Light meter

Partially because I like gadgets, partially because I want to tell the camera what to do, rather than let the camera do its stuff, I'm thinking of getting a light meter.

Now, mainly because I have no money, I'm looking at getting an old "vintage" one.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Weston-Master-III-light-meter_W0QQitemZ170306496659QQcmdZV...

If I do get it, can anyone tell me how to use it

I still have a Weston Master V and its solar powered! They WERE the standard forty years ago but they aren't very good and difficult to read in low light levels. They also need constant adjustment and servicing. You used to send them to Sangamo Weston and they sent you a reconditioned meter. The cell in each meter reads differently and the Bright light baffle thing with little holes in was calibrated to that particular meter. The Invercones always fall off and break. The V and the Euro Master are more accurate than the earlier ones.

IMHO you would be much better saving for a s/h Minolta, Sekonic or a Lunasix. You could probably get a Lunasix for about the same price as the Weston.

If you do get the Weston, I'll be happy to guide you through the proces.

Ken

How about a Pentax Spot Meter V? If you like nice bits of kit and can find a nice example this could be just the thing. Very, very accurate.

Be careful with the Lunasix you can't buy the original batteries.

Pasted from Gossens site:
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The original button cells took their energy from a chemical process in which mercury had been involved. Since mercury is a very toxic element, the production of these button cells has been discontinued.
The advantage of such mercury cells, however, lies in a persisting voltage constant over the complete discharge procedure. The constant voltage must be produced - in order to maintain the measuring results constant - by means of a zener-diode in the new button cells.
This is why the battery adapter must have, apart from the mechanical adaptation to the other cell diameter, a such zener-diode.
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It's quite expensive to have the conversion done. The alternative Wein cell used to cost £5 probably more now. They aren't accurate through the full range anyway (unless they improved the later models). I've still got one with the Spot attachment also the Lunalite which is similar but takes the bog standard 9v Duracell, easy to use 3 leds and you rotate the dial until just the middle one is lit.

At least the Weston's don't need batteries and are simple to use.

shim

Just noticed that's the Model III that's far too old, probably won't work and may not even have ASA scales. Like Ken said go for the V or the Euro Master. Personally I would go for the latter, it was introduced in the mid seventies. The 1V was the nicest but too old now. Shepherd meters are usually OK as well.

shim

It is nice, John, and so is the Pentax Colour Temperature Meter, but spot meters are very tricky to use and I think an incident meter is almost foolproof. Thanks Shim for pointing out the battery issue, I wasn't aware of that. That might explain why these great meters are so cheap. When I was at the BBC (which wasn't yesterday) we had a choice of Lunasix, Pentax and Weston. Everybody had a Weston as well as whatever else just in case their batteries ran out.

I quite like the idea of Father Ted having to do mental calculations to convert from logarithmic DIN to ASA with an old meter

I have a Sheperd Flash Meter surplus to requirements!

Ken

Logarithms......oh, nightmares of my schooldays

Thanks guys, I'll take that out of my "Watched Items"