Hi I have just joined the forum. I have a CM 500 system I have not used in 15 years. I am selling it piecemeal, within the lot was a PME 45 viewfinder. I have sold it, I had no battery for it so the buyer supplied it, one he had been using for his Pentax 67, it is the same battery. I know that 15 years ago that the meter worked fine but had not seen it work since, the battery was inserted but he brought no camera so functionality, there wasn't. The bottom cover was removed and I saw readings in the 12 range but without the body, lens and correct settings it was not accurate. He is now saying that EV 2-6 do not work, I find this strange as it has sat there without a battery, wrapped in plastic freezer bag with a silica pouch for 15 years. Has anyone enough experience with this to know if this is the way they malfunction, can they burn out in a range or one at a time. Is this maybe symptomatic of a low battery, does it take more power to read a low level? To be honest I cannot remember after 15 years. From what he said, it sounded like he was testing and judging it off the camera. Thanks in advance, I want to be fair with this guy but I don't want to be cowed by his insults and accusations, I suspect he doesn't know how to use it.
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PME45 Prism; Lower light readings do not light?
- Thread starter Oleg
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- meter problems pme 45
davidmknoble
Member
Low, low light causes problems in many meters, older ones more so than newer ones (because of technology, not necessarily age). If this person has a lower f/stop lens in front of the camera (think f/4 instead of f/2), there is half the light reaching the meter regardless of the ambient light. Also, older hassey focusing screens were darker, some had gliding mirrors that showed more of the view with certain lenses. The lens might also have a filter (color, ND or polarizer). All these things lower the light reaching the meter, so it will cease measuring earlier.
The manual states for ISO 100, the metering range for integral metering (average) is -1 to +19 EV. So, if for ISO 400, I believe that means that the range moves 2 stops up on the low light side, +1 to +19. The manual also states the adjustments needed for different focusing screens. It says very important to set f/max each time you turn it on (default f/2.8) for proper reading. Also, must be a new battery, not one taken out of another body that could be near end of life.
I’m sure by now you wish you tested it differently, but I would say if it meters properly at the higher light levels, it is likely ok. Only way to be sure is to compare reading with a second light meter??
The manual states for ISO 100, the metering range for integral metering (average) is -1 to +19 EV. So, if for ISO 400, I believe that means that the range moves 2 stops up on the low light side, +1 to +19. The manual also states the adjustments needed for different focusing screens. It says very important to set f/max each time you turn it on (default f/2.8) for proper reading. Also, must be a new battery, not one taken out of another body that could be near end of life.
I’m sure by now you wish you tested it differently, but I would say if it meters properly at the higher light levels, it is likely ok. Only way to be sure is to compare reading with a second light meter??
davidmknoble
Member
Also, I did not reread the whole manual, and I have a PME 45 and love it, but I don’t know what the meter uses - silicon or older tech, so I can’t comment on the age of the meter vs. reading, but silicon diodes should be fine for use today even though the meter is older.
coldborezero
New Member
See that I missed your post that he figured it out by about 16 minutes
I was about to express the opinion that this was almost certainly due to user error I've done bone headed stuff often enough to know about such things. And I'm not sure I've ever made an exposure at EV 2, it's not something I would have even thought to test the meter for.In my personal experience using light meters of any kind is sort of like asking 5 photographers the same question - you get 6 different answers
Light meters themselves don't necessarily agree, different subjects give different readings, different techniques produce different readings, and the opportunity its for user mistakes is ample.
I suspect it just took him longer to figure out what he was doing than might have been expected.
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Yes I couldn't agree more, he was embarrassed when he did figure it out, I told him I know how it feels to be screwed too so a little calm can go a long way. As David above said, I wish I had have bought the battery and tested it myself. Waste of a morning messaging with the guy what can you do.