Group Experience with Minolta Light Meter Longevity

But lately the stuff coming back from the lab seems overexposed, regardless
of which lens was used -- and occasionally, in the field, I get 'funny'
readings that are intuitively just not right. Could the mechanicals in the
motor dial be dying? Tired measuring cell? Time to put the old tool out to
pasture (or under it)? Any thoughts?

You don't specify which Autometer...if you remove the diffusion hemisphere from
the meter, there is a metal pin which senses the presence of the diffusion
disk/hemisphere. Sometimes the switch activated by the pin seems to 'stick' so
that the meter does not adjust readings properly. Try pressing the pin in and
take a reading, and compare it with pin out reading. It should change. If
not, press the pin in and out multiple times to clean off buildup on the
electrical contacts, then the the pin out reading vs. pin in reading again.
Often this little 'exercise' will fix a problem with bad contacts in the
switch.

--wilt

Well, it is the original Autometer Professional, ser 109375, which I use
almost exclusively with the 15 degree viewfinder.
The diffusion sphere sits in the bag, dont think I have used it more than
once a year, if that. What seems to be happening is that in full sun the
high luminance values are reasonable -- but as light levels fall, the meter
error increases progressively ending up around 2 stops off in evening and
shadow situations.

g


"Wilt W" wrote in message
...
But lately the stuff coming back from the lab seems overexposed,
regardless
of which lens was used -- and occasionally, in the field, I get 'funny'
readings that are intuitively just not right. Could the mechanicals in the
motor dial be dying? Tired measuring cell? Time to put the old tool out to
pasture (or under it)? Any thoughts?

You don't specify which Autometer...if you remove the diffusion hemisphere
from
the meter, there is a metal pin which senses the presence of the diffusion
disk/hemisphere. Sometimes the switch activated by the pin seems to
'stick' so
that the meter does not adjust readings properly. Try pressing the pin in
and
take a reading, and compare it with pin out reading. It should change.
If
not, press the pin in and out multiple times to clean off buildup on the
electrical contacts, then the the pin out reading vs. pin in reading
again.
Often this little 'exercise' will fix a problem with bad contacts in the
switch.

--wilt

Well, it is the original Autometer Professional, ser 109375, which I use
almost exclusively with the 15 degree viewfinder.
The diffusion sphere sits in the bag, dont think I have used it more than
once a year, if that. What seems to be happening is that in full sun the
high luminance values are reasonable -- but as light levels fall, the meter
error increases progressively ending up around 2 stops off in evening and
shadow situations.

g


"Wilt W" wrote in message
...
But lately the stuff coming back from the lab seems overexposed,
regardless
of which lens was used -- and occasionally, in the field, I get 'funny'
readings that are intuitively just not right. Could the mechanicals in the
motor dial be dying? Tired measuring cell? Time to put the old tool out to
pasture (or under it)? Any thoughts?

You don't specify which Autometer...if you remove the diffusion hemisphere
from
the meter, there is a metal pin which senses the presence of the diffusion
disk/hemisphere. Sometimes the switch activated by the pin seems to
'stick' so
that the meter does not adjust readings properly. Try pressing the pin in
and
take a reading, and compare it with pin out reading. It should change.
If
not, press the pin in and out multiple times to clean off buildup on the
electrical contacts, then the the pin out reading vs. pin in reading
again.
Often this little 'exercise' will fix a problem with bad contacts in the
switch.

--wilt