CliveC
Well-known
I've come across five selenium meter cameras and light meters so far and none of them are functional (not even sluggish, just dead-looking). I've heard people say that the selenium meter issue is overblown, but I'm batting 0 for 5 at the moment so I'm skeptical.
How many truly dead selenium meters have you encountered and how many were only mostly dead and were revived?
How many truly dead selenium meters have you encountered and how many were only mostly dead and were revived?
stratcat
Well-known
The meter in my FED 4: dead
Meter in my Kiev 4: Alive but about 2 stops off
Meter for my Canon P: dead
Meter in my Kiev 4: Alive but about 2 stops off
Meter for my Canon P: dead
Spavinaw
Well-known
I'm just the opposite of you. Most selenium meters and cameras with selenium meters I have are fairly accurate. The only helpful advice I can give is to make sure the selenium cell makes good physical contact with the wires going to it. Sometime just putting your finger on the glass and wiggling the glass around will restore contact. Good luck.
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
I bought a Weston Master II that at first worked but later died and a Gossen Pilot (I don't remember if it worked or not) I sent them both to George Milton at the same time and they've been just fine...
Ya gotta factor in the age of these items...selenium cells don't last forever...
Ya gotta factor in the age of these items...selenium cells don't last forever...
RWaldron
Member
Age isn't the only factor. My WWII era Weston Master (the original model) works perfectly and agrees with my other three meters. In the case of the Weston meters the older models were supposedly sealed better against moisture than were the newer ones.
Not to change the subject, but does anyone know whether the Invercone for a Master II will work on an original Master? I know the Invercone wasn't offered until the II came out, but I think I read somewhere that it would work on the original.
Randy
Not to change the subject, but does anyone know whether the Invercone for a Master II will work on an original Master? I know the Invercone wasn't offered until the II came out, but I think I read somewhere that it would work on the original.
Randy
ZeissFan
Veteran
I would say that it depends on the meter.
The U.S.-made Westons seem to have held up pretty well over the years.
Many Gosssens, too.
And as others have said, much depends on how well sealed it is.
For the cameras with selenium meters, Kodak used a sealed (Gossen) meter, and you'll find that most still work and are accurate.
For Zeiss Ikon cameras, it depends. Some selenium cells are soldered to the meter movement, while others rely on good contact with the meter cell. With rare exceptions, the meters are not sealed and exposed to the environment. For those that are not soldered, you can sometimes revive the meter by cleaning the contacts.
The U.S.-made Westons seem to have held up pretty well over the years.
Many Gosssens, too.
And as others have said, much depends on how well sealed it is.
For the cameras with selenium meters, Kodak used a sealed (Gossen) meter, and you'll find that most still work and are accurate.
For Zeiss Ikon cameras, it depends. Some selenium cells are soldered to the meter movement, while others rely on good contact with the meter cell. With rare exceptions, the meters are not sealed and exposed to the environment. For those that are not soldered, you can sometimes revive the meter by cleaning the contacts.
Generally speaking it has been my experience that German-made units fare better than their Oriental counterparts. Voigtlaender ones are particularly good. Use, care and storage conditions play a part as well as age of course.
Regards
Brett
Regards
Brett
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
None of mine have been accurate out of a dozen or so I've owned. Most have completely dead cells but a few have given *some* response, just not the right amount.
Phil Forrest
Phil Forrest
George Bonanno
Well-known
I donno... I just checked and my Weston Master V, shoe mount "Ricoh Meter", Hanimex PR-125 and GE-213 work perfectly against my Gossen Luna-Pro.
Color me lucky.
Color me lucky.
grapejohnson
Well-known
My Fed 4 was working perfectly when I bought it about a year ago, but is now off by at least 3 stops
George Bonanno
Well-known
It's an Altoona thing.
grapejohnson
Well-known
Must be that old rustbelt magic
George Bonanno
Well-known
Please, don't get me wrong. I like Altoona although I just don't remember being there. It's as simple as that.
grapejohnson
Well-known
A lot of people have been through it or know someone who used to live there or something, but few people know much about it or remember it well, other than it's strange, unforgettable name. In any case, I wonder why the meter stopped working so suddenly while in my hands.
thegman
Veteran
I've had decent luck with them, seemed accurate compared to a digital camera too.
kanzlr
Hexaneur
just a small sample, but my Vitessa L meter works and is absolutely accurate (EV reading agrees with my Sekonic)
wolves3012
Veteran
I've seen a Weston Master V with a dead cell, have a IV with a very weak cell (it reacts but barely) a IV that over-reads by a stop and a III working accurately.
Of the in-camera selenium meters I have, my late father's Kiev 4 ('75 vintage) meter died sometime during its long period of non-use but I have several FED 4 and 5 models and a Zenit E that are accurate .
Of the in-camera selenium meters I have, my late father's Kiev 4 ('75 vintage) meter died sometime during its long period of non-use but I have several FED 4 and 5 models and a Zenit E that are accurate .
BW400CN
Bessamatic forever!
All my 6 Voigtländer Bessamatic meter are working - all my Zeiss meter are working (3xContina 2xContaflex Super 1xIkophot) all my Kodak meter working(2xRetina III S) only my Kiev 4M is dead and the Kiev 4a-1 is 3stops away - but this can be tuned!)
So I have not real a problem with selenium meter
So I have not real a problem with selenium meter
Robert Lai
Well-known
The only one that I bought that was accurate from the start was a Weston III.
I had a Weston V which had a dead cell. Cell replaced by George Milton at Quality Light Metric, and now it is very accurate.
I've not had a great experience with the Zeiss or Rolleiflex meters. Super Ikonta BX, and Contessa both had dead meters. Henry Scherer put new cells into them when he overhauled them. (However, beware of the 3 year waiting list for service).
Rolleiflex 3.5F had a dead meter. A new cell and meter movement were placed by Krimar.
So, for now all of my selenium meters (except for the Weston III) have new cells in them, and they are accurate.
I had a Weston V which had a dead cell. Cell replaced by George Milton at Quality Light Metric, and now it is very accurate.
I've not had a great experience with the Zeiss or Rolleiflex meters. Super Ikonta BX, and Contessa both had dead meters. Henry Scherer put new cells into them when he overhauled them. (However, beware of the 3 year waiting list for service).
Rolleiflex 3.5F had a dead meter. A new cell and meter movement were placed by Krimar.
So, for now all of my selenium meters (except for the Weston III) have new cells in them, and they are accurate.
Panther
Member
Here, Rolleiflex 3.5f meters fine after little adjustment two years ago. EVs are similar to Gossen Digisix. But I suppose that this TLR was not used for years and closed away in the dark, basically the initial smell susuggested a long history in the cellar anywhere.