The Weston Exposure Meter FAQ
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  1. Whats is the oldest Weston to buy of you actually want to use it?
  2. I'm still not clear on when to use the invercone and when not to. For a simple person like me, what is the simple answer??
  3. What do the U/O and A/C markings on the dial mean and how should I be using them?
  4. Can you download the instructions for use on the Light Meter II
  5. I have cine meter. What are the differences?
  6. I have a weston ranger9 model#348 universal exposure meter. Is there any way of obtaining a manual for this meter?
  7. MY FRIEND GIVE ME MASTER V. BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE. PLEASE E-MAIL ME THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL. THANK YOU
  8. I have just purchased a model 715 from a secondhand shop for A$25. how do I use it, as it came without an instruction booklet. can you please send instructions? Thank you David Caswell
  9. I have a 0-50 Weston DC amp meter model 506, what shunt do I use for this range?
  10. I recently acquired a Weston Mater III on eBay; The meter seems to work well, so I'm getting ready to run some test film. I was advised to divide my ISO speed by 5, then multiply by 8 to get the proper speed setting for the meter, which would be a setting of 640 for ISO 400 film. Does this sound reasonable? Thanks!
  11. I am trying to find the angle of coverage of a Weston Master 2 (735)made in Newark, NJ. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
  12. Hi I just purchased a Weston Light Meter Model 650 and was wondering if you know where I can find a manual to tell me how to use it properly. Thanks, Tina
  13. My father has just died and among his possesions I have found a Benjamin Lightmeter. Patent 1579849,1635595, 1661214, It is a model B no 56742. It is not for photography but for use in the workplace to determine whether the area monitored is light enough for specific work to be carried out. Do you have any details on the history of this meter and are any similar still being made?
  14. I have inherited a MasterII (735) that has not been used in at least 256-30 years! How do i tell if the exposure cell Has become "lazy"? On a bright day the needle hardly moves. Thanks..
  15. I have a weston master 3 .what is the correct way of setting the film speed on it for modern day use .The website www.westonmeter.com does not work
  16. Some time ago, I read in an artile or book that the weston can be used for close-up work and that there are sttings on the dial to do away with the maths side of bellows extensions, I remember trying it at the time and it did work, I have searched everywhere to find it again, can you help?
  17. I have a weston light meter model 703, type 3A, range 0-75 FC, Class 60. 1)Is there any way of obtaining a manual for this meter? 2)I have little experience in his handling, what you practice or applications I can make? 3)is there the possibility of digitizing this measurer?
  18. Hello, great website! I just bought a Euromaster 11. I've a few questions, and hope you can help. Thanks for your time. 1. Could you please tell me what the little 'EV window' on the shutter speed dial is for. I notice that the pointer arrows in this 'EV window' and the main redline EV arrow on the shutter dial only match when the ISO is set at 50...might this EV window be designed for polaroid use, to show you a quick reference for matching EV to ISO 50? 2. I notice that when I set the main redline EV arrow on the shutter speed dial oppisite an EV number then the aperature and shutter speed spaces don't line up exactely as on P.6 of the manual, but they do if I use the arrow in the small EV window...why? Thanks again, Gavin.
  19. do you have a manual for the weston xm1 540 meter, or even instructions? none of the other meters on your site even appear to be close to the same operaions
  20. I recently purchased a Weston Master III cine exposure meter believing that it would work as a photographic light meter. The instructions on your site as well as any others covering this model show the relative brightness level going well above the 27 that mine goes to. Also my wheels have very different information on them than the pictures you have shown. Do you know firstly if I can use this meter to shoot still photography? What the various scales mean? [I can forward a photograph of the item if you'd like] and finally if I am able to use the meter for still photography where I can locate instructions as this item did not come with instructions? I look forward to your reply. Regards, Barrie Firzgerald Barrie@Houseofcallahan.com
  21. I recently found a old Weston Master IV exposure meter Model 745 with leather case. I would like to sell but I do not know if it works or how it works. Is there a website that might have instructions?
