Light meters
Sekonic L-136 Light Meter User manual
User manual for Sekonic L-136 Light Meter. 19 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
19 pagesEnglish1.5 MB PDF

Loading your manual…Open PDF directly
Document details
- Brand
- Sekonic
- Model / document
- Sekonic L-136 Light Meter
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 19
- File size
- 1.5 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 5 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
e cds
. Compoct clip-on type
. Meosures light reflected from or
. Reflected/lncident Light Switch
. Meosuring ronge : LV 3 - l 8 w i t h
. Bottery checker
Codmium sulfide (CdS)
. Reflected/lncident Light Swit
. IncidentLight Attochment
. MeosuringRonge,(ASA 100)
H i s h' L V l 0 - l 8
L o w ' L V 3 - 1 l
. L V S c o l e' -3 - 1 9
. ASA Film Speed Scole ' 6 - 12,000
. DIN Film Speed Scole' 6 - 42 www.orphancameras.com
. A p e r t u r e R e o d i n g s 'F l l - 3 2
. Shutter Speeds' 1 12000- 16 sec.
. Dimensions' 37 x 53 X24mm
W e i g h t , 6 5 g r o m sView original page 5Page 6 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
The light reflected f rom or incident on the subiect is meosured to obtoin the
correct exposure.
The reflected type of exposure meter meosuresthe light reflected from the subiect,
while the incident type meosuresthe light incident on the subiect.
The reflected type is pointed ot the subiect to meosure the totol omount of light
which comes from the subiect. For incident light reodings,the meter points toword
the comero from the subiect ond meosures the light reoching the subiect. The
correct exposure moy be obtoined in either woy. Reflected light reodings ore
recommendoblefor portroiture ond copying,ond incident light reodings for ordinory
photogrophy,such os for scenerY.
For incident
light reodings, )
the meter Points
towo rd the
co mero. (using
incid ent light
Fo r refl ected o tto ch m ent)
light reodings,
point the meter
of the subiect.View original page 6Page 7 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
Set the ASA Film Speed.
T u r n t h e F i l m S p e e d K n o b s o t h o t t h e
A S A r e o d i n g o f y o u r f i l m o p p e o r s i n t h e
window under the wo rd "ASA".
ASA fllm sensitivity reodings cjiffer oc-
cording to the type of fllm ond the monu-
focturer.
F o r c o n v e n i e n c e ' ss o k e , l e t u s o s s u m et h o t
w e o r e u s r n g o r o l l o f f l l m w i t h t h e
.l00.sensitivityof ASA
Point the Meter ot the Subiect.
W h e n t h e P u s h B u t t o n i s d e p r e s s e d ,t h e
P o i n t e r s w i n g s . C h e c k w h o t r e o d i n g t h e
P o i n t e rp o i n t s t o .
F o r h i g h l i g h t ,u s e t h e s c o l e o f 8 t o l l
w r i t t e n i n b l o c k c o l o r o n d t h e s c o l e o f
3 t o l l i n r e d c o l o r f o r l o w l i g h t . T h e
p i c t u r e s h o w s t h o t t h e P o i n t e r s t o p s i n
l i n e w i t h t h e s c ol e r e o d i n g " 6 " .
T u r n t h e o u i e r r i n g m o r k e d i n t h e w h o l e
r o n g e o f l e n s o p e r t u r e ss o t h o t t h e m i d d l eView original page 7Page 8 · Read text
o n e o f t h e t h r e e t r i o n g uwww.orphancameras.coml o r m o r k s : J b r o u g h t i n l i n e w i t h t h e r e o d i n g " 6 ' r w r i t t e n o n t h e i n n e r r i n g . Clip the Meter on the Accessory Shoe The scoles of shutter speeds ond lens operturesore now in their correct relotion to eoch other to give o complete ronge of reloted shutter speeds ond lens oper- tures, ony one of which will give the c o r r e c t e x p o s u r e . W h e t h e r t h e p h o t o - g r o p h e r c h o o s e s ,s o y , 1 1 1 2 5s e c o n d o t f f 8 , l / 3 0 s e c o n d o t f 1 1 6 , o r o n y i n t e r m e d i o t e c o m b i n o t i o n w, i l l d e p e n d u p o n t h e s u b i e c t conditions. A ropidly moving subiect needs o fost shutter speed ond therefore o lorge oper- ture, which in turn covers o norrow zone of shorpness. A subiect of greot depth needs o smoll operture ond therefore o slow speed. Choice of best settings moy need o compromise. Lisht Vo lue (LVl lf your comero hos o scole of light volues, it is odvisoble to use the EV scole (morked with o red circle).View original page 8
