problems with pme finder

[sixbysix]

Hi, I am new to this forum. I just picked up a Hasselblad PME (VCF-6) finder and ruined a roll of film (and some potentially great shots) because the meter malfunctioned. It seems to work fine indoors, but when the cold air hits it it seems to malfunction. Anyone know if this finder has issues? I had an alkaline battery in it and I'm going to try a silver oxide and see if that was the problem.

p.s. it was only 45 degrees out!

Thanks

 

[polypal]

Welcome here.
I do not know what you mean by 45 degrees out but it sound serious.

Older metering prisms have a tendency to be less accurate at lower temperatures.
The misreading you mentioned seems to be more than the common 1/2-1/1 stop often occuring with older prisms.

 

[sixbysix]

Thanks for the reply. I mean it was 45 F temperature (here in NYC), but the meter did not have that much time in the cold before it failed. I pretty much came out of the Subway and started shooting.

 

[wbulte]

Thanks for the reply. I mean it was 45 F temperature (here in NYC), but the meter did not have that much time in the cold before it failed. I pretty much came out of the Subway and started shooting.

Alkaline works less well at lower temps than AgO batteries. Worth trying them to see if that improves things

 

[sixbysix]

Thanks for the info. I will try lithium or Silver Oxide battery.