Home/Butkus archive/Gossen
Light meters

Gossen Variosix F User manual

User manual for Gossen Variosix F. 29 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.

29 pagesEnglish1.2 MB PDF
Gossen Variosix F manual cover
Read the manual Original PDF
Download PDF
Loading your manual…Open PDF directly

Document details

Brand
Gossen
Model / document
Gossen Variosix F
Document type
User manual
Language
English
Pages
29
File size
1.2 MB
Category
Light meters
Document date
Not specified in catalog

Search available document text

Find a term, then jump to its page in the original PDF. Image-only pages may not be searchable; check the PDF for exact wording and diagrams.

Page 3 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
Contents                     Page   Flash measurement               14
                                                                  - Multipleflash                     15
Views of the meter                  cover   Measurementsexceedingthe measuring
and its controls                   1 & 2  range                          15
                                         Displayexceedingthe displayrange    16
Display                            4   Settingand measuringcorrectionvalues 17
The displayand its elements           4     - Settingcorrectionvalues            17
Displayduration                     5     - Measuringcorrectionvalues         18
                                        Cancellingcorrectionvalues          19
How the VARIOSIXF tunctions          5    lmportantremarksconcerning"Correction
Preparations                        5   Values"                         20
Battery                             5
Self-checkingroutine                  6   Technicalspecifications              21
Basicvalues                        6
Measuringrange extension            7
lncidentand reflectedlightmeasurement 7

The individualfunctions                              I
Settingthe film speed                                   I
Continuouslightmeasurement                  I
- For shutterprioritymode "t"           1 0
- For apertureprioritymode "f"          1 1
- Exposurevalue(lightvalue)"EV"      1 2
- CINEscale(framesper second)       1 2
- Contrastmeasurement              1 3
View original page 3
Page 5 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com





MeasuringbuttonM                              Socketto connectthe
                                                    flashsynchronisingcable

Buttonsto adjustthe values
                                               Synchronisingbutton +
                                                          to firethe flash
View original page 5
Page 6 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com

Swivel head with diffuser for incident lioht           Batterycompartmentwith
measurement (see page 7)                       contactedbattery
                                            (see page 5)





Swivel head without diffuser
for reflected light
measurement (see page B)           Close


                             Open





Specialdiffuser(+5 stops)
for measuringrangeextension
(seepage 7)
                                                 Battervcomoartmentcover
View original page 6
Page 7 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com





                          Briefinstructionsfor the most
                       imoortantfunctions





                        Serialnumber



                         Batterycompartment
View original page 7
Page 8 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
Your VARIOSIXF is an exposuremeter with   DigitalLCD displayin tenthsof stops
digital display from GOSSEN.lt measures
continuouslightand f lash,and it coversa wide   Analoguecontrastdisplayin half stops
measuringrangewith greataccuracy.
                                    Programmableexposurecorrection
A wealth of knowledgein the area of light
metering,basedon many decadesof experi-  Recallof all possiblepairedsettingsfor a
encein the manufactureofexposuremeters,is   reading
now being made availableto the user,in the
simplestmannerpossible,due to micropro-  Apertureor shutterprioritypreselection
cessortechnology.The VARIOSIXF not only
measureswith the greatest accuracy, but it   Extremelyconvenientto measureflashes
can also store the readingsand complete
calculationsat the pushof a button.lts opera-  Coversthe entirecine scale (framesper se-
tion is exceptionallysimpleand convenient.   cond),includingthe TV standard25 f.p.s.

Featuresthat characterisethe VARIOSIXF:    Warningwhen range is exceeded

Microprocessorcontrolled                  Automaticbatterycheck

Measuresreflected and incident light, flash   Storageof settingsand readings
(with cord and cordless),and the share of
ambientlight.                            Automaticcut-off

Calculationof multioleflash
View original page 8
Page 9 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
Display