Page 9 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com M e o s u r e m e n to f t h e L i g h t f r o m t h e P o s i t i o n o f Y o u r C o m e r s This is the quickest ond eosiest woy to obtoin the correct exposure. This method is used in ordinory photogrophy, such os for scenery. The most common method is to meosure the overoge brightnessof the scene to be photogrophed.To do this it is odvisoble to point the meter midwoy between the horizon ond the feet of the photogropher. It is o common proctice to tilt the meter down ot obout thirty degrees to the v e r t i c o l s o t h o t t h e s k y i s n o t i n c l u d e d t o p r e v e n t p o s s i b l eu n d e r - e x p o s u r e s . L e t u s o s s u m et h o t t h e P o i n t e r s t o p s o f t h e s c o l e r e o d i n g o f " l 4 " . T u r n t h e o u t e r r i n g s o t h o t t h e m i d d l e o n e o f t h e t h r e e t r i o n g u l o rm o r k s i s b r o u g h t i n l i n e w i t h the figure " 14' ' os shown in the red circle. Any one of reloted shutter speeds o n d l e n s o p e r t u r e sw i l l g i v e t h e c o r r e c t e x p o s u r e . E x o m p l e ; T t r e P o i n t e r s t cp s o t : 14 A S A F i l r nS p e e d , 1 0 0 T ^ e m i d d i e t r i o n g u l o rm c r - kl s b r o u g h i i r r l r ^ r r n , i t ht h e s c c l e r e o d i n g O r " I 4 " " C - - . r e : t E x p c s u r e ' f 8 1 2 5 0 s e c .View original page 9
Page 10 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
When o vost scene, such os o mountoin in the distonce,is to be photogrophed,
' , ' z L m o r k , e s p e c i o l l yw h e n t h e d o n o t u s e t h e m i d d l e t r i o n g u l o r m o r k . U s e t h e
picture includesthe sky. This will improve the controst.
When portroits ore token in o ploce where light roys ore difused, such os o
seocoost or snow scene, it is odvisoble not to use the middle triongnlor mork.
Use the X 2 L mork, insteod.
2, Close-ups.
Close-ups ore token when it is desiroble to ploce emphosis on o certoin port
of the subiect or when it is unnecessory to include the bock scene.
For the correct meosurement,
p l o c e t h e m e t e r o b o u t l 0
centimeters {.3'tl f rom the sub- Exomple:
iect. For portroiture, meosur" T1" PointerSropsot: 12
thelishtcominsfromor incid:.t i;j".::l *o,'lo.,? "ti,".,""^i',,o,' tinewith rhescoleon the foce. To obtoin the urorghtin
correct exposure, bring the reodingof "14"
middle triongulor mork in line CorrectExposure'
f 18' l/250 sec"with the scole reoding ot which
the Pointer stops.View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
3 . , A l l o w i n g f o r T o n e R o n g www.orphancameras.come
The following method must be used when pictures ore to be token in the
condition thot the subiect hos o wide tone ronge.
Ploce the meter obout l0 centimeters owoy f rom the subiect to meosure the
light reflected from both the highlight ond shodow of the subiect. Choose the
intermediotevolue from both scole reodings.Turn the outer ring so thot the middle
t r i o n g u l o rm o r k i s b r o u g h t i n l i n e w i t h t h e i n t e r m e d i o t es c o l e r e o d i n g . F o r p o r t r o i -
t u r e , i t i s o d v i s o b l et o c h o o s e o t o n e r o n g e o f 8 , . | . T h e t o n e r o n g e i s t h e r o t i o
o f h i g h l i g h tt o s h o d o w b r i g h t n e s s I. n c o l o r p h o t o g r o p h y ,m o k e s u r e t h o t t h e t o n e
r o n g e i s o f t h e o r d e r o f 4 , 1 .
W h e n t h e s c o l e r e o d i n g f o r t h e h i g h l i g h ti s , s o y , " 9 t ' |, o n d t h e s c o l e r e o d i n g f o r
the shodow is, soy, " l 3 ", tu rn the outer ring so thot t h e m i d d l e t r i o n g u l o r m or k
i s o l i g n e d w i t h t h e i n t e r m e d i o t es c o l e r e o d i n g " I I " .
E x o m p l e :
A S A f l l m s p e e d , r 0 c
S c o l e R e o d i n g ,
S h o d c w 9
H i g h l i g h t 1 "
T h e m i d d l e t r i o n g u l o r r n o r k i s nv i l lYi ,n n ov vr l
r v i t h t h e i n t e r m e d i o t e s c o l e r e o d i n c
) ' 1t l1 ' ,
. i 2 5
C i , r ' r e c - et x p o s U r € ; I s e c c t f 4View original page 11Page 12 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
When the subiect is situoted too for to
meosure the light reflected from it, it is
recommendoble to use the Sekonic Stondord
Reflector or other obiect motched to the
importoni port of the subject. In substitution
reodings, the obiect whose reflecied light
is to be meosured must be in the somet, light condition os f he subiect. For portroi-
ture, lhe light reflected from your polmli moy be meosured to obtoin the correct
exposure.
rl llfl Er.Lrl,l"'.I_-Y:lrrrurl E
Turn lhe High/Low-Light Switch Knob so
thot the mork " 1" (low-light)is oligned
with the smoll dot ploced neor the knob.
