Gossen Luna Pro

I'm contemplating buying a used Gossen Luna Pro to use with my M3. The later model Luna Pro SBC uses a 9v battery, but what about the prior model? What kind of battery does it use and is the battery difficult to find? Also, are there any little-known pitfalls about this meter that I should be aware of. Thanks a lot for your help.

 

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Dennis

Dennis, if you live in Canada the downside of buying a Gossen is

after sales support... slim to none.

 

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Ever consider a Sekonic? L408 is a great little meter with a built in

spot. Its pretty small compared to my L508 and cheaper. If I had to

do it all over again I would've bought the L408 cause I don't really

need a 1 degree spot or the rotating incident head.

 

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<center><img src="http://www.sekonic.com/Products/L408.gif"></center>

 

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They come up on ebay from time to time.

I don't know how far back you're going, but my Lunapro F (the

predecessor to the SBC) also takes a 9V. I really prefer the analogue

type meter over the digital for available light shooting (though for

strobe work I prefer the digital). I find it helpful to be able to

see all of my shutter speed/aperture combinations at a glance rather

than doing the mental calculation or scrolling through the readout on

a digital meter. As well, though I've had pretty good luck with

meters in general, when talking to my friends it seems the analogue

meters hold up better, but I have not stats on this.......

Thanks for the responses so far. I've learned that the original Luna

Pro uses two PX13 batteries which, I've also heard, may be difficult

to find. Anyone familiar with the availability of this battery?

 

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Bob, I agree with you about analogue meters. I like to see the

combinations of shutter speeds and f-stops. In fact, even when I use

my M6 I take along a hand-held meter and take periodic readings to

guage the light, and I pre-set the M6 accordingly. Then I use the on-

board M6 meter to fine tune the exposure before shooting.

 

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Thanks again for the help.

 

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Dennis

I agree with Bob about analogue readouts. It's the same with a

wristwatch. I still use a Gossen LunaSix which agrees exactly with my

R4s and my wife's Contax. (Uses a 625 battery)

The meter takes a mercury battery. At least in America they are

banned. In other countries it is possible to get them.

I found the answer at the Bogen/Gossen website. They sell a

converter in order to use 1.5v silver batteries instead of the

original 1.35v mercury batteries. Thanks for the replies.

 

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Dennis

Here's lots of info from another forum:

 

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<a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?

msg_id=000h3H&topic_id=23&topic=photo.net ">Photo.net Thread</a>

Dennis, I was about to tell you about that conversion kit when you

posted that you had learned of it. I have it and can say it works

perfectly, as one would expect from Bogen as most all their stuff

does. That's the way to go.

After having used several meters, including the Sekonic 308, Sekonic

318, a Gossen Luna Pro, a Gossen Luna Pro F, and the Leica MR meter,

I prefer the Luna Pro. Over the years I've memorized light according

to the Luna Pro 1-22 scale (each number represents twice as much light

as its predecessor). I'll look at a scene and think "That's about an

8, with highlights up to 10, and shadows down to 5." Then I translate

that into exposure. I didn't really plan to have it work out this

way, but after years of Luna Pro use, that's what happened.

 

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I also rarely use reflected light meters any more, so the Leica MR

meter is long gone, and I ignore any in-camera meters I own. Incident

readings, coupled with a bit of experience, are more accurate, IMHO.

 

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The Sekonics are OK, especially the 308, but their self check that

occurs every time you turn the meter on is annoying, and if you leave

it on, the battery is cooked. My 308 was stolen, but if you're

interested in the 318, it's new in the box. Make me an offer! B&H

retail on the 318 is $239 + shipping.

 

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On it's plus side, the 318 has an attachment to allow it to accurately

measure luminance, the Gossen does not. It's silicon sensor reads

about 100 times faster than the old Luna Pro (not the F, however), and

the sensor swivels around atop the meterso you can point it at the

scene and simultaneously see the readout. They also use the common AA

battery, the Gossens do not. Read more about it at <A

href="http://www.sekonic.com/Products/L-318.html">their website</A>

 

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The Luna Pro is about 4 stops more sensitive, and I much prefer it's

ergonomics.

My earlier model Gossen Luna Pro (analog version, a very accurate

meter) takes a 1.5 V mercury battery, which is no longer sold in the

USA (htoguh there are substitutes that work fine). This battery is

still sold in Europe (I believe), so they can be found. (IT is the

same battery that the Leicameter MR takes.)

 

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My Gossen Luna Pro says "Made in West Germany", but it is still one

of the most accurate and reliable meters ever made.And they don't

bias the meter readings as the manufacturer often does with SLRs, to

reflect how the maker thinks most user's will use the camera.

I agree that analog meters are the easiest to interpret. But they

are getting more scarce. When I dropped my analog/mechanical Minolta

Autometer, they refused to repair it--parts not available. I

replaced it with the digital Autometer. It's just as good as the

ealier one, except for the fact that it's digital. But curiosity led

me then to a Luna-Lux (9-volt battery), accurate, but it's too bulky;

then to a Luna-Pro Digital F. That's the one that goes with me for

Leica photography. The size is right, and I trust it for both

reflected and incident readings now.

Oh, and the Digital F takes an ordinary 1.5 V. AA penlight battery.

Top THAT!

Dennis,

 

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I use an old Gossen Luna Pro that my wife picked up long ago and I

have thoroughly enjoyed it. It has never malfunctioned. I've found

it to be more accurate then the M6 internal meter. A photo equipment

shop sold me an adapter sleeve that allows the use of currently

available batteries. You can search around and download a manual off

the Internet, but operation is pretty intuitive without one. I

picked up a used spotmeter attachment that measures 7 and 15 degrees

at a photo equipment swapmeet and enjoy using it, though it the

leather case that comes with the meter will not close with the

attachment in place. I think you would be very pleased with the

older model Gossen Luna Pro, unless you're intent on having a meter

with a digital display.

Gossen uses different product names in Europe and US. I presume you

mean <a

href="http://members.fortunecity.com/canoneos/manuals/lunaproinserts.j

pg">this</a> model?

I had an old Gossen Luna Pro for years (actually the european

version: Lunasix 3). As already mentioned it has a CdS cell and uses

the -now also in Europe- hard to find mercury cells. You need to add

the cost of recalibration or adaptors. <br>It is a great meter and

very sensitive (although the CdS cell is rather slow in very low

light).<br> The "pitfall" and the reason I sold it, was the dual

scale system. In available indoor light I often found that I would

get a reading of a little above "12" on the "Low" scale, and a little

below "12" on the "High" scale. One would think this would be

a "close to 12" reading, but the meter could in this "out of range"

position be up to 1 stop off a correct reading in either

direction.<br>Other than in this situation the meter was always right

on.<br>I now use the Gossen <a href="http://www.gossen-

photo.de/uk/produkte/gossen/sixto.htm">Sixtomat Digital</a> (aka Luna

Pro Digital) and enjoy the digital readout more than I thought I

would.

Dennis, I bought a used Luna Pro S, sent to to Gossen USA, and they

inserted the battery adapter, fixed a loose dial, and calibrated it.

Having used a Luna Pro back in the early 70's, I knew beforehand that

it was the meter I wanted. There's something that an analog dial

gives you that digital readouts simply don't. Use the meter well.

I have a Luna Pro on it's way to me. Look forward to using one, I've always wanted one since my first serious camera.

I've heard that the SiliconBlueC's sensor provide better response?

 

Some time ago, I bought a Gossen Luna Pro SBC. Bar none, it's the best meter I've ever used.

 

Uses a 9-volt battery and has many wonderful and useful attachments: