Light meters
Calumet M-100 Flash Meter User manual
User manual for Calumet M-100 Flash Meter. 25 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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- Brand
- Calumet
- Model / document
- Calumet M-100 Flash Meter
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 25
- File size
- 3.0 MB
- Category
- Light meters
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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INDEX
Page Page
Components of Calumet Flash Meter. 3 Shutter Equivalency Dial . . . . .15
Condensed Operating Instructions . . . 4 Sun 45" or Greater to Subject . . . .16, 17
Operating Theory 6 Sun Behind Gamera
. 18' 19 A Strong Professional Meter 7 Directly on Subiect . . .
shutterSpeed "' "'2o corrected for colorand Infra-Red .. . T Effectof
Linear Markings Light Ratio Computation... .....20,21
forGreaterAccuracy . .....8,9 Useof GreyCard ......21
White Ball for Incident
Or"nge toineilectea . . . .. 10 Oth.er Factors Affecting Exposure. .. .22
DetailedExposurelnformation......lO Adaptationof SynchroCord...'..'.23
How to Take an lncident Reading. . . .11 Battery Test . . .23
ForSpecial Effects ....12 Factory Galibration ....24
Reffected Readings-SphereOut...13 Warranty .....: ......24 i
To Use the Calumet Meter
as a Normal Exposure Meter. . . . . . 14
To Read Sun and Flash
I for Shadow Fill-ln . . . .15
\-View original page 3Page 5 · Read text
CONDENSED OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Determining Exposure for
Electronic Flash lllumination Put range switch (D) in down, or normal position. Make certain that range switch
Connect meter to synchro socket of flash is down and locked in place.
unit or generator using synchro line pro- Place meter in front of subject withvided. Be certain connector snaps into sphere pointed at camera lens for inci-place firmly in meter, (for adaptation in- dent reading. (see detailed instructionsformation see "adapters" at the end of for reflected readings.)these instructions.) Press and hold down red button (G) on
meter. This will fire flash unit and take
Incident Readings reading. Exposure reading will be indi-Sphere in front of sensor- cell cated directly in F/stops and will be held
Rotate outer ring (film speed ring (A) on the meter dial as long as meterand set white ball (B) (film speed indi- switch is depressed.cator) opposite correct film speed listed lf meter needle moves into blue area onin film data sheet for daYlight. meter face, move range switch full up
until it locks. This moves needle into
Reflected Reading Sphere Out higher range. Take another reading.Rotate outer ring and- set orange ball op- Make certain range switch is locked in
posite correct film speed. either full up or full down position.View original page 5Page 6 · Read text
www.butkus.us IMPORTANT Most electronic flash units give a "ready light" indication at less than full charge. To obtain maximum repeatability of the flash and therefore accuracy of readings, the meter exposure reading should always be taken after the flash unit has com- pletely recycled. To determine the total recycle time required for your flash unit, take a meter reading as soon as the ready light comes on, noting the time in sec- onds to reach this point. Then, allowing the flash unit to recycle, make a second reading one second after the time established above, then repeat the test two seconds after, etc. The point at which no turther exposure increase is observed is the true, full charge of your flash unit. The time from the initial firing of your flash to the point where the flash meter indicates no further exposure increase will therefore be your true recycle time. On battery powered units this time may lengthen as batteries weaken.View original page 6
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OPERATING THEORY
The Calumet Flash Meter'F is a profes- The meter produces an internal, elec-
sional quality device for determining tronic shutter speed of lll2sth and
exact exposure with electronic flash or therefore, reads only that light that will
daylight. By using the latest in electronic actually affect exposure on the film at
technology, Calumet has produced a that shutter speed. There is no drift
rugged and accurate meter in a small or "adding" of exposure in bright light
package. The meter was designed to give situations. The ability to fire your flash
you as much information as possible. lt through a synchro cable gives great ac-
can read electronic flash in either re- curacy and convenience.
flected and incident modes, or it can
give correct daylight exposures, or it can Pushing a red button fires the electronic
compute correct exposures for Synchro flash in synchronization with the meter
Sunlight photography, or establish light- through a synchro cable and holds the
ing ratios. The degree of accuracy pos- correct reading on the meter dial until
sible with this electronic meter equals or the button is released. The activation
surpasses that of meters costing many button releases an electronic sequen-
hundreds of dollars. cing circuit. Therefore, the speed of
pressing the button has no effect on the
The Calumet Meter is an electronic de- results.