When ihe light is so poor thot the Pointer
does not swing ot oll, poini the Meter
directly ot the light source. The scole Ex
reoding . obtoined in this woy must be AS S p e e d : t 0 0
muhipliedby l0 for lhe correct exposure. ii!;"rtusec.ot r/r.4)
b t l 0 l / l 5 x l o + l
.4S. 1 sec.ot f/1.4
i* .8,View original page 12Page 13 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com When the Incident Light Attochment is instolled to the photo-cell window of the meter, point the meter of the comero, insteod of troining it of the subiect. The subsequentmeosuringprocess is exoctly the some qs in the meosurementof the light reflected from the subiect. In substitutionreodings, the light must be meosured in the some light condition os the subiect. The incident Light Attochment must be used when the Sekonic Micro Meter is used to meosure the light incident on the subiect.View original page 13
Page 15 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com Evenwheno filteris mountedon the lens of your comero,the meosurementis the some. The Sekonic Micro L-136 Meter is pro.- vided with two filter foctor colibrotionsof x2, x'rL. When o fllter hoving o foctor of x2 is used, turn the outer ring so thot the scole reoding is oligned with the t x 2 mork os shown in the right circle. When pictures o re to be token f o r specioI effects or in speciol conditions, there is fhe donger thot the pictureswill be over- o r u n d e r - e x p o s e d U. s e t h e " X 2 " m o r k for on increose in exposure ond the "l/'2" mork for o decreose.View original page 15
Page 16 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com It is necessory to center the Pointer if it does not stcp in line with the " ZERO" mork when the meter is not in use. Turn the Centering Screw to o l i g n t h e P o i n t e r w i t h t h e '' ZERO" mork.View original page 16
Page 17 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
T h e S e k o n i c M i c r o L -I 3 6
M e t e r u s e s o l . 3 V m e r c u r y
bo tte ry.
The life of the bottery is obout
. l 9 0 d o y s w h e n t h e P o i n t e r o f
the meter is kept swung f ully.
This meons thot the bottery
moy be used for up to two
yeors in normol use conditions.
A b o t t e r y c h e c k e r i s e q u i p p e d
t o t h e s i d e o f t h e M e t e r . W h e n
t h e b u t t o n p l o c e d u n d e p t h e
w o r d " C H E C K" i s d " p r e s s e d ,
the Pointer of the meter swings
W h e n t h e b o t t e r y i s u s o b l e , d o e s n o t c o m e n e o r t h e C h e c k
t h e p o i n t e r s t o p sw h e n i t c o m e s P o i n t e r . F o r o b o t t e r y c h o n g e ,
i n l i n e w i t h o r c l o s e t o t h e p u t o c o i n i n t h e g r o o v e o f
b l u e - c o l o r e dC h e c k P o i n t u n d e r t h e B o t t e r y C h o m b e r S c r e w
t h e G u i d e N u m b e r s c o l e . T h e C o p o n d t u r n i t s o t h o f i t
c o m e s i n l i n e w i t h t h e r e d bottery must be reploced with
m o r k , o n d t h e c o p w i l l c o m eo n e w o n e w h e n t h e P o i n t er
off the meter.View original page 17Page 18 · Read text
Fntrshoel www.orphancameras.com
ln cose you wont lo cliP-on
the meter to your comerq, " \ I ." oo lr--r?the shoe con be odiusted to I llr---------r)
moke it suitoble to YQur comero by using {our differ- [i::jgl\4 ent screw positions,os shown W (B)
in (A) & (B).
t
Iffitffi/rt
1 Do not leove the meter in o humid ploce for o long time.
2. Do not ploce the meter in o ploce with q temperoture of 60oC (140"F)
3. Do not drop or ior the meter.
4. The meter, when not in use for o long time, must be token out of the leother
cose ond kept with o domp-proofing ogent in onother box. Do not keet it in
o sofe or ony other metollic contoiner. lf there is no choice but to keep it
in such q contoiner, moke sure thot the mercury bottery is token out of the
meier.View original page 18Page 19 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com Thonk you very much for purchosing the Sekonic Micro L-136 Meter. The meter hos been produced in Sekonic's highly streomlined, Jopon Industriol stondord-designotedproduction plonts ond undergone scores of inspectionsond tests. lf, by ony chonce, the meter is found domoged. contoct the shop where you purchosedyour meter.View original page 19
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.