  22. I have inherited a SangamoWeston light meter Model S461.5 Number 593AD I do not know how to use it can anybody help with instructions? PS it has an Autocone Many thanks Tony
  23. I just bought a Weston Euro-Master S461-6 and I was wondering if there was a way to convert the reading to either lumens or foot-candles. Thanks.
  24. I have a Cine Model 819 and no manual. Is there somewhere I can obtain one?
  25. How can I be sure that my Weston is accurate?
  26. can you supply me with a conversion table asa to weston or vice versa thank you
  27. Can you point to something that will show me comparative ASA Weston Speed Settings



  1. Whats is the oldest Weston to buy of you actually want to use it?
    Weston 4 (IV) = they are superbly made and should still be very accurate. Some IIIs may still be OK, but this is getting into a dodgy age. A iv if you can get one will be perfect but there are not too many around.
    Category: Using
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  2. I'm still not clear on when to use the invercone and when not to. For a simple person like me, what is the simple answer??
    See the Invercone section og this site for details but broadly, use it for transparency film but make sure you are holding the meter where the light falling on the cone is exactly the same as that on the most important part of the subject. Also good for portraits or still lifes.
    Category: Using
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  3. What do the U/O and A/C markings on the dial mean and how should I be using them?
    The mysteries of A-C and U-O revealed! The bottom line is that you can ignore these today! Photographic film has improved to an extrordinary extent since the 1960s. Before then, the exposure range of film was very limited. Even if you exposed the majority of the picture correctly, some of the shadow detail and worst, some of the highlight detail could be lost - merged into other similar tones and shown on the print as either jet black or pure white. Photograhpers therefor had to make sure that the tone range i.e. the darkest and lightest important parts of the scene were within the limited range of the particular film. For colour film, the range was very limited indeed and the A and C marks showed this range. For black and white this was represented by the U and O marks. So, you'd find the brightest part of the subject and set the O against that reading. You'd then see which parts of the dark areas were within the range down to the U Same idea with colour - the C is the upper limit and the A the lower limit. Modern films have much more range so you should not use these ranges now. They were dropped from the Weston Master range from the IV onwards for this reason.
    Category: Using
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  4. Can you download the instructions for use on the Light Meter II
    There is an instruction book on that page of the site. The resolution is a bit low - I'll try to get a better one.
    Category: Using
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  5. I have cine meter. What are the differences?
    The differences between a still and cine camera are quite simple and the only real differences between the two types of meter are in the markings on the dial. Aperture is the same but instead of shutter speeds there is a fps (frames per second) marking. The equivalents are: fps speed 8 1/15 16 1/30 24 1/45 32 1/60 48 1/90 I'm sure you get the drift of this. To use a cine meter for a normal camera just remember to double the fps to get the shutter speed so 60fps is 1/125
    Category: Using
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  6. I have a weston ranger9 model#348 universal exposure meter. Is there any way of obtaining a manual for this meter?
    Craig Camera will sell you a reprint http://www.craigcamera.com/ib_vw.htm. We don't have an electronic copy - at the moment!!!
    Category: Using
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  7. MY FRIEND GIVE ME MASTER V. BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE. PLEASE E-MAIL ME THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL. THANK YOU
    I dont have the instructions for a V but you can download the manual for the Euromaster from the site - it's pretty well the same meter and you should be fine with them.
    Category: Using
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  8. I have just purchased a model 715 from a secondhand shop for A$25. how do I use it, as it came without an instruction booklet. can you please send instructions? Thank you David Caswell
    David, go to the 715 page of the site (from the top (Chronology) link on the home page). You can download the instruction book there.
    Category: Using
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  9. I have a 0-50 Weston DC amp meter model 506, what shunt do I use for this range?
    Hi Bill. The site is really just Weston exposure meters, so afraid I can't help - but someone else might!