vice of great accuracy. lt will not, how- f lstopever, substitute for your own judgment The Meter dial is linear on its 12 range. This means each mark on that the de- effectsin determining the lighting LA (expressed incre- stop in of a guides so dial These instructionssired. offer
that you may make full usage of the ments) represents approximately .10precision built into this meter. density units exposure increase. The range is divided into two sections of 6
f/stops each and controlled by a rangeConnection of the meter to a flash unit switch.through a synchro line allows the flash
meter to fire the electronic flash unit (r'patent pending . . . Electronic design
from either camera or subject position. Thomas Blakeslee)View original page 7Page 8 · Read text
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A STRONGER CORRECTED FOR COLOR
PROFESSIONAL METER AND INFRA.RED
9o4?u'oi
The Calumet flash meter uses a new The Sensor cell is color corrected to
type of meter movement called a "taut match the response of a standard ob'
band." This meter movement far sur' server curve (human eye). Thus, it is not
passes existing devices in resistance to subject to the color error encountered in
shock, vibration and rough treatment. many meters. Also, the Calumet meter
The indicating pointer is suspended on "sees" no infra'red. Electronic flash isa thin band of special alloy metal. lt is a high emitter of infra'red radiation'
not subject to the damage or friction Each flash unit, or flash head has its
resistance typical of jeweled bearing me' own inf ra-red emission characteristics
ters and therefore reads out with great that also change with use. The correctedaccuracy. The Calumet meter is also cell of the Calumet Meter is therefore
temperature compensated for accurate accurate with all equipment and is not
performance over a wide range of tem' affected by the infra-red output of dif-
perature conditions. ferent flash heads.View original page 8Page 9 · Read text
LINEAR MARKINGS FOR GREATER ACCURACY Many meter dials are presently expressed in logarithmetic units with increasing and therefore unequal mark- ings between f/stops. A user had to guess where fractional f/stops were. The linear Calumet scale reads directly in equal increments between f/stops. Once the correct film speed is set into the meter, the flash meter will electron- ically compute exposure directly in f/stops equally subdivided. The result is a very easy to read meter face that gives full information on slight changes in light intensity resulting in fractional f/stop changes. (Most lenses are marked in logarithmetic units. Therefore, half (1) Meter dial shows equidistant f/stopsway between two f/stops is ngt t/z ot for accurate determination of frac- an f/stop. tional settings.View original page 9
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Because it is electronically linear, the
meter doesn't run out of f/stops. lt has
two ranges, low and high. Ranges are
selected with a range lever on the meter.
Unlike many meters that quit at f /22,
the Calumet Meter goes into the higher
ranges and tells you exactly how many
f/stops the light must be decreased to ffi** *'* obtain correct exposure. (Either by mov-
cai*mei rLA$H trTtR ing the main light back or by utilizing
neutral density filters). The meter is ac-
curate and linear as long as the needle
(2) When needle moves into blue, shift does not move into the blue area. lf the
scale. reading falls into the blue, shift scale.View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
DETAILED EXPOSURE INFORMATION
WHITE BALL FOR INCIDENT INCIDENT READINGS
...ORANGEFOR SPHERE IN
''REFLECTED -(for INCIDENT set white ball opposite
film speed)
light readings using the inte-
-lncidentgrating sphere in place are recom-
mended as the most accurate method of
determining exposure with electronic
flash. The sphere is less sensitive to aim
problems and in effect provides a replica
of a three dimensional subject. The in.
cident sphere is corrected to give a cor-
rect total rendering of average skin
tones or scenes of normal brightness
ranges. When determining exposures on
subject matter higher or lower in aver.
age brightness, some exposure compen-
Film speeds are set for incident (sphere sation must be given. The sphere "sees"
in) readings by aligning the white ball both main and fill lights and will give a
with the correct film speed. Since film correct exposure for the total light fall-
speed is affected by processing, individ- ing on the subject.
