lxmike
M2 fan.
Anyone used one of these, Shepard DM-170 light meters, are they any good
Gazzah
RF newbie
I have one....
I have one....
I got a DM-170 in the bottom of a box of bits I bought in auction. Put a new battery into it a few days ago and tested it against my other meters - seems to be acurate if a bit basic. It has ambient and spot functions, but the spot is very large, so it is really reflective meter.
If its cheap enough would be worth a go, the entire box cost me £10 and I got 2 meters, 15 filters, 8 lens covers, a bulk film loader and various other assorted bits....
Gary H
I have one....
I got a DM-170 in the bottom of a box of bits I bought in auction. Put a new battery into it a few days ago and tested it against my other meters - seems to be acurate if a bit basic. It has ambient and spot functions, but the spot is very large, so it is really reflective meter.
If its cheap enough would be worth a go, the entire box cost me £10 and I got 2 meters, 15 filters, 8 lens covers, a bulk film loader and various other assorted bits....
Gary H
geordiefred
Member
lxmike, As Gazzah says it is a very basic meter, but with reflected and incident reading modes. The latter is when you use the white dome and then point the meter from your subject towards the light source. I bought mine 2nd hand and there were no instructions with it, but I found it easy to use. I already had a Gossen basic meter(reflected reading only) but as a result of seeing the DM 170 tested alongside various others makes(in camera mag. from the '90s) I decided to buy it. It originally sold for almost £100. Bought mine for £29. I have used it for medium format work, and it has never failed to deliver. Have been searching the web today for its instructions, but no gain. I have often pondered what the screw in socket at the top right hand corner is for.
FPjohn
Well-known
A reliable meter. Occasionally difficult to read in bright light.
yours
FPJ
yours
FPJ
Gazzah
RF newbie
I found several places that have the manual for sale (well a PDF of it) but the cheapest was asking £11.95 - which was more than I paid for the thing in the first place. I have no idea what that socket is for, it doesnt seem to be connected to anything...
Gary H
Gary H
geordiefred
Member
Gazzah, Have been searching the web re the DM 170. If you go onto Yahoo flickr, and feed in Shepherd DM 170 you should come up with an item : yenyangyang's photostream/Tag/dm170. The pages of the instruction leaflet are shown there. He also shows how to adjust the meter (way out of my depth, although mine is still accurate) The screw in at the top right corner is for an accessory attachment.
geordiefred
Member
Shepherd DM 170
Shepherd DM 170
FPjohn, Noted your reply that it was difficult to read in bright light. Was it a case that it woulld not register a reading in bright sunlight outside ? I found that happened last week with me. As I had not used the meter for several weeks, I thought it was defective. Went back indoors, and it was working correctly. Back outside, again it would not give a reading in very bright sunshine. In the tag above, re Yahoo flickr, and yengyang... etc. I think from what I could see on the instruction page, if the light went above certain EV it would fail to register. Have you experienced this ?
lxmike has not been back on line yet, so my info will not have got to him.
Shepherd DM 170
FPjohn, Noted your reply that it was difficult to read in bright light. Was it a case that it woulld not register a reading in bright sunlight outside ? I found that happened last week with me. As I had not used the meter for several weeks, I thought it was defective. Went back indoors, and it was working correctly. Back outside, again it would not give a reading in very bright sunshine. In the tag above, re Yahoo flickr, and yengyang... etc. I think from what I could see on the instruction page, if the light went above certain EV it would fail to register. Have you experienced this ?
lxmike has not been back on line yet, so my info will not have got to him.
FPjohn
Well-known
Hello:
The green display is difficult to read in bright light but the meter itself is reliable. I take a measurement and look at the locked display in the shade.
The green display is difficult to read in bright light but the meter itself is reliable. I take a measurement and look at the locked display in the shade.
Last edited:
geordiefred
Member
Shepherd DM 170
Shepherd DM 170
Hello, FPjohn,
Read and noted your reply. The digital read-out on mine is in red. However, again yesterday evening, at 5pm I was out with med.format camera, and the Shepherd. Reading alright, very bright to sunny, then when it got very sunny again it would not function and give a digital read-out. Meter set for 100 slide film. Then when using the dome for incident reading, got a reading no problem. Brightness decreased, although still sunny, then again I got readings without a problem on both reflected and incident. I will have to go back to the Yahoo page, and check out the information on the instructions pages. Whilst many state it to be a basic meter, on the yenyang.. etc there are photos showing the inside workings, circuits.,etc, and I would call it anything other than a simple, basic meter.