The display and its elements
'1   Functions
     - Flashmeasurement
     - Continuouslightmeasurementwith
     shutterprioritY                                  1 1 . 4 2 1 2 . 8 4 $ . 61 8 l 1 1 1 6
      - Continuouslightmeasurementwith                         r  l r  l h  l r  l  t  l  l r  l  l L  l r  l  t  l
     aperturepriority
      - Continuouslightmeasurementwith               6     7 8 9      1 0                   l l l                                                                                      "t"     read-outof exposurevalues(EV)            Displayidentification for exposuretime
      - Enteringthe correctionvalue                (shutterspeed)                                                   "BAT"      - Settingthe film speed              B  Warnrngsign       for batterycheck                                                                     "1"2  Digitaldisplayof film speed ASA (lSO)     o  Displayidentification for fractionsof a                              "f"                             for aperture         second ?   Displayidentification                    "EV"                               for exposure    1 0 Right-handdigitaldisPlaY4  Displayidentification
                                                                        - Exposuretrmet (shutterspeed)    value
5  Analogueaperturescale                                - Exposureextensionfactor
o   Left-handdigitaldisplay                                - CINE(framesper second);symbol:/
      - Aperturef                                                   - Multipleflash;symbol:F at 6
      - ExoosurevalueEV                                      - Filmsoeed in ASA                                                  "m"      - Correctronvaluesteps               11 Unitsymbol    for minutes                                             '12             "s"      - Filmsoeedin DIN                          Unitsvmbol   for seconds
View original page 9
Page 10 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
DisplayDuration                    How the VARIOSIXF Functions

When none of the control buttons has been   Preparations
actuatedduringthe last2 minutes,the display
is automaticallyswitchedoff, i.e.thereare no    Battery
readings.                            The VARIOSIXF operateswith a g V battery
- Thestoredvaluesare recalledby depressing  (alkaline-manganesebattery or correspon-
 the functionor valuesbuttons.             ding rechargeablebattery).Sincethe meter's
- Renewedmeasurementis instantlypossible  powerconsumptionis minimal,the batterywill
 whenthe meteringbuttonis depressed.      lastfor a longtime.Whenthe battery'scapacity
                                 becomesexhausted,the useris warnedby the
The valuesof the lastmeasurementare stored   "BAT"display.Thismeansthatthe batteryhas
untrla new meter readingis taken.The VA-   to be exchangedat the earliestpossibleop-
RIOSIXF is fittedwith separatememoriesfor   portunity.
continuouslightand flashmeasurement.     Measurementscease to be possibleif the                                                        "BAT".                                          displayonlyindicates    The batterymust
                                     be immediatelyreplaced.
                                   To change the batteryopen the batterycom-
                                      partment of the VARIOSIXF. Remove the
                                      exhaustedbattery.Clip the contactsonto the
                                 new battery and insert in the battery com-
                                         partment.Pushback the batterycompartment
                                         cover.
                                           Batterychangingerasesall storedvalues.
View original page 10
Page 11 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
'     Self-GheckingRoutlne

    The microcomputerperformsa self-checking
      routineas soon as the batteryhas been loa-                                          |Zlr|lr|lsllsl ItrEEtl',]     ded. Everypossibledisplaysegmentappears
     on the displayduringthis routine.
    The duration of the self-checkingroutine is                   '10     approximately  seconds,but it can be in-               ,IE.EEEi                   E.EE90                                                                 1                                                                       1.4 2 2.8 4 5.6 8  11 16 22 32 45 64     terruptedby depressingany button.                                              l  r  l  r  l  r  l  r  l  r  l  r  l  r  l  r  l  r  l  r  l  r  l  r  l  r  l
    The factory-programmedbasic settings are
      automaticallyadjusted as soon as the self-
     checkingroutinehas been completed,


     Basic values

                lso     1001210
          coRR    0i 1.0
                          f        5.6
                          t       11125
           E V     1 2
             Flash  D 1/60
View original page 11
Page 12 · Read text
www.orphancameras.comI          MeasuringRange Extension                   lncident Light Measurement- ReflectedLight
                                            MeasurementI.       Extremelypowerfulflashand very brightcon-
          tinuouslight can be measuredby using the   Wiih regard to its measuringpossibilitiesand
          specialdiffuser(+5 stops).                   operation,VARIOSIXF was conceivedfor pro-
         Change-overis automaticbythe diffuseritself.   fessionaluse. Due to its swivelsensor(swivel
                                                  head),the meteris easilyadaptedto universal
        Rangedata:    Flash   Continuouslight   service.
            (at ISO 100121")                            Incidentlight measurementleads to particu-
          Normaldiffuser f/1 to 16 EV -2to +18       larly precise exposures.With incident light
           Specialdiffuser f/5.6to 90 EV +3 to +23     measurementthe VARIOSIXF with adjusted
            (+ 5 stops)                                  diffuseris pointedfromthe subjecttowardsthe
                                           camerato measurethe incidentlightto gua-
        The special diffuserfor measuringrange ex-   rantee a precise exposurein conformitywith                               "+5".          tensionis identifiedbv                       the correcttonal valuesof the subject.This is
                                                        particularlyimportantwith inherentlybrightor
                                                 dark subjects,Even in difficultexposuresi-
                                                         tuations,for instancewith contrastysubjecrs,
                                                     incidentlight measurementwith the diffuser
                                                         resultsin far more accurateexposuresto sa-
                                                               tisfy the most discerning professionalre-
                                                 quirements.Incidentlightmeasurementis also
                                                  imperativewithinaccessiblesubjects.Forthis
                                               purpose it is necessaryto select a point that
                                             hasthe samelightinglevelas the subject.And