ual technique and preference, a wide Some subjects have abnormal reflectiv-
variety of continuous, linear speed set- ity or absorption of light and requiretings are provided in rA of an f/stop some compensation: For example, to
increments. Rotate the outer ring until photograph a wall of dark wood in-the desired speed appears opposite the creases exposure I stop from the inci-white ball. An orange ball is used to dent reading; for a white subject onindicate the f ilm speed for ref lected white background decrease exposure 1
(sphere out) readings. For reflected stop. Unless the subject deviates signi-
readings, the orange ball is aligned ficantly from normal, no exposure com-
against the film speed. pensation need be made.View original page 11Page 12 · Read text
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HOW TO TAKE AN INCIDENT READING
r-
Place the meter in front of the subject, located in the area to be correctly exposed'
For best results with both normal single or multiple light set ups aim the sphere
directty at the camera lens. Be careful not to shadow or block the sphere with your
body or hand. Back or key lights should be shielded from the sphere unless these
materially affect total exposure.View original page 12Page 13 · Read text
-ff FOR SPECIAL EFFECTS 9r..1'' 9: one lamp at 90'to subject where it is desired to record primarily high-light detail-only, aim the sphere directly at the light source and inciease exposure 2/z of an f/stop from indicated meter exposure. Aiming the sphere direbily at camera lens would result in correct overall exposure bufthe highlights would be over exposed since the meter would give a correct exposure to ieproduce themiddle tones. lf the needle moves into the blue area of the dial, shift range to the higher level.View original page 13
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vReflected read in close (about 7")
a flash reflector on camera will illu-_REFLECTEDSPHERE OUTREADINGS that Watch out for meter shadow. minate the subject satisfactorily, but
(For REFLECTED set orange batt oppo- usually not the background. Therefore,
site correct film speed). REFLECTED read as close to the subject as practical
READINGS from camera position may and check reflector aim carefully.
be used where the more accurate inci- Where great differences in lighting con-
dent technique is not practical. The re- trasts exist, or when subject matter isflected angle of view of the meter is dark several reflected readings should
approximately 50". Since the circle of be taken from principal parts of thesatisfactory illumination of many flash scene and the readings averaged to ob-units is less than 50", it is important tain the best overall exposure level.that the meter be aimed as closely as The reflected mode is also useful inpossible at the area where correct ex- establishing lighting ratios. For example,posure is required. The reflected reading by moving the meter to 6 or 7 inchesshould also be taken as close to the sub-ject as possible. Outdoors with bright from the subject, the highlight area maysky areas, the meter should be tilted be read. Then take a second reading ofdownward slightly to prevent the large the deepest shadow area when detail issky area from influencing the reading. desired. On subjects with wide bright- ness ranges, the high and low levels
The reflected reading should be used may be averaged. This is essentially
only where the more accurate incident what the incident sphere does when the
reading is impractical. Always consider meter is used in incident mode.View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
TO USE THE CALUMET METER AS A NORMAL EXPOSURE METER The Calumet flash meter functions as an extremely accurate conventional meter in daylight. (lts sensitivity is not as high as a normal exposure meter since it was designed primarily for flash). The Calu- met meter is used in a conventional manner without connecting the flash synchro cord. Remember that the meter works always at an assumed 1/125th of a second shutter speed. Other shutter 'speeds may be used by using the equiv- aient shutter speed f/stop combination on the calculator dial. Pressing the meter activation button will therefore give an accurate daylight ex- posure using either the incident or re- flected technique. Because of its great accuracy, the Calumet meter can be used effectively as a conventional day' light meter. The basic sensitivity is ad- julted for the usually more powerful electronic flash unit and sensitivity will function at light levels down to "cloudy dull" conditions. lt also performs well with f lood lights or studio tungsten lights.View original page 15
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SHUTTER EQUIVALENCY DIAL TO READ SUN AND FLASH
FOR SHADOW FILL.IN
The Calumet Meter will read most studio
flood lights which wiil falt within its
rangg of sensitivity. lt will always read
out the total light present at an assumed
l/l25th of a second. By using the inner Synchro Sunlight photography Syn.
shutter speed calculator the continuous chro sun involves using daylight- as the
light can be brought in balance. main light source and filling-in the
Most For example, if the meter reads f /g, ro- shadows with electronic flash. tate the l/I25th mark on the inner'cal- situations involve the sun at an angle
culator dial to f/8. Other shutter speed greater than 45' or directly behind the
f/stop combinations will then be correct, subject. The lighting ratio in synchro
e.9., 1/60th at f /71, 1/500 at f /4. When sun photography depends on personalih comb.ining flash with continuous light preference, but very pleasing results can
the dial. may be used to bring lig-ht be obtained with color at a 3:1 ratio, or sources in balance. Example: flash ex- 4:l or 8:1 for black and white.
posure is t/22. Studio ftood fiil reads f/g The sunlight thus is kept brighter than
(a.! qgler assumption ot t/t21th) Atign the flash. Should the flash be in too l/125th mark on calculator at t/8'. Rea?- close and more intense than the sun, ing up, a 1/15th of a second exposure the resulting picture would appear un- time gives a f /22 equivalent exirosure natural. We, therefore, base exposure on
for the studio flood. Set camera ihutter the sun and background. Flash fill-in is at 1/15th at t/22 for correct, batanced then calculated so it will be less than
exposure. the sun.
