My Collection of Classic Shoe Mount Light Meters

 

This collection of light sensing gizmos is merely a reflection of the gear head in me since I'm quite proficient with Sunny 16. My dad taught me how to take photos using his unmetered Yashica Penta J. When I see unloved vintage/classic camera paraphernalia for a couple of bucks, I am eager to provide a good home for them. If you want to see my handheld light meters, click here. 

Except for the Voigtlãnder VCII, all these light meters employ the match-needle system on an analog dial, which remind me of a slide rule, albeit, circular. For more information, the user manual (when available) is hyperlinked in the text under the picture of each light meter.

Leica Meter 2

 This selenium light meter doesn't need batteries. The light it is measuring powers the meter. However, selenium isn't as sensitive under low light conditions compared to a battery powered CdS (Cadmium Sulphide) or modern Silicone photodiode. It is smaller but thicker than the Voigtländer VCII and looks great on an early Leica Barnack body.

I paid a couple of bucks for this at an antique store a few decades ago. The selenium cell didn't react to light and the incident light attachment was missing. I sent it to Quality Light Metric and George Milton replaced the dead cell. I consider this more of a collectible than a user, thus, it spends most of its time inside its brown leather case, which prolongs the selenium cell's life. 

Gossen Pilot 2 aka Sixtino

Significantly bigger than the Leica Meter 2 and a tad more sensitive in lower light, this Gossen selenium also measures both incident and reflected light. In my nearly 30 years of scouring Photorama camera shows, thrift stores and flea markets, I've yet to encounter one with a dead cell. This is one of the three I own and this particular unit was recently acquired at a flea market for $7. A bit bulky and just slightly smaller in girth than the Sekonic L-208, it's a nice meter for daylight photo walks. Highly recommended if you want a battery independent light meter!

Kalimar Clip-On 

Not much information can be found about this relatively compact light meter except that which I've already linked. Kalimar was a US distributor of photographic equipment, which sourced cameras and photo accessories from all over the world and had their name stamped on the product.

This CdS light meter requires a PX625 Mercury cell, which is toxic and no longer available. The use of a modern PX625A yielded inconsistent readings. So I hacked a dead PX625 and inserted a 675 sized Wein-cell hearing aid battery into the PX625 shell. Voila! The needle moved when I pressed the button and got readings that were consistent compared to my known light meters. It's also more sensitive in lower light than the selenium meters. 

Sekonic Twinmate L-208

Sekonic is a Japanese company but the Twinmate L-208 is proudly made in the Philippines. Its Silicon photodiode is powered by a single CR2032 lithium battery and has a light sensitivity range of EV3 - EV17. It is a significant improvement over the above selenium and CdS light meters. Just like all the previous ones, this can measure both reflected and incident light.

 Given its size, I think it looks better on a TLR camera. I really like the center match-needle/analog dial ergonomics compared to the $40 digital light meters from China fitted with tiny buttons to navigate around a squinty LCD screen. Is it necessary for every device to resemble a smart phone nowadays?

Vivitar 24

This CdS meter was designed to be powered by a Mercury 675 battery. Surprisingly, it works great with a modern LR/SR44 without modification. The specified EV range of -1 to 24 maybe a bit optimistic but it's pretty close to the VCII meter in terms of low light sensitivity and accuracy. It has no incident light capability, just reflected light. 

Just like the L-208 this is also a center match-needle type light meter with an analog dial that's easy on the eyes and shows other shutter speed/f-stop options. Slightly more compact than the L-208 and sleeker in design. This has become my go-to light meter for photo walks while the Voigtländer VCII takes a rest.

These are easy to find on eBay for $20-30/shipped, which IMO should be the ceiling price. Otherwise, they will be priced out of the market by the minuscule computerized light gadgets from China, which are probably(?) more appealing to hipsters jumping on the analog (film) photography bandwagon.

Voigtländer VCII

I paid under $200 for this light meter in the mid 2000s and it's still available for $225 from Stephen Gandy at cameraquest.com. Not cheap but in the big scheme of things, it has paid for itself. Its accuracy and sensitivity are probably surpassed only (albeit, slightly) by the built-in meter on my Leica M6. The Si photodiode is powered by two very common LR44/A76/357 batteries and it only measures reflected light. It's not a match-needle type of meter. Instead, it sports a dial for shutter speed and another dial for f-stop/ISO setting + LED indicators. This is an analog design with only a hint of digital (LEDs) and IMHO, MoMA worthy!

Hot on its heels is a new kid on the block, the similarly sized, styled and spec'ed Doomo Meter D at $125. It's ironic that this retro-clone of the VCII is also the most expensive shoe mountable light meter manufactured in China. 

