Help with old light meter

My good lady found an old light meter which she thought I'd like.
I wouldn't mind getting to grips with actually using it, but...how?
It is a Hanimex PR 55 ( pictured below).
I figure that I turn the lever to set the ISO.
Point the meter towards the subject, then red pointer will move to show light level. Then I turn the top dial until the silver pointer lines up with the red and then read off the f stop and exposure times.
Is that right?
My confusion comes from that the silver f stop ring seems to get dragged along with the thumb dial, but seems to float between the black ASA dial and the thumb dial. Should it be attached to one / either? How should it move? Is it broken?

[IMG]http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i296/Father_Ted/lightmeter_zpsd478f18a.jpg[/IMG]

Not a great light meter to be honest. I'd have to handle it to be sure what turns what, but in any event your camera meter will no doubt give more accurate results.

Thanks John.
I know the electrickery in my camera will be more accurate, but I do like the feel of the old technology, so it'd be nice to use it, once or twice.
The more I fiddle, though, the more I think that the fstop gauge has become seperated from the thumb wheel. I could stick it back on, but how to calibrate it?

Still, it's a nice bit of vintage technology, still in the original leather case.

A Weston Master V or Euro-Master might be more useful to you, if you can find a good one at a reasonable price.

I got a Gossen Sixtomat in a bag of old (junk) cameras and it has a very nice short metal strap which may or may not come in useful. I keep meaning to take the meter out in the garden and see what it reads in comparison to my camera.

It can probably only read German


If it's the same as this (ebay) I wouldn't
bother with the meter.... but, I'd be very
interested in the young lady in the last photo

Gosh that's my Dad's light meter that I used when starting up in photography! There are much better ones ...

These were the only instructions I could find

Das Machine is nicht fur gefingerpoken und mittengrabben. Ist easy schnappen der springenwerk, blowenfusen und poppencorken mit spitzensparken. Ist nicht fur gewerken by das dummkopfen. Das rubbernecken sightseeren musten keepen das cotten-pickenen hands in das pockets - relaxen und watchen das blinkenlights.

The strap on mine looks brand new

You won't go far wrong if you follow them instrctions!


Congratulations! ...... you win a baloon

I tried mine today ( having repaired it with some sellotape!)
It was "difficult" lighting and I had to use ISO 1600, but, choosing Manual mode and exposing as per the meter, then using Av ( I can't use Auto on this camera) with the same fstop produced very similar shutter speeds and results.
So, as a quick guide, before I get my camera out of the bag, it'll do the job.

Tried the meter today. Used a 135mm M lens and camera in manual. Took a reading with the meter and set the aperture and shutter as read from meter. Don't think it was showing a true exposure so have removed the nice metal strap and consigned the meter to landfill

But it's fun, though, isn't it!

If it wasn't fun we wouldn't do it. Just remembered I have another meter in a box somewhere, if the battery is ok I'll give that a try too

The angle of view of the meter is probably nearer to that of a 50mm on 35mm film or 35mm on APS-c, at a guess. The 135mm lens may be getting less sky in the measuring area than the meter.
Just a thought as to why you may be getting a different reading between camera and meter.

If you want to play with a meter Stan I've got an old tatty but working Weston Master II you can have. Just PM me your address and I'll send it over.