Hi Jan et. al,
On Sun, 11 Jun 2000, Jan Steinman wrote:
> >Hiya all,
>
> Hi Thomas!
>
> >for a long time have I been considering getting a hand-held light-meter...
> >
> >I use the spot-meter functionqlity of
> >the OM2s/p or OM4's...
> >I never take much
> >flash-pictures...
>
> Hmmm, you use the built-in spot meters, and never do flash. That
> eliminates most of the reason to buy an external meter, in my opinion!
>
> I'll save you a lot of money: buy a Kodak gray card and learn to use
> it with your built-in spot meter. Then you'll have incident metering
> capability -- about the only thing you're missing in an external
> meter!
Nono. What catalyzed the need for an extra meter was the purchase of
another camera WITHOUT build-in meter (a medium format thing, just
fyi). Carrying an OM2sp/4 in addition to such a camera is rather bulky,
hence I'd prefer to avoid it. Also, I was considering that e.g. to the
older OM1 and 2, an external spot-meter might make a usefull companion
(but I was really short the "darn good excuse" for spending money on a
meter).
So while you are mostly right (I do not _need_ an external meter for the
OM4 and 2s/p), there are still reasons why I will buy one - and for that,
your comments were / are most helpfull - thanks a lot ;)
--thomas
>
> Think of it this way: a good modern external spot meter doesn't cost
> much different than an OM2s! Plus you can change the spot size on the
> OM2s by changing lenses! Plus you can make "test exposures" with your
> "meter" to compare with whatever you're metering for! :-)
>
> I've used many meters over the years, but my favorite is still the
> OM-4 with a gray card.
>
> >Which features should I make sure I get...
>
> Besides incident metering (which can be approximated with a gray
> card), the big things missing from the OM spot meter is flash
> metering, which is invaluable for anything besides automatic flash,
> and extended range below 1 second. So even though you say you don't
> use flash, consider getting flash metering for that day when you need
> it.
>
> >which
> >models and brands are good
>
> It's a pretty competitive market, they all have similar core
> features. My favorite is Gossen, but mostly for nostalgic reasons,
> since it was the first I had some 35 years ago. I'm impressed with
> Sekonic's ruggedness -- waterproof and all.
>
> >what price-range is ok for such?
>
> You might consider an old Gossen Luna Pro. It's analog, with a
> "trapped needle" meter, and the last time I replaced the battery was
> 1992! Very sensitive -- in fact, I've used it when I needed a
> flashlight to read it! Always ready, built like a tank. Best used
> (like any light meter, in my opinion) in incident mode, but there is
> a spot attachment available. Try to get the spot attachment at the
> same time, since they are hard to find separately. There is also a
> darkroom attachment available -- I have one I'd part with, since I'm
> typing on my "darkroom" right now...
>
> I "lost" my Luna Pro in a drawer somewhere and recently bought an
> almost-new Luna Star F2, with spot attachment, for around $260. I
> chose it for its flash capability and sensitivity (EV/100 is -7.9!)
> But it was close, and the availability of this one used was more
> important than features.
>
> So far, I still prefer the Luna Pro. I like meters rather than
> digits! (The Luna Star does have an analog-style bar graph, but it's
> not the same... :-) And I'm always afraid (perhaps irrationally so)
> that the Luna Star's battery will be dead when I need it.
>
> I rarely use a meter with the OM-4, and only then for very long
> exposures, or to check that a long exposure will be within the OM-4's
> automatic range.
>
> The only reason I have a meter at all is because I'm now doing 4x5,
> and wanted something a bit smaller than an OM-4 to use as a meter
> (there isn't much room in the 4x5 bag), and also because I'm using
> manual flash with the 4x5.
>
> My advice? Forget the meter, and use the money on more Zuiko glass!
> Or if you really feel the need, pick up a Luna Pro or similar analog
> meter for $50 or so, then use it until you outgrow it -- that way,
> you'll know which features you're missing, and thus "wonderbrick"
> modern digital meter to spend big bux on.
>
> --
> : Jan Steinman <mailto:Jan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> : Bytesmiths <http://www.bytesmiths.com>
>
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