                                                                                                          -l
View original page 12
Page 13 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
then a meter readingis takenthat lies parallel   ject. The meter now only measuresthe light
withthe projectedconnecttnglinebetweenthe   reflectedby the subject.Consequently,the
actualsubjectand the camera.              reading always depends upon the inherent
                                         brightnessof the subject! This means that
This very convenientmethodof light metering   inherentlybrightersubjectsare not precisely
at a pointwiththe same lightinglevelis highly  measuredand thereforerendereddarker.
recommendablefor outdoorshots.The meas-                                "about                                         Thismodeis alsousedto measurethe subjecturementis performedwith a complete
turn"in frontof the cameraso thatthe reading  contrastwhichis displayedby the VARIOSIXF
is taken with the meter pointingtowards the   on its analogscale(see page 13).
camera,i.e.oppositethe actualpictureshoot-
ing direction.                                                      lf readingsare to be taken exclusivelyby the
                                            reflectedlight measuringmethod,then it is
Incidentlightmeasurement,i.e.with diffuser,  advantageousfor the professionalto use a
alsogivesa precisereadingof the brightness  grey card (18% remissioncapacity)in this
contrastrangeof the lighting.             mode.
Both kinds of lighting- flash and continuous
 light- aremeasuredwithgreataccuracyby the
incidentlightmethodwith diffuser.

Parallelto this the VARIOSIXF also offersthe
reflectedlight measuringmethod.In thismode
the diffuserhas to be removed,and the meter
 is oointedfrom the camera towardsthe sub-

8
View original page 13
Page 14 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
The IndividualFunctions
Setting the film speed
                                                               ,    t    f EvcoRo SelectISOwithfunctionbuttons.
o Set the desired ISO value with the values
  buttons.(Display:left DIN value;rightASA                                            trLi  value)                 r-f     [il
Oncethe filmspeedhas beenset it is transfer-
red to the memoryof the VARIOSIXF whenthe
meter is adjustedto any operatingfunction,
and it remarnsvisibleat the top on the right-
handsideof the digitaldisplay.Any changeof
the film speed directlyinfluencesthe stored
pairedapertureand shuttervalues.
Thisselectedfilmspeedwill be retainedin the
meter memoryuntrlyou change it to a new
settingas describedaboveor untilyouchange
the battery.

Continuouslight measurement
The VARIOSIXF is designedfor an exposure
valuemeasuringrangeof -2 to +181+23(witha
specialdiffuser)atISO 100121'.
View original page 14
Page 15 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
It offersthe followingpossibilitiesdepending
on the applicationin hand:
                           "t"a) With shutterpriority  the readingis taken
   for the correspondingaPerture.                             "f"b) Withaperturepriority  the readingis
   takenfor the correspondingshutterspeed.                  "EV"c) For exposurevalue    the shutterspeed
    is preselectable,and the apertureis given
   as an analogvalue.
d) CINEspeed (framesPer second)                                                  "t"e) Contrastmeasurementin the function

The desiredcontinuouslightfunctioncan be
selectedwith the correspondingfunctionbut-
ton.
a) Shutter prioritYmode                       ,lA      f  ev con rsolil l.I
            "t"                                 s           with the functionbuttons(the lasto Select                         tL!,'ilIt'I n n  storedvalueappearson the display).                      U                       Uo Adjustthe desiredshutterspeed with the                                                                                                           't6                                                                      22                                                                         32 45 64 90                                                          1 1  . 4 2 2  . 8 4 5  . 6 8 1                                                                                 1
  valuesbuttons.                                             T
o Measureby depressingthe measuringbut-
  ton M.
 1 0
View original page 15
Page 16 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
o The measuredaperturestop appearson the
   left-handdigitaldisplay(resotution:1/1Oth
  stops),and additionallyas a mark rounded
   off in the analogaperturescale.
o Selectother paired aperture/shuttervalues
   with the values buttons.

