wrs1145
A native Texan living far from home.
Does the vintage Gossen Luna Pro use: an adapter w/ 2 LR44 batteries, or 2 EPX625G batteries (w/ no adapter)?
Thanks,
Bill
Thanks,
Bill
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Old light meter quandary?
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Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
If you can get the adapter that Gossen made that lowers the voltage of the silver oxide batteries to match that of the 1.35v Mercury batteries the meter was designed for, then use that. Do not use LR44 (Alkaline) batteries; you MUST use SR44 (Silver Oxide. Also S76 or 357 work too) batteries.
Alkalines do not keep a stable voltage; it constantly drops as the batteries are used. The Luna Pro does not have built in voltage compensation, so the batteries must deliver 1.35v each (total of 2.7v) at all times or the meter will not be accurate. For this reason, the EPX625G will not work on this meter. The starting voltage (1.5v) is too high and they will constantly drop as they are used, so the meter will never give consistent readings.
Alkalines do not keep a stable voltage; it constantly drops as the batteries are used. The Luna Pro does not have built in voltage compensation, so the batteries must deliver 1.35v each (total of 2.7v) at all times or the meter will not be accurate. For this reason, the EPX625G will not work on this meter. The starting voltage (1.5v) is too high and they will constantly drop as they are used, so the meter will never give consistent readings.
wlewisiii
Veteran
This is one of the reasons why I finally got my Sekonic L-308 that eats one AA, and takes a very long time to do so 😉
All the classic meters are very nice, don't get me wrong, but that one "just works" does incident, reflective and (should I ever get the desire) flash metering too for a decent price new and my pretty blue 60th anniversary model was even less used.
All the classic meters are very nice, don't get me wrong, but that one "just works" does incident, reflective and (should I ever get the desire) flash metering too for a decent price new and my pretty blue 60th anniversary model was even less used.
x-ray
Veteran
I had several meters converted and calibrated by Quality Light Metric in Hollywood but the owner retired a few years ago and I’m not aware of anyone repairing meters and converting them now.
Anyone know of a light meter repair and conversion service.
George at QLM rebuilt my Weston Ranger 9, Luna Pro, Weston Master V and 3 Leica MR meters. They all take modern batteries now with the exception of the Master V which is a selenium cell. In the Master V he re-magnetized the galvanometer, replaced the cell and the low/high range grid and calibrated it. The all work like new now.
Anyone else doing this? I have one more Ranger 9 I’d like to get calibrated.
Anyone know of a light meter repair and conversion service.
George at QLM rebuilt my Weston Ranger 9, Luna Pro, Weston Master V and 3 Leica MR meters. They all take modern batteries now with the exception of the Master V which is a selenium cell. In the Master V he re-magnetized the galvanometer, replaced the cell and the low/high range grid and calibrated it. The all work like new now.
Anyone else doing this? I have one more Ranger 9 I’d like to get calibrated.
santino
FSU gear head
I think it is sufficient to drop down the voltage with a Schotky diode. However, repairing a meter is far more complicated.
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
Gossen used to sell an adapter that took two SR44 silver oxide batteries and dropped the voltage to the correct amount for the Luna Pro.
oldhaven
Well-known
Look up KANTO or C.R.I.S MR-9 adapters. I just bought two for my Gossen meter, and they cost me more than the meter did, but should be good for the life of the meter and more. There are also Wein cells, which are also acceptable but not as long lasting as the silver oxide batteries that the adapters use, so the cost adds up eventually.
x-ray
Veteran
I’ve used the MR-9 adapters before with good results.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I've used the MR-9 adapters with good results too, but now only in those cameras that take a PX-13/PX-625 original battery. My vintage meters turned over about a dozen or so years ago ... All my current meters use AAA, AA, or CR123 batteries.
G
G
bbutterfield
Bruce
A cheaper (and better) option IMHO is https://www.butkus.org/chinon/batt-adapt-us.pdf; Frans de Gruijter has been making these adapters for quite a while and while the document linked is from 2014 the prices are still the same -- I just received a BAT43 adapter a few weeks ago for €16. Works perfectly in my Leica CL.
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wrs1145
A native Texan living far from home.
I've got the MR-9 adapters. The only question I have is my online source sells only SR44SW batteries. Will they be acceptable?
Many thanks, guys,
Bill
Many thanks, guys,
Bill
bbutterfield
Bruce
SR44SW should work fine, it's equivalent to SR44/303 and other confusing battery identifiers.
DownUnder
Vamoosed (for a while)
Wow! to all this. Finally I have an explanation to why my three Gossen meters all give slightly different readings.
The adapters occasionally turn up on Ebay. I will be watching that site for some.
Many thanks to all who posted with explanations, especially (as always) Chris Crawford.
The adapters occasionally turn up on Ebay. I will be watching that site for some.
Many thanks to all who posted with explanations, especially (as always) Chris Crawford.
CMur12
Veteran
An MR-9 adapter with a 357 silver oxide battery might be too thick. If you use a thinner 386 silver oxide battery, it and the adapter are closer to the profile of the old mercury cell.
- Murray
- Murray
wrs1145
A native Texan living far from home.
OK, many thanks for the tip.
oldhaven
Well-known
I can confirm that two 386 plus the adapters fit well in my Gossen Lunasix Three.
wrs1145
A native Texan living far from home.
That nails it. I'm going to start out w/ the 386. Thanks, guys!
wrs1145
A native Texan living far from home.
A happy end to my long story: I couldn't find any 356's in Korea, so I decided to purchase a couple of SR44's that were available and VIOLA!
they fit and work fine. Many thanks to the members who gave me advice.
I appreciate all the help,
Sincerely,
Bill
they fit and work fine. Many thanks to the members who gave me advice.
I appreciate all the help,
Sincerely,
Bill
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DownUnder
Vamoosed (for a while)
This will be rather like rubbing sawdust into an open wound - but if you had a Weston Master of any vintage as long as the cell is functioning and the thing works with reasonable accuracy, all these problems would vanish into the wind...
Of course the trick is in the "reasonable accuracy". My III, my two IVs, my three Vs and my four EuroMasters all read exactly spot on, that is half a stop under, which it seems is common with those ancient things. I do a quick mental adjustment based on the light conditions at the time, and Bob's my uncle on results with B&W or color neg.
Slides, well, my digitals have replaced this film, so it's not an issue. But the minus half stop works wonders in glary Aussie light.
Of course the trick is in the "reasonable accuracy". My III, my two IVs, my three Vs and my four EuroMasters all read exactly spot on, that is half a stop under, which it seems is common with those ancient things. I do a quick mental adjustment based on the light conditions at the time, and Bob's my uncle on results with B&W or color neg.
Slides, well, my digitals have replaced this film, so it's not an issue. But the minus half stop works wonders in glary Aussie light.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
The modern equivalent of a Weston Master is the Sekonic L398A ... about $200 new, and completely serviceable today. It has the same limitations as the Weston Masters ... Not terribly sensitive in very low light. But otherwise does a fine job.
G
G