    Category: Using
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  10. I recently acquired a Weston Mater III on eBay; The meter seems to work well, so I'm getting ready to run some test film. I was advised to divide my ISO speed by 5, then multiply by 8 to get the proper speed setting for the meter, which would be a setting of 640 for ISO 400 film. Does this sound reasonable? Thanks!
    John De Vries's excellent www.westonmeter.com site may have everything you need to check this out. Do have a look.
    Category: Using
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  11. I am trying to find the angle of coverage of a Weston Master 2 (735)made in Newark, NJ. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
    I believe that with the baffle open it is around 60 degrees but I don't have a figure for the closed position except that I'm sure it is less. You could easily experiment with a small bright light source, a ruler fixed to the meter with a rubber band, and rotate the meter noting the point at which the meter responds. Have fun - and do let us know the result.
    Category: Using
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  12. Hi I just purchased a Weston Light Meter Model 650 and was wondering if you know where I can find a manual to tell me how to use it properly. Thanks, Tina
    I've put a quick guide to the 650 on the site - you'll find it on the MANUALS page.
    Category: Using
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  13. My father has just died and among his possesions I have found a Benjamin Lightmeter. Patent 1579849,1635595, 1661214, It is a model B no 56742. It is not for photography but for use in the workplace to determine whether the area monitored is light enough for specific work to be carried out. Do you have any details on the history of this meter and are any similar still being made?
    I can't find out anything about the Benjamin meter as hard as I try. Sorry.
    Category: Using
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  14. I have inherited a MasterII (735) that has not been used in at least 256-30 years! How do i tell if the exposure cell Has become "lazy"? On a bright day the needle hardly moves. Thanks..
    Paul, I think you may have a lazy cell - look under Manuals - Film Speeds and Weston Dials for a quick guide to accuracy.
    Category: Using
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  15. I have a weston master 3 .what is the correct way of setting the film speed on it for modern day use .The website www.westonmeter.com does not work
    Chris, See manuals Film Speeds and Weston Dials for new info about this. Should be www.westonmaster.com - my mistake.
    Category: Using
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  16. Some time ago, I read in an artile or book that the weston can be used for close-up work and that there are sttings on the dial to do away with the maths side of bellows extensions, I remember trying it at the time and it did work, I have searched everywhere to find it again, can you help?
    Sorry, I haven't heard of this nor can I find anything.
    Category: Using
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  17. I have a weston light meter model 703, type 3A, range 0-75 FC, Class 60. 1)Is there any way of obtaining a manual for this meter? 2)I have little experience in his handling, what you practice or applications I can make? 3)is there the possibility of digitizing this measurer?
    We haven't seen a manual for this. It's probably similar to the 650 - have a look at that manual under Manuals - it may help.
    Category: Using
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  18. Hello, great website! I just bought a Euromaster 11. I've a few questions, and hope you can help. Thanks for your time. 1. Could you please tell me what the little 'EV window' on the shutter speed dial is for. I notice that the pointer arrows in this 'EV window' and the main redline EV arrow on the shutter dial only match when the ISO is set at 50...might this EV window be designed for polaroid use, to show you a quick reference for matching EV to ISO 50? 2. I notice that when I set the main redline EV arrow on the shutter speed dial oppisite an EV number then the aperature and shutter speed spaces don't line up exactely as on P.6 of the manual, but they do if I use the arrow in the small EV window...why? Thanks again, Gavin.
    OK, here we go. 1. EV is a number that represents a combination of shutter speed and aperture. EV 1 is either 1/2 seconds at f/1.0 or 1 second and f/1.4 ,or 2 seconds at 2.8 etc. This is used on some cameras - you set the EV and therefor when you change the shutter speed, the aperture changes automatically. See Toomas Tamms explanation page at http://www.chem.helsinki.fi/~toomas/photo/ev.html 2. The numbers around the main dial of the meter, the ones you set the rotary dial to, are not actually EV numbers as they don't change with film speed. They are really just there so that you can match the dial to something - Weston call them Light Scales.