Perhaps analog dials and retro tech logic do command and deserve a premium? Hmm...🤔  Right before I clicked the publish button, I noticed something new in the TT Artisan's website. Let's see how that goes...😉

Kutztown Radio Show September 2021 + Summer Events

Let me start with two events I attended this past summer.

Harrisburg Firecracker Hamfest

July 3, 2021

I found 2 x GE RPX for Full Dimensional Monophonic Hifi!

It was an oily day at Sussex County (SCARC) Hamfest, NJ

SCARC Hamfest, July 18, 2021

Kutztown Radio Show 
September 17-18, 2021

All pictures taken with a Sony A7II + W-Nikkor 35mm f2.5 LTM lens

Scott 208 + Eico HF86

Art Deco box

Dyna PAS 4 (by Panor) from the 90s

Erhard boards in a Dyna PAS chassis

A pair of Snell Type EIIs.

Audio Note 🇬🇧 hemp woofer? 

Mid-century modern in Kutztown!

 

AR4s + ROK K33/ESL/Shure M3D

Heathkit WAP-2 preamp + W5 amp

Cool B&W TV!

Tube Testers

DVHRC.com

I came home with these + a Pentax MX.😊

Stay safe, everyone!

 

Budget MC SUTs: Sony HA-T10 vs. Shure Mic Transformers

DKL and Exakta mount lenses + Exa camera

Soulless creatures will assert that I love listening and looking at distortion when I say that triode amps make music sound more gratifying while classic lenses make pictures look more pleasant to the eyes.

They can carry on with their SINAD and MTF charts while I enjoy the 21st century with retro tech gadgets, which were designed by human ears and eyes aided only by primitive computers and instruments.

Leica M and LTM lenses have significantly appreciated in value, with M42 lenses following at their heels. However, the German lenses below can still be found at reasonable prices in DKL and Exakta mounts. These are just as easily adapted to current mirrorless interchangeable lens camera bodies.

DKL Mount Lenses

Zenit 11 + DKL>M42 lens adapter
Schneider Kreuznach 45mm f2.8
(click for sample pics)

I pulled this Schneider Kreuznach Xenar 45mm f2.8 out of a Kodak Instamatic Reflex camera. It doesn't have the sharpness nor resolution of its bigger brother below but it renders nice colors with low to medium contrast. The short throw focus and compact design makes it a nice street shooter.

Fujica ST801 + DKL>M42 lens adapter + Schneider Kreuznach Xenar 45mm f2.8
Ultrafine Extreme 100 in Rodinal 1+50

Sony A7II + Schneider Kreuznach Retina-Xenon 50mm f1.9
(click for sample pics)

The Schneider Kreuznach Retina-Xenon 50mm f1.9 was the standard fast lens supplied with the Type 034 Kodak Retina Reflex S, III and IV + Retina IIIS rangefinder camera. It outperforms all the lenses discussed here in terms of speed, sharpness, resolution, color rendition and contrast. This lens is big and heavy.

Fujica ST801 + DKL>M42 lens adapter + Schneider Kreuznach Retina-Xenon 50mm f1.9
Ultrafine Extreme 100 in Rodinal 1+50

Zenit 11 + DKL>M42 lens adapter +
Voigtländer Color-Skopar 50mm f2.8
(click for sample pics)

This Voigtländer Color-Skopar 50mm f2.8 is normally found in a Bessamatic, also a compact design like the Xenar above but heavier. It's almost at par with the Xenon in terms of sharpness, color saturation, resolution and contrast. However, vignetting becomes apparent at wider apertures compared to the Xenar and Xenon.

Fujica ST801 + DKL>M42 lens adapter + Voigtlander Color Skopar 50mm f2.8
Ultrafine Extreme 100 in Rodinal 1+50

DKL Adapters

Voigtlander Color Skopar 50mm f2.8 DKL Lens + DKL>M42 lens adapter + M42>NEX lens adapter

The monochrome film pics above were  taken by the DKL lenses mounted on my Fujica ST801 M42 camera body via this DKL>M42 lens adapter. This adapter can also be mounted to an M42 adapter for your favorite mirrorles interchangeable lens digital camera body.   

Schneider Kreuznach Retina-Xenon 50mm f1.9 lens + M42>NEX lens adapter

NOTE: DKL lenses with built-in aperture rings aren't compatible with either of these lens adapters. Scroll down this link for more info.

Exa Camera + Exakta Mount Lenses

The Exakta VX camera was immortalized by James Stewart's character in Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window. I don't know if Hollywood contributed to the asking price for these cameras, but we'll focus on its cheaper siblings instead.