b) Aperture priorlty mode
           "f"o Select   with the functionbuttons.
o Set the desired aperture with the vatues
  buttons.
o Measureby depressingthe measuringbut-
  ton M.
o Themeasuredshutterspeedappearson the
  right-handdigitaldisplay- Automaticadap-
  tation of the aperturein 1/1Othstops to the
  fixedshuttersoeed.                                            ,     t |TJEV coR rso af-afiIIJI:{
o Selectother paired aperture/shuttervalues
  with the valuesbuttons.                       tLl.lil"!il n  s
Note:The 1/1Othstop values stored from the          U
lastmeasurementappearwhenthe apertureis        1 1  . 4 2 2  . 8 4 5  . 6 8 1 11 6 2 232 45 64 90
preset.These are invalidbecausethe valid                                      I

                                                                                                -l
View original page 16
Page 17 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
1/10th stops will only appear after the next
meterreadrngis taken.
                                                                            '* Ll ',1',1c) Exposurevalue EV                                      ,    t    f l-rulco*
       "EV"                                t'l:_nn  so Select             with the functionbuttons'            Irl .
o Adjust the desired shutter speed with the   E V. U ]      - ] U U
  valuesbuttons.                                     1 1.4 2 2.8 4 5.6 8  11 16 22 32 45 64 90
o Measureby depressingthe measuringbut-                      I
  ton M.
o The measuredaperturestop appearson the
  left-handdigitaldisplay(resolutron:1/1Oth
  stops),and additionallyas a mark in the
  analogaPerturescale.
o With the value buttonsselect other paired
   aperture/shutterspeed valuescorrespono-
   ing to this ExPosureValue.
 d) CINEsPeed(frames Per second)                        ,              f   ev con   lso  at f-lx Hf-l                                            II
            "t" o Select            with the functionsbuttons'                    f                                      the                                        (f p s                 speed                                                 ) with         the desired   Select o                                                                                                                                     t I     l  ,                          go                            beyond                    purpose               Forthis         buttons.   values                         l['r  :  1/BOOOths. Afterapprox.1 secondthe meter        1 1.4 2 2 . 8 4 5.6 8 11 16   32 45 64 90
   switchesovertoCINEspeeds.Thesymbol/                             .22
View original page 17
Page 19 · Read text
www.orphancameras.comlr          appears on the display.Cine speeds are
               variablebetweenB and 64 frames/s.
           o Measureby depressingthe measuringbut-
              ton M.
           o The measuredaperturestop appearson the
              left-handdigitaldisplay(resolution:1/'1Oth
              stops),and additionallyas a mark rounded
                 off in the analogaperturescale.

          The displayedapertureappliesto a 180 de-
           greeshutterblade.Entera CORvaluefor other
            shutterbladesas an extensionfactor
                V = 180o:open apertureangle

             e) Measuringthe contrast
                            "t"           o Select   with functionbuttons,l           o Keepmeasuringbuttondepressedfor some
             time and aim meterat the variousareasin      ,7I    f evcon,so iilll-I           your subject
           o ln the leftdigitaldisplay,thereappearsthe                           'Ll,[I"I[ n  s                  firstmeasuredaperture(f/stop)ltwillstayon                 in the display as referencevalue (e.9. a          U
              neutralgreycard)duringthe entiremeasur-       1 1.4 2 2.8 .4, 5.6 8  11 16 22 32 45 64 90
              ing operation.On the analogaperturescale,                                         l r i l ( r l r l

                                                                           1 3
                                                                                                                                                               I
View original page 19
Page 20 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
  the contrastrange betweenthe two extreme
  valueswill come on. The actualmeasurlng
  valueflashes.
o After the measuringbutton is released,the
entrrecontrastrangemeasuredis indicatedon
the analog aperture scale. The last value
measureddoes not flashany longer.
Contrastrange of the subject:withoutdiffuser
Contrastof illumination:    wrthdiffuseron.

Flash Readings
Readingscan be taken with or without syn-
chronisrngcable. When used in conjunction
with a synchronisingcable,the flash is fired
withthe synchbutton7.
            " o Select          7" withthe functionbuttons.                          f  evcon "" Llll';l              a o Adjust the desired synchronisingspeed                                          s                                                                t'l:                                                               rl   with the values buttons.Synch range from            t:
   1 s to 1/lOOOths (including1/90s).                                           f - r  f u
 o Depressthe measuringbuttonM' VARIOSIX      1 1 . 4 2 2.8 4 5.6 8  11 16 22 32 45 64 90  F is operablefor meteringfor a period of
  45 s. (Meterreadinessprevailsas long as
   "F"     remainsvisibleon the display).
 1 4
View original page 20
Page 21 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
o Firethe flash.
o The measuredaperturestop (fromthe sum
   total       of         flash           and                continuous                                light)                            appears                                                                     t    f  evcon ".  L!l:l!]  on the           left             digital                  display,                     and                          as a                                 flashing   .A
  mark on the analog aperture scale. The  aperture stop for the share of continuous          f      ''f,[  s
   lightis additionallyindicatedon the aperture  scale(in our exampletl8).            i[r                                                               2 2.8 4 5.6 I  11 1.6.2232 45 64 90
                                                                                                                        |     ;fs
- Multiple Flash