    Category: Using
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  19. do you have a manual for the weston xm1 540 meter, or even instructions? none of the other meters on your site even appear to be close to the same operaions
    No, sorry I don't. I don't have an XM1 so I can't even put one together. Suggest you take a reading on a bright day outdoors, 100 ISO (or ASA) film. It should end up showing a reading of about 125th sec at f11. By trying out variuos things with the dial/calculator, you'll probably find you can work out how to use it. If anyone else can help, a scan of the instructions would be great for the site.
    Category: Using
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  20. I recently purchased a Weston Master III cine exposure meter believing that it would work as a photographic light meter. The instructions on your site as well as any others covering this model show the relative brightness level going well above the 27 that mine goes to. Also my wheels have very different information on them than the pictures you have shown. Do you know firstly if I can use this meter to shoot still photography? What the various scales mean? [I can forward a photograph of the item if you'd like] and finally if I am able to use the meter for still photography where I can locate instructions as this item did not come with instructions? I look forward to your reply. Regards, Barrie Firzgerald Barrie@Houseofcallahan.com
    The main difference between a cine camera and a normal still camera is in the shutter speed - you have to do a simple conversion. On the Weston, you can set the shutter to type A or B. Use A. Now set the FPS as follows:- For 1/60 set to 32. For 1/125 set to 48, for 1/250 set to 96. Set the film speed in the normal way. Set the dial to the relative brightness shown on the needle reading and it will give you the aperture. That works on a II cine - now I don't have a III Cine, but the same principle shold apply though the scales may be diferent - eg. .2 to 50 on the low scale and 25 - 1600 on the high scale, as with my Weston III non-cine. If this still doesn't make sense, I'll send you an email address that you could send a pic to.
    Category: Using
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  21. I recently found a old Weston Master IV exposure meter Model 745 with leather case. I would like to sell but I do not know if it works or how it works. Is there a website that might have instructions?
    Look on http://diaxa.nfshost.com/weston/ under Buying A Weston
    Category: Using
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  22. I have inherited a SangamoWeston light meter Model S461.5 Number 593AD I do not know how to use it can anybody help with instructions? PS it has an Autocone Many thanks Tony
    Tony, it's basically a Euromaster, so try thr Euromaster manual on the westonmeter.org.uk site under Manuals.
    Category: Using
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  23. I just bought a Weston Euro-Master S461-6 and I was wondering if there was a way to convert the reading to either lumens or foot-candles. Thanks.
    try this = using your meter where they say camera. Can't vouch for it though! http://www.firstrays.com/measurelight.htm
    Category: Using
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  24. I have a Cine Model 819 and no manual. Is there somewhere I can obtain one?
    We don't have a copy of this - it's essentially a model 650 with cine settings. There is a very brief guide to the 650 under manuals but it won't help much. Suggest you look at some of the other Weston manuals on this site and kind of figure out how to use it - there is a kind of similarity to other early Weston Masters.
    Category: Using
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  25. How can I be sure that my Weston is accurate?
    Good question! If you have a camera with built-in meter that shows the exposure then a few comparisons will give you a clue. On a cloudy but fairly bright day, the average exposure is usually about f8 at the reciprocal of the film speed i.e. 1/125 for ASA 125. The needle would be about 400 max on a bright sunny day on an average reflected scene. Other than that, trial and error with plus 1,2,3,4 and - 1,2,3,4 photos should show if it accurate.
    Category: Using
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  26. can you supply me with a conversion table asa to weston or vice versa thank you
    take a look at www.westonmeter.org.uk/speeds.html
    Category: Using
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  27. Can you point to something that will show me comparative ASA Weston Speed Settings
    just go to www.westonmeter.org.uk/speeds.html
    Category: Using
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