Shepherd DM 170
Hello, FPjohn,
Read and noted your reply. The digital read-out on mine is in red. However, again yesterday evening, at 5pm I was out with med.format camera, and the Shepherd. Reading alright, very bright to sunny, then when it got very sunny again it would not function and give a digital read-out. Meter set for 100 slide film. Then when using the dome for incident reading, got a reading no problem. Brightness decreased, although still sunny, then again I got readings without a problem on both reflected and incident. I will have to go back to the Yahoo page, and check out the information on the instructions pages. Whilst many state it to be a basic meter, on the yenyang.. etc there are photos showing the inside workings, circuits.,etc, and I would call it anything other than a simple, basic meter.
newspaperguy
Well-known
I've got one, too. Must have come with something else,
because I don't recall purchasing it.
Love the 9 v battery, don't like the inconsistent readings.
If you find a link to fine tuning it, please post.
because I don't recall purchasing it.
Love the 9 v battery, don't like the inconsistent readings.
If you find a link to fine tuning it, please post.
FPjohn
Well-known
Hello:
It appears that some D170's have or develop circuit problems. I have not seen the behaviour described.
My other meter , aside from a euromaster, is a DigiSix which I carry most often.
yours
FPJ
It appears that some D170's have or develop circuit problems. I have not seen the behaviour described.
My other meter , aside from a euromaster, is a DigiSix which I carry most often.
yours
FPJ
geordiefred
Member
Shepherd DM 170
Shepherd DM 170
newspaperguy,
If you are having problems with your DM 170, and want to fine tune it, please see my post above No. 6, where I mention Yahoo flckr, ; which will bring you to "yenyang ...... " etc. Whilst I looked at the instructions, there is also a section showing you how to fine tune or adjust the meter. That is way out of my depth!
Hope this information helps you.
Shepherd DM 170
newspaperguy,
If you are having problems with your DM 170, and want to fine tune it, please see my post above No. 6, where I mention Yahoo flckr, ; which will bring you to "yenyang ...... " etc. Whilst I looked at the instructions, there is also a section showing you how to fine tune or adjust the meter. That is way out of my depth!
Hope this information helps you.
newspaperguy
Well-known
Thank you Sir!
geordiefred
Member
newspaperguy, How have you gone on with your DM 170. Have you managed to recalibrate, or fine tune it ? I have started to use mine frequently each day, - just taking various readings to use it. I now find that is comparable in readings with another light meter(Gossen reflected reading only). It appears that having lain dormant for several months had affected it. Perhaps like cameras they should not be left to stand on the shelf unused.
geordiefred
Member
Shepherd DM 170
Shepherd DM 170
newspaperguy,
Did you manage to rectify your meter ? In one of my later posts I said that the readings were becoming more accurate when compared with another make of meter. However, the Shepherd has started playing up again and it is about 3-4 stops out. Reading high. Consequently I was using too small an aperture and too high a shutter speed. My medium format slides were underexposed.
I suppose that a professional repair/fine tune would be uneconomical, and I may as well look for a Weston V meter.
Regards,
Fred.
Shepherd DM 170
newspaperguy,
Did you manage to rectify your meter ? In one of my later posts I said that the readings were becoming more accurate when compared with another make of meter. However, the Shepherd has started playing up again and it is about 3-4 stops out. Reading high. Consequently I was using too small an aperture and too high a shutter speed. My medium format slides were underexposed.
I suppose that a professional repair/fine tune would be uneconomical, and I may as well look for a Weston V meter.
Regards,
Fred.
FPjohn
Well-known
Hello Fred:
You may find it worthwhile to consider a DigiSix. The Weston Euromaster is a bit more recent than a Master V.
Best of light
FPJ
You may find it worthwhile to consider a DigiSix. The Weston Euromaster is a bit more recent than a Master V.
Best of light
FPJ
geordiefred
Member
Thanks FPjohn, I will be looking at those you mention. No immediate hurry for me to get one, as it is for use with med.format, and the weather here at the moment is cloudy, grey, dull, and overcast. So the camera stays indoors.