Occasionallythe lightoutputfroma singlef lash
may not be sufficientto enableyou to work at
the aperture desired. When this happens,
simply push the top values button until the
desiredf/numberappearsin the display.
The    digital          shutter              speed display                           disappears,
to be    replaced            by information                      on the                          numberof         l Zt     f e ucoR,* L!l:!l]
flashesthat have to be fired for the desiredtstop (e.9.F4 = 4 flashes).        'Jlr:                   FL!TheVARIOSIXFwillcalculateup to a maximum  '10of   flashseouences.


                                                                          1 5
View original page 21
Page 22 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
MeasurementsOutsidethe MeasuringRange                                                                             ,     t E E v c o R ,soltiltil
o The VARIOSIXF will not produceany useful
  readingsoutsideits measurtngrange'                             "E"o  lf it is too dark or too bright'an    (= error)  aooears on the left digital display' ano     I t                                            "             "u "                                              fi" for too                   for too dark,or  aiongsideit
   bright.
Read-outOutsidethe DisplayRange
                                                                              ,     t   lI   Ev coR rso   It f1t-lu H                    "                  lJ" or" f," appearsontherighto  lf thesymbol
   or leftdigitaldisplayit meansthata readlng                                t        t'  has beentaken,but itsdisplayis outsidethe   meter'sdisPlaYrange                 |,il,J
                                                                           16 22 32 45 64 90          " U " actuatevaluesbutton ['J  , to enter               't 1.4 2 2.8 4  5.6 8  11 o With
   the disPlaYrange.
 o With          " o" actuatevaluesbutton Q  to enter
   the disPlaYrange.
                                                           , aA f  svcon rso ltil';l
                                          f   rt  t'Ennr!t                                     I-1UUU
                                                          1 1.4 2 2.8 4 5.6 8  1t 16 22 32 45 64 90

 1 6
View original page 22
Page 23 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
              Setting and MeasuringCorrectionValues                           "lmportant             (Pleasereferto        RemarksConcer-
             ning CorrectionValues",page 20)

               Setting GorrectionValues
                                     "COR".             o Selectwith the functionbuttons
              (The lastvalid correctionvalueappearson
               the display)
             o Enteror changethe correctionvaluewiththe
              valuesbuttons.
             The extensionfactor appears on the right-
             hand digitaldisplay,the correctionvaluers
             shown                   on                         the left                                      in steps.
               Enterin                    1/1Oth                           steps                                                                     /   t   f  .ulsl  ,so !l] ll                                  (smallfigure)withina
              rangeof + 7.9 ExposureValuesteps.tf            A figure preceded by " -  " indicatesan             exposureextendingcorrection.      -J                                    I E.[                 In the eventof an exposureshorteningcor-
                rectiononly the left displayappearsas an
             exposurevaluedifferencein steps.
                         -3.1 stepsequalfactor8.6)I          (Example:
View original page 23
Page 24 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
Measuring Correctlon Values
                            measu-                             directly              can also be         valuesCorrection
                          and                       surface                                 con-        ,   t   f  'ulEl ,solll'il              illuminatedred. An evenly
stantlightlevelare required'

o Aim meterat surface.                      r F
o Pressmeasuringbuttonand get a reference                          "rF--"'  readrng;disPlaYedas
 o Weakenlight by holdinge'g a grey filterin
                       Pressmeasuring                  sphere'             diffuser        of the   front
                          factor                                      will be dis-       ,   t   f  .ulgl ,'o |ilil               lightreducing       The   button.
   playedautomaticallyin stopsat the right'as
   extensionfactor at the left'               {D                                   l';  l,'il
  The COR value is now automaticallytat<en
   into account rn all subsequentmeasuring
   functions.                "COR"                                 is retainedas a  The frame around
   reminderthat a correctionvalue was en-
   tered.


 1 8
View original page 24

From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.

PDF verified 2026-10-10.