Sekonic Studio Deluxe User manual

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The SEK0NIC STUDI0 DELUXE

 Developed and perfected in Hollywood by the world's
 finest photographers, the Sekonic Studio Deluxe
 utilizes a new method of measuring all the significant
 illumination on a photographic subject. The subject
 itself controls the light it sends to the camera lens
 wh ich is the reason for the high accuracy yet the
 great simplicity of exposure determination with the
 Sekonic Studio Deluxe. The heart of the Sekonic
 Studio Deluxe is the Photosohere which receives
 all the incident light exactly the same way as a three-
 dimensional subject and averages  it for the one perfect
 camera setting. The Photosphere automaticaliy as.
 signs to each light source its photographic value
 which depends upon its strength aswellas its direction.
 Incident Light Scole
The dials on the Sekonic Studio Deluxe have been
 designed fo maximum legibility and accuracy. On the
 meter scale, the foot-candle numbers double at each
f/stop marking. Actual values for the unnumbered
                                  page.division          be          will                             next                                  The                                               highest              found on                       the
                                         (10O0),figure on                           light         the              incident                           scale                                                   but   6                                     is                                                   I M                                r'H"with the black perforated slide                                        this indication
represents 30,00O foot-candles. Without the black
perforated slide, the scale readsdirectly  in foot-candles.
Shulter Speeds
The shutter speeds shown are the new linear speed
values in which each is double the number to the
right. The numbers to the right of  l- second are
fractions of a second while those to the left are whole
seconds of time exposure. For those cameras having
speeds between those shown, intermediate values
may be estimated without introducing serious error.
Frames-per-second for motion picture cameras are
found at the upper part of Exposure Time scale.
f /sfops
The f/stops shown in black at the bottom of the dial
are the linear stops most commonly found on cameras.
Intermediate values may be estimated without
introducing serious errors.

How To Delermine Exposure

l. Gefling reody
A. Look up ASA index of the film you have in your
camera. For example: Kodachrome  ll 35mm Film,
Daylight Type has an index of 25.
B. With finger of right hand move Film speed Sett-
ing Button until correct ASA or DIN number appears
in ASA or DIN Index Window.


                            I





              Ln,

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          2. Meosuring the lncident Light
       A. Hold the meter close to the subject and point the
        Photosphere at the camera, or at the position which
        the camera will occupy when taking the picture. Be
        sure the same fight falls on the Photosphere as falls
       on the subject. Push the needle lock button, and
        release it when the indicating needle stops swinging.
       B. ln some cases it is more convenient to step to
       one side, always keeping the Photosphere pointing
       toward the camera position, and swivel the meter
       body until it faces you for easy reading. Revolving
        the body of the meter has no effect upon the exposure
         indication as long as the Photosphere is kept pointed
        at the camera position.
       C. Read the needle indication on. the meter scale.
           (lf needle reads more than 16, insert brightlight slide
      "H" behind Photospherel.
I     Hold meter at subject, point Photosphere at camera.

Fig. 2-With brightlight
                             slide " H" in use, set
                                                                 rr H" pointer to same
                      number on dial scale
                        as needle indicates on
                          meter scale.





                                      Fig. 3-When brightlight
                               slide "H" is not used,
                                set " L" pointer to sa me
                      number on dial scale                        as needle indicates on    I
                          meter scale.        0



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Compare the camera settings in the two illustrations
 a bove.


 3. 0btoining the comero setting
A. lf the brightlight slide "H" is in, rotate dial untilriH" pointer is set to same number on dial scale
which corresponds to the number indicated by needle.
Thus if needle indicates 125 turn "H" pointer on
dial to red I25 on dial scale. (lf slide is not behind
 Photosphere, turn white "L" pointer to red 125 on
dial scale.)

