Some cameras such as the Contaflex had metal protective caps over the meter cells, so they're in better shape, but still your selenium cell will eventually die, it's not a matter of 'if' but 'when'. In any case click on the image for an expanded view! This meter is calibrated in Scheiner degrees and not ASA. And that was the problem with extinction meters, people have varying degrees of light perceptive abilities. In the example to the right, that is 'H' or 'B' or 'K' depending on how many carrots you eat. You then used the handy barrel to convert the light value to your exposure, taking into account the sensitivity of your film emulsion. The darkest letter you could just barely read was your light value. To take an incident light reading, place the light meter in the same light as the subject.Įxtinction meters worked by looking through their viewfinder at a small strip of letters that were progressively darker. Though this kind of reading will often be less accurate than an incident light meter reading, it is your only option when you're photographing subjects at a distance. A reflected reading records the amount of light reflecting off of your subject. To take a reflected light reading, point the light meter at your subject. The light meter will then adjust its readings according to this film speed. If you visited this page directly, please be sure to read the main page before continuing on here. For this reason, the Type 217 Light Meter is ideal for most light measurements.Ĭlassic Light Meters by Karen Nakamura Overview This page discusses classic and vintage light meters (pre-1970s). Most state sanitary codes base illumination requirements on the footcandle, as do OSHA, NSF, the American Public Health Association, the American National Standards Institute, the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations, and the American Correctional Association. So most of the selenium light meters that ever saw any use a few decades ago are now useless.
Selenium eventually deteriorates in the presence of light (some say moisture is the real culprit).
Steps to take a measurement Place or hold the meter in the same lighting as the subject Read the EV value off the meter Slide the Exposure Calculator so the ISO film speed of your film points to the EV value you read Read the Aperture/Shutter Speed values off the bottom of the Exposure Calculator Set your camera to these values Shoot! See the pictures below for the results! Although I turned to digital photography I always appreciate a retro look to film technology.
This tool converts the EV reading to a shutter/aperture combination. To make use of the meter you also need an exposure calculator (which is a wonderful tool made by Andrew Lawn.
If you happen to have found the same light meter as me (GE 214) you can print out the attached PDF and use my template, it is correctly scaled for printing on 8.5x11 paper. To save, right click and choose 'save target as'save to folder of your choice.
To open the file, click on the link below.
I Need Operating Instructions for GE light meter type 214 I Need owners manual - GE Radio Communications question. Sekonic is a light meter manufacturer who has. The FC meter I used was a General Electric Type 214 foot.
How to Transform a Cheap Foot Candle Meter into a. Ge 214 Light Meter Manual 7,0/10 1563 reviews