems that little Yashica I recently got also underexposes. About THREE stops. As I don't use slow films in RF's this effectively extends ISO range from upper ISO800 to 6400, still allowing to use ISO200 film rated as ISO50. Cool 
I'm not sure about reasons. Maybe those old CdS cells just age?
I'm not sure about reasons. Maybe those old CdS cells just age?
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
Those cameras were made for mercury batteries. Using modern 1.5 volt cells causes about 2 stops of underexposure with most CdS cell meters made for mercury batts. Use Wein Cells or the MR9 adapter, or get it adjusted for silver-oxide batteries.
Sparrow
Veteran
Hi Chris, I have an adaptor with a diode in to give a constant 5.6v from 4 silver oxide cells, so I don't think it's that
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
Ahh, damn. Probably a bad CdS cell. The cells are less than a dollar each at radio shack. The trick is that those might not fit the camera size-wise and you'll have to have it recalibrated as each cell reads different so the camera needs setup for accuracy on the new one.
btgc
Veteran
I also can confirm my camera still has mercury cells, giving almost 1.35V each.
Finder
Veteran
Can't you just compensate with the ASA dial?
btgc
Veteran
sure, I can. I just have to re-check exposure - initially I got impression that in daylight it's spot on, and underexposes in dim light. If it constantly misses 3 stops, it's easy then. If underexposure varies depending on light conditions, then I'm better off using something more stable.
Sparrow
Veteran
I'm not sure, I have a 400 in at the mo with the camera set at 100 to check.
But I'd like to adjust it if I could