B. On lower half of dial and adjacenttowww.butkus.useach other,
           all combinations appear of shutter speeds and f/stops
         for correct exposure. With ASA index of 10 and a
        needfe indication of I25, correct exposure would be,
         for example, L/5O second and  f /5.6 with "H", or with
      "L" L/25 second and t/I.4. Any other combination
        of shutter speed and f/stop which are matched to-
        gether may be used.


II



      The meter may be held near the camera position
      when the same light illuminates the camera location
       as the subject, no matter how far away the subject
      may be.
       For most outdoor photography where the light is the
      same at the subject and camera position, the Sekonic
        Studio Deluxe may be held at the camera position
        instead. Be sure that the light strikes the Photosphere
         in the same way it would if you were holding the
       meter at the subject wtih the Photosphere pointed
        at the camera position.

It4olion Pictures                                                                                           lLq      Measure the light and set the dial as described before.
    On the red cine scale are shown the usual cine
      speeds. The corresponding f/stop is shown on the
     same aperture scale as in still photography. Normal
      amateur movie speed is 16 frames.per.second. The
       f/stop corresponding to 16 is the correct one for the
     camera lens. lf the 16 falls between two f/numbers,
      set your lens between the same two numbers also.
      The B in red represents 11115 second shutter speed,
     the 16-1l3O second, Ihe 24- 1/50 second, the 32
     -1160 second, lhe 64-I/120 second, and the 128
       -1,/25O second. Some movie cameras have shorter
      exposure time: for example, at 16 frames per second,
     some shutters give t/4O second. To compensate, set
      the ASA index one number lower than normal and
      then use the CINE speeds as described. For interior
      photography under artificial light, it is essential to
       hold the meter close to the principal subject rather
      than near the camera because the light is usually
      quite different in these two locations.



i

t.V.S. Numbers
For those cameras epuipped with the E.V.S. scale on
the shutter, the Exposure Value will be found in the
window marked E.V.S. The Sekonic Studio Deluxe
must be used as described and the dials set as usual
before the proper E.V.S. number appears.





                                                                  x"
                           4


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Photogrophing Iondscopos
 Consistently fine exposures on landscapes may be
 achieved by a slight variation in the normal method
 of using the Sekonic Studio Deluxe which will com-
 pensate for side and backlighted scenes. Take one
 reading in the normal way with the Photosphere facing
 away from the scene, then take a second reading
 with the Photosphere pointed directly at the sun. Set  ..,
 the proper arrow ("H" or "L") halfway between these
 two readings.
 lf you can not hold the meter in the same light as
 the main part of the scene proceed as follows:  lf

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         the subject is in shade and you can stand only in
        the sun, shade the photosphere with your hand and
        then take the exposure reading. On the other hand,
               if you are in the open shade while your subject is
          in sunshine, point the photosphere toward the open
        sky and set the proper arrow to 2 numbers higher
        than the needle reading. Thus if needte points to
        4, set dial arrow to 8.
        For spectacular sunset pictures the normal operating
        procedure must be reversed in two ways. First, turn
         the Photosphere so it points direcfly toward the setting
        sun. Secondly, without slide, set ,,H" arrow to needlE
        reading. Deliberate underexposure is necessary to
        record the source of the light. Foreground obiects
          will be silhouetted.
        (omero errorsrt
       The Sekonic Studio Deluxe has been carefully cati-
        brated to give perfect exposure under practicilly all0
         situations with standard equipment in good oper"ting
        condition. However, diaphragm anO ifrutter speed!
         indicated on a camera are often in error. Because
       equipment errors are common, consistent over_or_
        under.exposure would suggest that a test should be
      made with that particular camera to match the Sekonic
       Studio Deluxe to it. Consistent over-exposure may be
       balanced by adopting a higher film index than the
        published   f igure. under-exposure consistenfly obtained
     may be corrected by the use of a lower fiim index.
        Zero Setting
     When the palm of the hand is pressed genily over
       the Photosphere and the fingers curled to excllde all
          light, the needle should indicate zero with the meter
       held upright. When it becomes necessary, set the
       needle,to zero by turnning slowly the screw on the
       back of the meter using a coin o, th" perforated slide.
            (See Page 46 for proper care of meterl