t5
IView original page 16Page 17 · Read text
SYNCHRO SUN PHOTOGRAPHY SUN 45' OR GREATER TO SUBJECT The technique differs slightly depending on the angle of the sun to the subject. For example: Assuming the sun is over the subject's shoulder or at an angle greater than 45" off the camera axis, the electronic flash at camera will be illuminating the greatest area of the subject with the sun providing the highlights and bac*ground. In this case, very little of the flash and sunlight will be combining in highlight areas. To determine the highlight or sun exposure, therefore, take an incident reading with the sphere towards the subject, so that the sunlight will fall directly on the sphere. (Do not allow the sphere to be covered by ?r shadow.) Use the meter with the synchro cord unplugged so that the flash will not fire. This gives a highlight and background exposure without a flash at an assumed shutter speed ot I/l25th of a second. Set the camera shutter and diaphragm at the f/stop and shutter speed indicated above, or its equivalent value. This will beyour basic exposure. Then turn the sphere towards the camera lens, shielding the sphere so that the direct sunlight does not strike the sphere. There will be some ambient light on the shaded side of the subject. The meter will integrate this with the flash at l/125thView original page 17
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_ rtlit/_
-Z'*s- '1
so that the sun only reading may be correctly compared with the flash plusambient fill.
lf the flash reading is greater than the previously obtained sunlight reading, the
flash is to9 strong and must be reduced in intensity, e.g. sun only 1/tZStn a{i/rc.Sun plus flash : t/22. The flash may be reduced by:
1. Diffusing the flash or lowering the power setting if available. 2. lncreasing the distance of the flash to the subject.
The flash should be positioned so that the "sunlight only" reading is at least /2to one f/stop brighter than the "flash only" reading. With the sphbre pointing'at
the camera lens the meter will always integrate botlrflash and ddylight sun nylhe
cell at L/125th to indicate a correct total exposure. However, we want the ilash
to be somewhat less than the daylight for a more natural result.
!hus, a correct exposure would be: Camera set at L/l2sth at f/16 (sun only).Flash from shaded cell f/11. (or t/8 for black and white). Our synchro sun teih-
nique involves:
1 Setting overall correct exposure (sun highlight and background). 2. Obtaining correct lighting ratio
(sun to flash)View original page 18Page 19 · Read text
SYNCHRO SUN PHOTOGRAPHY SUN BEHIND CAMERA DIRECTLY ON SUBJECT Assuming the sun is 45' or less to the subject or therefore, -coming from behindthe camdra position, but still leaving some shadows to be filled in, the flash is mainly fillin! in objectionable shadows, whereby the sun is. providing the main lightiig. Our-correct ratio will be a total of sun plus flash. In this situation, the correct technique is somewhat different. ESTABLISH LIGHTING RATIO AND CORRECT EXPOSURE LEVEL RELATIVE TO BACKGROUND. Aim the sphere at the camera lens from subject position. Connect the. synchro cable and take reading of sun and flash together. Then, unplug the synchro cord, so that the flash will not fire and read the sun only. Remember that although the flash will fill in the shadows, it will also add to the highlight which in this case is the primary portion of the subject. Therefore, theView original page 19
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total flash plus sun exposure should be kept close to the "sun only" exposure,
so that the subject will not stand out as overly bright against the background. There-
fore, lighting ratios as high as 5:1 are appropriate in this type of lighting.
