most sensitive "NO battery" lightmeter?

[newspaperguy]

Jan said earlier, "only true, old school and non electronic meter is sunny 16 calculator."

Sorry Jan, but Brian was right (he usually is) many of the earliest meters were of the extinction type... no electronics - no battery, no cells, no nothin'

You looked through a tube or box at a negative with an ever-diminishing set of numbers or letters to determine the light level.

I think one of the last ones was on built in on an Argus A series, and there was a little tiny pocket job... maybe a Bewi? Anyway, back in the 40s.

For a good, cheap selenium meter check out the Sekonic L-158 Auto Lumi
tiny

 

[AgentX]

Find an old Gossen Pilot 2...? I like mine for a small, easy-to-carry solution for general photography.

 

[crawdiddy]

Find an old Gossen Pilot 2...? I like mine for a small, easy-to-carry solution for general photography.

I agree. Pilot or Pilot 2 are both good meters. Not as sensitive as powered ones however.

 

[Time Freeze]

You could always but a Black Cat exposure guide. Once you get used to it, it's great.

 

[JamesH]

Some older meters had clip-on "boosters".

Here is one attached to my tiny Alpex.

 

[Steve M.]

If you plan on doing any interior shooting, even now and then, you'll want a meter w/ a battery. $25 will buy you a very nice Lentar/Capital/Gold Crest meter w/ a CDS cell that will probably last decades. I've never had one of the older meters break on me. Very reliable.

 

[Vincenzo Maielli]

The best modern "no battery" light meter is the new Sekonic L398A, equipped with Silicon Amorphous cell (that replace the previous selenium cell of mine Sekonic L398 M De Luxe). As alternative, there is always the old "Sunny 16" rule.
Ciao.
Vincenzo