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                      Slide "H"                                                                    :   ASA10, r/50th

                    These direct-reading slides preset the
                      meter for one particular film and shut.
                        ter speed combination. For example,
                   with Kodachrome ll (ASA25) in your
                    camera, you simply set the shutter at
        1/30th sec., insert Side 25 into meter, point meter for
         reading, then note the f/stop red number indicated
       when the needle stops. That's your correct f/stop-
       then you shoot with confidence. you don't have to
         look at or set the computer dial at all. The direct.
        reading slide does the job for you.
       Note: Slide "H" is also used for computing exposure
       as described on page 9, par. B.

T                   Thot's ofl there is to
                this modern woy of determining7
                  the correct exposure.


                                                       DEtuxE               -JUST USE y0UR sEK0t{tc sTuDto
                                CORREffI.Y AI{D THEII                     -
                       sH00T wtTH CoilHDtil(E!





                         Tflt pAcrs Fou.o|Ytilc oFtrR HEtptut
                      GUIDAII(E FOR THE ADVAilCTD AIIATTUR
                    AIID PR(IFTSSIONAI PHOT(IGRAPHER.

The Sekonic Studio Deluxe is different

 The Sekonic Studio Deluxe attains its high accuracy
 because its readings are based solely on INCIDENT
 LIGHT, the light that falls upon the subject. The
 system of measuring all the incident lieht illuminating
the subject has been tested by Hollywood motion
 picture experts as well as the leading professional
 photographers in the country. This meter is unani-
 mously acclaimed by amateur and professional as
the one meter that gives perfect exposure for color
or black and white.
The exposures determined by the Sekonic Studio
Deluxe assure fidelity when photographing   f lesh tones
in color or black and white. Flesh color is the only
tint in color photography which the untrained eye
readily recognizes as either good or bad. All other
colors may acceptably be lighter or darker, warmer
or cooler, but flesh tones must be right. However,
any photographic subject may be rendered darker or
lighter than it appears, according to the artistic de-
sires of the photographer. This meter establishes a                                                          IIconsistent and known point of reference from which
departures may be made to achieve special effects.
When desired these effects may be duplicated at any
time by utilizing the same departure in exposure as
determined from previous experience.
To reproduce the principal subject as you see it,
always use the exposure as determined by this meter.

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        3-lToy Versotility
     PHOTOSPHERE FOR  PHOTODISK FOR   PHOTOGRID FOR      EXPOSURE LIGHTING CONTRAST BRIGHTNESS RANGE
     DETERMINATION CONTROL       CONTROL





                           With two accessories, the Brockway
                         becomes an extremely versatile in.
                          strument with which it is possible
                               to measure and thereby control all
                                factors in lighting and exposure.

      The Photosphere is used only for exposure determi-
         nation and indicates effective foot-candles of incident
          illumination.rtI      The Photodisk is used for lighting contrast control
       and measures foot-candles of incident illumination.
      The Photogrid is used for brightness range control
       and indicates relative brightness. The photogrid may
        also be used for emergency exposure determination
       under those few conditions where an incident light
        reading cannot be made.

The Photodisk

Using lhe Photodisk
The Photodisk converts the Se -r';c Studio Deluxe into
a foot-candle meter which may re used to measure
illumination not only for photograFhy but for other pur-
poses as well. Held atthe subject position and pointed
at a light source, it measures the intensity of the
light that falls on the subject. By measuring each light
in this way it is possible for the photographer to make
records of any set-up and so enable him to duplicate
his lighting at any future time. However, by far the
most important use of this meter with the Photodisk
                      in place is to measure the con-
                     trast ratio between main and
                              fill-in lights for closeups.
                           [ight intensity meosuremenls
                     L. Replace the Photosphere                     with the Photodisk.                  EI
                    2. Point the Photodisk .toward                     the light source to be measured   0
                       holding the meter at the subject
                        position. Then, push the needle
                     lock button.
                    3. Read needle. With the High
                         slide, the needle reading must
                    be multipiied by 30. Withoutthe
                        slide, the meter needle reads
                        directly in FOOT-CANDLES.

