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Category: How to Work with Photos and Film Equipment

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How To Read Ambient Light Meters


Can you direct me to any sources that will explain ambient light meters and how they work? I bought an older model on at a flea market, it is a DeJur, made in the USA. It seems to be in good working order, but I have no idea how to read the dial.


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March 01, 2004

 

Jon Close
  You might try http://www.craigcamera.com/ib_de.htm to get a manual for it.

Generally you have to set the dial with the film speed you are using. On older meters the ASA scale is the same as today's ISO. The film speed was sometimes also on the DIN (German standard), where DIN 21° = ASA/ISO 100, and each 1° change = 1/3 stop: DIN 24°=ISO 200, DIN 27°=ISO 400, etc.

Some meters then have a needle that points to a number, and you turn the dial to that number to get shutter speed and aperture combinations. Other meters you set the desired shutter speed on the dial and the needle will point to the appropriate aperture. Still others have a pointer connected to the dial and you turn the dial to put the pointer over the light meter needle ("match needle").


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March 01, 2004

 
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