Tuesday, September 25, 2007

MetroLux II, How the Memory Works, Problem & Fix

I'll probably put this a couple of places here. I just repaired a MetroLux II for a customer. It had a voltage problem, something we have seen on a couple of units. Not hard to fix. Then I sent it back and that problem was fixed, but the customer questioned the memory. It was giving strange numbers, changing on its own, and the beeper was beeping at the wrong interval. Very odd. Everything else seemed to work.

First thing to know is that the memory can be completely re-initialized by turning on MetroLux while holding SETUP button down. This will load a series of numbers into LUX, TIME, Cal#, etc. They should be 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 100%, 2.1, 2.2, etc. The second thing to know is that the re-initialize is not complete until you hit EXPOSE the first time. This is true anytime you change any numbers that resided in memory: they are not written to memory until you hit EXPOSE once. Doing this can clear a number of apparently unrelated problems.

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Pocket Spot

Pocket Spot
Metering in the Office, 10 2/3 EVs

Pocket Spot

Pocket Spot
Metering in the Office, 4 1/3 EVs

Pocket Spot Spec Sheet

Pocket Spot Digital Light Meter Specs

Display: 2-digit Red LED with 1/3, 2/3 LED indicators

Dial: White, laser-engraved on Meter's anodized color background. Intermost dial is ISO with f/# on the outside. f/1.0 to f/128. Outer dial is shutter speeds from 8 minutes to 1/4000 sec on the inside and EV on the outside. EVs from -1 to 20. Body is marked with Zones from Zero to X (10). [Romans didn't have a zero, but what are you going to do? ]

ISO: 3 to 12800 ISO, marked in 1/3 stops

EV range: -1 2/3 to 23 at 100 ISO

Spectral Sensitivity: Compensated for "typical" B&W film, i.e. HP5+ or Tri-X

Angle of View: approximately 1 degree, smaller at very high EVs and 3 degrees at lower EVs

Viewing: Bore-sight through the hole the length of the chassis. Meter is held about 12" or 300mm from the eye (length of strap)

Linearity: about 1% from low to high.

Calibration: Not required. No adjustments inside.

Finish: Black anodized over a solid block of machined aluminum. Texture is random tumble over stones before anodize. Other colors in consideration at extra cost are RED and BLUE.

Battery: 6V PX28 or equivalent, Supplied

Dimensions: 2.25" x 2" x 3/4" (L x W x T) 57 x 50 x 19 mm
Dial on top is 1/8" thick, 3 mm

Weight: 4 1/8 oz (117 grams) with strap and battery, both included.


specifications subject to change

More pictures on page two near bottom.