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        lighting Controst Control

           Itleosuring (onfrol
         1. Turn on main light.
       2. Hold Brockway at subject position and point Photo-
        disk at light. Push the needle lock button. Read
         light intensity.
        3. Turn on fill-in light and point Photodisk toward  it
       from subject position. Shield Photodisk from main
         light with your hard. Read fill-in intensity.
       4. Divede intensity of main light by intensity of fill-in
         light to get contrast ratio (light balance).
      EXAMPLE: Main light reads 500. Fill.in light reads
       250.
        Lighting contrast ratio:gq :?  o, 2 to  1,
                                          (See page 23)
       After the lighting contrast ratio is set to the value
EE      required by adjusting the position or strength of the           fill.in light, the Photodisk is removed from the meter
      and the Photosphere replaced. The exposure is now
T     determined in the usual way.

Outdoor Controst (ontrol

Boloncing sunlight
The same precise control of lighting contrast may
be achieved outdoors as is obtained in the studio.
The sun is usually the main source of light. White
or silver-surfaced reflectors are used to brighten the
shadow side of the subject. Both the sunlight in'
tensity and the reflector light intensity should be
measured separately and their ratio carefully con-
trolled for consistently good results.
The tremendous light range of the Sekonic Studio
Deluxe makes it easy to read the intensity of the sun.
With the Photodisk in place, it is first turned toward the
sun and the needle indication noted. The Photodisk
is now turned toward the reflector and shielded with
the hand if necessary to prevent the direct rays of
the sun from shining on the Photodisk. This fill-inlight should be from 1/2 to L/4 the intensity of the  2
main light for best results in color. For more dramaticeffects in black and white, a higher ratio may be   4
used, such as having the ref lected lights as little as
1/16 the sunlight intensity.
Remember that with the perforated slide High, the
number indicated by the needle must be multiplied
by 30; thus, if it points to L25, the intensity of the
light is L25x3O:3750 foot-candles. Without the
slide, the needle indicates foot-candles directly.
After the light balance has been adjusted, the Photo-
disk is removed and the Photosphere replaced to
make the exposure detetmination as usual. Be sure
now that all the light, from the reflectors, the sun,
and the sky falls upon the Photosphere.

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        CopyinC

         .ASA idexrs for opying
          Special ASA indexes for some copying films and plates
        are published for meter readings made from a white
         surface placed over copy work. These indexes have
        been compensated to produce acceptable exposures
        with readings made by ordinary reflected light ex-
        posure meters. To use these indexes, the Photogrid
       must be placed on the Sekonic Studio Deluxe and
         reflected light readings made according to the film
       ma n ufacturer's instructions.
        However, greater acr:uracy will be achieved by the
       use of the Photodisk or Photosphere on the Brockway
       and using the indexes as converted in the following
         table. Place Sekonic Studio Deluxe flat against work
        to be copied. Move it around to test evenness of
              illu mination.
2
F0


            ublished ASA index for   Corrected ASA Index
              eter (Photogrid! read ing   use with Photodisk on
                of white surface        Sekonic Studio Deluxe
                  80                     400
                  50                    250
                  25                    I25
                  20                      100
                    16                      80
                    L2                      64
                    8                      40
                    3                       16
                      2.5                     72
                    2                       10
                        1.5                       8

The Photogrid

                           Duol purpose
                 The Photogrid is used in
                           place of the PhotosPhere for
                     two purposes:
                                           '   1. Brightness range con'
                                        trol
                          2. Emergency exposure
                               determination

