Minolta Flash Meter

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The Minolta Flash Meter series was started in 1969 with a light meter bearing the same name. That original Minolta Flash Meter was an analog measuring instrument with a color-corrected silicon photo cell as light sensor. This element was developed and produced by Minolta itself, as well as the whole flash meter. The meter needs one AA-battery and five PX625 batteries. The analog instrument's scale changes when the ASA-preselector on the meter's top is re-adjusted. Then the EV-value scale stays, but the scale of corresponding apertures is shifted right or left. When the right ASA film speed value appears over the scales the measuring can be done. The meter's front side shows the instrument and the preselector for the shutter speed. The instrument's needle shows an approriate aperture value for the preselected film an shutter speeds. Therefore the big metal button on the meter's side must be pressed down. Then the needle shows the EV of the moment of pressing down the button. On the bottom are two connectors, one for a remote sensor and one for a flash firing cable. When a flashgun is connected the meter can be used in a dark room. When its big button is pressed the flash is triggered synchronized to the moment of measuring. The instrument's needle keeps staying over the measuring value as long as the button is pressed, and a little lamp over the scale makes it readable in the darkness until the button is released. Another small button serves for the battery check. The sensor is located behind a round hole in the meter's back. The hole is a screw mount for the diffusor. One of several different diffusors can be chosen.

In 1976 the series was continued with the Minolta Flash Meter II which had an LED display instead of an analog instrument scale.

In 1980 the Minolta Flash meter III followed. It had a more versatile LCD display and a built-in digital micro-controller. This kind of flash meter was further developed until the appeareance of the Flash Meter V in 1995.

Specs

Flash Meter Flash Meter II Flash Meter III
Measuring system incident and reflected; flash
Measuring element Silicon Blue Cell
Measuring range incident 22 to 2800 lux sec 20 to 10,240 lux sec
3 to 20 EV (100 ASA)
1 to 18.2 EV (100 ASA)
Measuring range reflected 1 to 128cd. sec./m² 8 to 4,096cd. sec./m²
6 to 23 EV (100 ASA)
1 to 18.2 EV (100 ASA)
ASA 12 to 1,600 ASA 12 to 32,000 ASA
Time 1/30 to 1/250 1 to 1/250 30s to 1/1000
Aperture ƒ1 to 128 ƒ1 to 90
Power 5x 1.35v PX625 mercury
1x 1.5v AA / LR6 battery
9v battery / PP3 / 6LR61 6x 1.55v SR44 silver oxide
Dimensions 131 x 72 x 35 mm 146 x 74 x 42 mm 157 x 56 x 30 mm
Weight 340g 240g