To achieve a pleasing sun flash/background relationship, diffuse the flash or move
it back until the total flash plus sun reading is lft of an f/stop above the "sun only"
reading. This will give you approximately 3:1 between the ambient light and the
flash fill. lf it is desired to match the background exposure even closer, reduce the
flash intensity until you achieve only a fractional increase between flash and sun
reading. (lf there is no change at all the flash may be too weak as we can not
"turn off" the sun for a more accurate reading).View original page 20Page 21 · Read text
EFFECT OF SHUTTER SPEED LIGHTING RATIO
COMPUTATION
To understand lighting ratios, a defini-
tion of terms is necessary. When Kodak
and other f ilm manufacturers call for 3:1
ratios for color exposures, they mean
the ratio of light on the subject and not
the relationship between the fill-in and
main light by themselves. For example,
The camera shutter setting can also be if the main light is placed at about 45"
used to regulate background intensity. to the camera and fill light on camera,
Since the shutter speed has no effect on and if the main light is twice as bright
the intensity of the flash fill (most elec' as the fill light, the ratio is about 3:1,
tronic flash units fire at 1/600th or not 2:1. The reason is that there will be
shofter times) decreasing the camera 3 units of light in the highlight area (2
shutter speed in effect increases the units of main plus one unit of fill) plus
"intensity" of the background thereby 1 unit of fill in the shadow area or 3:1.permitting higher f/stop settings on the ln actual practice, it doesn't work out
lens. e.g. f /16 to t/22. that precisely since there is usually an
This allows a closer flash to subject overlap of the main and fill in the shad- ow area also. Thus, the Calumet flashworking distance. For example: the me-
time. exposure assumester meter can give very exact ratios by "see- a L/125 in ing" all the light that is present, evenThus, at f/16 ot L/l25th a reading overlap anddaylight is the equivalent of 1/6oth at where the main and fillt/22 as shown on the inner shutter thus "add."speed calculator dial. Conversely, in- To determine lighting ratio luln 6ncreasing camera shutter speeds can be main plus fill-in light (or lights).- From
used to permit greater flash'to'subject subject position, aim meter sphere to
working distance. obtain a maximum reading) (this may beView original page 21Page 22 · Read text
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USE OF GREY CARD
a point about half way between main Kodak Neutral Test Card is designedand fill), then turn out the main light to-a simulate the reflectance of an aver-
and aim sphere directly at camera lens age subject. The card has a white and a
and take another reading. (lf you are grey side. The grey side is based on a
working with multiple flash heads from reflectance of LSTo which works out well
one generator, block off the main light for average subjects illuminated by elec-instead of unplugging it so that the pow- tronic flash. Place a grey card in the
er or light output will remain constant). scene held at a slight angle so there is
no direct reflection from the card intoThe two readings will then be a true the meter cell. The meter reading islighting ratio, based on the actual light meter with mode made the in reflected (added main plus subject fillon the (be certain away from the card 6" plus fill about main single e.g.versus fill), meter does not cast a shadow that theequals f /LL. Fill only reads f/8. The ratio card.) on theof "added" highlight to fill light on the
subject is 2:1. To determine exposure, lf the light level is too low for the meter,
then aim the sphere at the camera lens take a reflected reading from the white
and take a reading with main and fill side and divide the result by 5. Flesh
together. The meter always gives the cor' tones usually require Yz to 2/s of a stop
rect overall exposure when the sphere rnore exposure than that indicated by a
is aimed at the camera lens. reflected reading from the grey card.View original page 22Page 23 · Read text
OTHER FACTORS meter has an error of no more lhan 2o/s. Therefore, the assumed l/L25th time of
AFFECTING EXPOSURE the meter should be considerably more
accurate than most camera shutters. Many factors other than the meter's
electronic accuracy can affect exposure' Bellows Extension Factor
Some of these are: The exposure increase required by bel-
1. Film speed Manufacturers Pub' lows eitension can vary from as much' lished film speeds- can be plus or minus as one full f/stop in normal photog'
Yz of an f/stop. Processing can add an raphy. For exampile, a 812" Caltar lens idditional % of an f/stop error. The has the approximate bellows factors:
film speed on the Calumet meter should Lens to lncrease
be matched to your own procedures and tilm distance exposure by processing through a preliminary t99t. 10' 1.5x 2. Lens diaphragm accuracy The L2n 2x . amount bf mechanical error in a- series
of lenses (of differing manufacturer)
evaluated at Calumet were as great as Convenient bellows extension calcula' plus or minus 3/+ of an f/stop. This error
is most pronounced in small apertures tors are available from Kodak and other f rom f / 16 to t/45. This is because film manufacturers.
f/stops on a lens are in a logarithmetic Reciprocity Failure of Film.
progression. Slight movements of the The Calumet meter is not affected by the
diaphragm lever in the area of smaller flash duration time of commercial or apeftures create a great amount of pro' portable type flash units. However, some
portional exposure change. film lose both speed and contrast at 3. Reflectance of subject The inci' exposure times shorter than 1/5,000th dent sphere is calculated to- give good of a second. results from an average flesh tone. On
dark (or especially light) subject matter Meter Aim
it may be necessary to take a series of Electronic flash reflectors tend to throw
reflected readings and average them. a narrow light beam that is not always A good example of this would be dark perfectly even. For critical work it is
colored machinery in an oPen factory recommended that more than one expo'
space. sure reading be taken from different
4. Gamera shutter speed in daylight locations at the subject position. This error in camera shutters evaluated- will indicate lighting evenness and also range from 20 to 300/6 error at LlL2sth. make cedain that you are not reading
zz The electronic computing circuit in the a "hot spot" in the lighting.View original page 23From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
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