Ihagee Exa + Isco-Göttingen Westar 50mm f2.8
(click for sample pics)

Based on the serial number my Ihagee Exa + Isco-Göttingen Westar 50mm f2.8 was produced between 1956-1959. It's a very basic design with 4 shutter speeds -1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/150 + B and the mirror was integrated with the shutter mechanism. It came with a waist level viewfinder, which can be replaced with various focusing prisms including an eye level viewfinder that's interchangeable with the higher end Exakta. The Westar lens is a basic single coated triplet. I got it from my friend Mike, who's also an audio hobbyist.

I've only shot two short rolls with this camera. I'm having issues getting used to the waist level viewfinder, which might be psychological since I don't have trouble using medium format twin lens reflex cameras. 

Isco-Gottingen Westar 50mm f2.8 + Exakta>NEX lens adapter

Ihagee Exa II + Meyer Görlitz Domiplan 50mm f2.8
(click for sample pics)

I've been hunting for a Meyer Görlitz Domiplan 50mm f2.8 in M42 for many years but couldn't justify the asking prices for a single coated three element lens. So I ditched the M42 idea and got an Exa II camera with a Domiplan lens cap instead. The Exa II was upgraded with a focal plane shutter with speeds from 1/2 - 1/250 in geometric progression + B and was fitted with a fixed eye level viewfinder. This camera was manufactured between 1960-1963, which makes it just a tad older than I am. 

As long as the Exa and Exa II are loaded with ISO 100 film, the limited shutter speeds is a no brainer. It's just like shooting my Leica II and its Fed and Zorki cousins. Just as I expected, the Domiplan and Westar triplets can be very sharp in the center. From there, it builds up lots of character towards the edges, especially at wider apertures. 

Vintage glass + digital camera bodies take the edge out of pixels just like triodes and transformers make music more harmonious.

Good light and happy shooting!

Gray Research HF500 Turntable + 108C Tonearm

My buddy John Piro has a knack for finding obscure vintage hifi pieces and has built up quite a collection. A couple of summers ago, he offered his spare blonde plinthed HF500. 

I had just acquired my first and only genuine Gray Research 108C viscous damped tonearm and couldn't pass up the opportunity to pair them up. 

Capstan Drive

The Gray Research HF500 turntable employs a unique drive system. Strictly speaking, it is not an idler drive. A round section rubber belt is partially embedded around the outer rim of the platter, which is driven directly by the motor shaft. Capstan drive is probably a more appropriate technical term.

45 + 78 rpm capstans

To change speeds, the corresponding 45 or 78 rpm capstan (or bushing as termed in the manual) is placed over the native 33 rpm motor shaft.

D&R turntable drive system
Courtesy of jamesvanarsdale.com

 AFAIK, the only turntable from this era which also drove the outer periphery of the platter is the equally rare D&R turntable, but as depicted above, it uses a rubber idler wheel. 

Seiko-Epson drive system
Courtesy of audio-heritage.jp

The Gray Research capstan drive may have been the inspiration for Mr. Takeshi Teragaki's three turntable designs for Seiko-Epson - ∑2000, ∑5000 and ∑5000II.

Servicing Tips

Download a pdf file of the Gray Research HF500 Manual for more detailed information.

This iron platter/bearing combination weighs close to 20 lbs. The 1" spindle tapers to 13/16" which turns on a 1/2" thrust sphere at the bottom of the sintered bearing well. 

After experimenting with a couple of belt sizes, a 3/16" (cross section diameter) x 36" polyurethane round belt x from McMaster Carr, catalog #3044K705 gave the steadiest stroboscope readings at all speeds.

Disassembly

Remove the four screws as indicated by the red arrows. 

The plinth lifts from the bottom frame. 

The top plate is a massive 1/4" thick metal resting on rubber pads at each corner. Prior to installation of new rubber pads, motor vibration could be felt at the tonearm finger lift.

 With new rubber pads installed (+ new motor mounts, see below), vibration was practically nil. The material I used looks very similar to replacement rubber soles used by shoemakers. 

Removing the motor 

To release the motor from the mounting bracket, straighten and pull out the cotter pins.

Left = worn out motor mounts
Right = fresh motor mounts

Another source of vibration were perished motor mounts. Brand new replacements are available from Surplus Sales of Nebraska -  Rubber Shock Mount, Part No. RPS - 426-0001.

 

New rubber mounts installed

Before reassembly, I cleaned the motor and re-lubricated the bearings with blue 3-IN-ONE electric motor oil.

The sound is very energetic!

I've been enjoying my entire mono LP collection! 

View it in action! 😊