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Sekonic Studio Deluxe not working?


evan_bedford2

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Well, it actually seems to work OK only if I use it without any filters (ie no lumisphere, lumidisc, etc). Then I can get it to give similar readings to what my cameras give, and to what my Minolta Flash Meter III gives.

 

But when I pop the lumigrid on it, I get nearly no needle movement at all. A bit more with the disc, and more still with the sphere.

 

I actually have two Studio Deluxe meters (an original model and an M model). They both give roughly the same readings with the same filters, so I wonder if I'm just doing something wrong. (and no, I don't have the little "high" metal grid inserted).

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The Studio L398 is a selenium meter, and so is not very sensitive.

 

IIRC, the minimum EV it reads is 3. Maybe there's just not enough light to get a sensible reading? But if your meters don't give incident readings in the region of EV13 to 15 in full sunlight, then the cells are most likely dead, or not making good contact.

 

If readings are low, then you have nothing to lose by attempting DIY repair. Dismantle the head and clean the spring contacts and cell - being careful not to touch the blue-grey sensitive surface.

 

If cleaning the contacts and re-seating the cell doesn't work, then the cells almost certainly need replacement. That's probably going to cost more than the meter is worth.

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Problem solved. I was using the L scale instead of the H scale with the lumigrid (for reflectance metering).

 

Unfortunately, this means that the Sekonic is fairly useless at a lot of useful exposures (say, for example in broad daylight, but under a heavy forest canopy), since the manual states that the lumigrid can't be used with a foot candle reading of less than 160. I originally got the Sekonic for hiking on cold days, figuring that it and a Leica M4-P wouldn't have any battery issues.

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Reflected light readings were never the strong point for this meter; as RJ said it is a selenium cell meter without a lot of sensitivity, and using the LumiGrid exacerbates the problem. It isn't a bad incident meter ( I shot a lot of 16 mm Tri x reversal and 4x reversal with one back in the day) assuming that the cell hasn't died of old age. If you prefer reflected readings, I would go with a different meter that is designed primarily for reflected readings. If you get one that runs on silver oxide batteries, you shouldn't have too much trouble in cold weather, and meter batteries usually last a long time in my experience.
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A CdS or Silicon cell meter shouldn't have a problem in moderately cold conditions.

 

Besides, a small(ish) meter like a Lunarsix could be kept warm in an inside pocket and just brought out to take readings.

 

Reflective readings can be very misleading IME, and incident metering is the way to go.

Edited by rodeo_joe|1
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Incident can be useful any place. Both of my meters have reflected attachments. I you go to KEH you can for example get a reflected attachment for the Luna Pro or Luna Six for about ten dollars. I have one for my Minolta 1V which is useful. If one is in the similar light of a scene, one can use incident without much fear of being that far off. Reflected can be fooled pretty easily is what I am saying. Experience and mutliple shots does the trick. At one time we even had to "calibrate " a meter to take account of other non controlled variables. It is easier with modern digital cameras that can bracket in various ways. My Sekonic like yours gave up the ghost. Remember the Norwood Director if you are old enough :-)?
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