                                Brighlness ronge conlrol
                  The effective foot-cand les
                    measured by the Photo-
                          sphere for correct exposure
                      determines the mid-point
of the brightness range.
l. Defermining correct exposureDetermine exposure in usual way, holding Sekonic      I=Studio Deluxe at most important part of subject. For
example, with slide out needle indicates 50O. On     6,
Ektachrome Film Type B (ASA INDEX 32 with 3200"k
lamp) the exposure would be 1/15 second at half way
between t/5.6 and t/8.
2. Determining mid-point of brighfness ronge
Brightness is determined by a reflected light measure'
ment. To transfer from the incident light scale to
reflected light, all indications must be read at the
"H" pointer which has been designed for use with
Photogrid in addition to its normal function.
For example, the exposure determination  in 1, required
setting the "L" pointer to 500. The "H" pointer then
reads.

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        16. 1.6 is the exact midpoint of the BRtcl.tTNESS
         range. lt represents the reading that would be obtained
                        f rom a medium-gray card with the pHOTOGRID.         (Regardless of whether the "H" or ,,L" pointer was
        used in determining the correct exposure, the ,,H"
         pointer always indicates the center of the brightness
         range. lf, however, the "H" pointer is off scale when
        the "L" pointer is set to the needle indication, the
           light level is so low that no usable reading could be
         obtained with the Photogrid.)
         3. Determining brightness r0nge of subiect
        a) Replace the Photosphere with the photogrid. Be
          sure slide is out. Needle now indicates relative
             brightness.
        b) Point Photogrid toward various areas of the subject,
           holding the meter approximately 6 inches from
           the subject. Avoid casting a shadow of the meter
                                     a 6,t diameter circle).()        on the area being read (aboutE        Read the light on the foot-candle scale for con-
          venience in determining range.
  tl

c)  Divide the highest reading by the lowest.to obtain
   the brightness range. For example: say the bright'
   est area reads 64, and the lowest 4'
         Ranse: 9a:ro to r    .
4.  Determining limifs of tood color Iendition
a) Most color transparency materials will reproduce
   color properly provided that objects in the scene
   are not more than 4 times brighter than the mid'
    point nor 4 times darker than the mid'point {total
   16 to 1).
 b)  ll any area read with the Photogrid in the previous
   example was higher than 64 (16 mid-pointx4:64l.
     its coior will appear washed out. The light intensity
    falling upon  it should be reduced by shading slightly
   that area from the light.
                                                 be c) Areas darker than 4 (16 + 4:  4) will have to   brightened by concentrating more light on these   q
   areas if proper color is to be expected' In the
    previous exa mple, no area was darker than this
    limit, hence no light need be added.                                                           EI   On the Sekonic Studio Deluxe, 2 f/stops either
   way of the mid-poind mark the limits of normal
    brightness range for color.

      Mid-point of                        Exposure indicotion
    Brightness Ronge                        with Photosphere





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        Photogrid for Exposure
              t.





                1.. With the Photogrid-always remove ,,slide.,,
          2. Point Photogrid at subject.
          3. Set "H" pointer to number indicated by needle.

         [xposure by reflected  lighl
       Under               certain                       conditions                            where                                                    possible                                                 is not                                                          it                                                                   toII      hold           the                Sekonic                        Studio Deluxe                                                in                                     the                                                      light                                                           falling on
       the subject, the Photogrid will make it possible to get
      an elposure reading. When making photographs out
        of a window or making pictures of transiJluminated
        subjects like stained glass windows, the photogrid  is
        used in place of the photoshpere. The slide MUST be
      OUT. Point the photogrid at the subject and note the
        needle indication. Set the                                ,,H" pointer to this indica.
       tion and read the exposure. lmportant: With the
        Photogrid, never use the brighflight slide, but arways       set "H" pointer to needle indication.
       Exposures obtained with the photogrid are as accurate
       as those made with any reflecteil light meter but the
       advantages of the photosphere are missing.