Minolta Auto Meter IV F is Helpful for the Perfect Photo!
Written: Aug 24 '02 (Updated Aug 24 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to use and works well!
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: It helps you to get the perfect lighting condition for that perfect photo!
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| surferdude7's Full Review: Minolta Autometer IV F IMP |
The Minolta Auto Meter IV F is helpful whether you use a medium format, 35mm or a digital camera. Point and shoot photos are easy and do a fairly good job but they are not perfect.
To get a really excellent portrait shot you really need to use manual settings and have the right light surroundings. Now to see if your lighting is right around the subject you will need a meter like the Minolta Auto Meter IV F for proper camera settings.
Most cameras have a Reflected Light Meter built-in that reads the light reflected by the subject. The Minolta Auto Meter IV F is an Incident Light Meter that reads the light falling onto the subject. The Incident Light Meter will give you the best information about the amount of light if used properly.
~~~ The Minolta Auto Meter IV F ~~~
The Minolta Auto Meter IV F can be used to check flash and ambient light measurement. In the flash measurement it will sync speeds from 1/500 seconds to 1 second for cord and non-cord flash measurements. In the ambient light measurements it has a shutter speed range of 30 minutes to 1/8000 seconds can be measured. All measurements can be made in ½-stop increments.
It is a small and lightweight unit measuring 5-3/4 inches in height x 2-1/4 inches wide x 1-1/32 inches thick and weighing a little over 5 ounces with the battery installed. It uses one AA-size battery that can be alkaline-manganese, NiCd or a carbon-zinc battery. It has an easy to read LCD display with the shutter speeds on your left and the aperture on the right. It is black in color and fits really nice in your hand with a rubber like lining around the sides of it to get a good grip on it. The Receptor Head rotates for checking different angles and keeping the meter where you can view the results easily.
Ambient
For Ambient Light measurements set the film speed and shutter speed that you want to use with your camera, place the meter close to your subject then press the measuring button to see your readings.
You can take continuous readings by holding down the measuring button and moving around the subject.
Flash
You can check to see how your readings will be under a flash situation.
With a sync cord connected to the meter, pressing the measuring button will fire the flash and take an exposure reading.
Without a sync cord connected to the meter, pressing the measuring button places the meter into stand-by mode, manually fire the flash and the meter will read it.
~~~ Other Specifications ~~~
Display Range
ISO = 3 to 8000 in 1/3-stop increments
Shutter speed ambient = 1/8000 sec. to 30 min. in 0.5 TV increments
Shutter speed flash = 1/500 to 1 sec. in 0.5 TV increments
F/# = 1.0 to 90 + 0.9 in 0.1 AV increments
Analog scale (f/#) = 1.0 to 90 in 0.5 AV increments
EV = - 7.8 to 31.5 in 0.1 EV increments
Brightness difference = -9.9 to 9.9 in .1 BV increments
Measuring Modes
Ambient (AMBI) & flash (CORD & NON.C)
Incident = -2.0 to 19.9 EV
Reflected: Viewfinder 5°: 2.5 to 24.4 EV
Viewfinder 10°: 1.2 to 23.1 EV
40° attachment: 1.2 to 23.1 EV.
Flash Range
Flash Range at 1/60 sec.
Incident = f/1.0 to 90 +0.9
Reflected = Viewfinder 5°: f/1.0 to 90 +0.9
Viewfinder 10° = f/1.0 to 90 +0.9
40° attachment = f/1.0 to 90 +0.9.
Reception Method
Incident = cardioid spherical diffuser or flat diffuser
Reflected = Viewfinder 5°/Viewfinder 10°, 40° reflected light attachment
External Receptor = Booster II, Mini-diffuser.
Cine Measurements
The Minolta Auto Meter IV F has eight framing rate settings and the extended ISO range can be used to factor in filtration correction.
Brightness Display Difference
The LCD displays the difference in +/-EV and in 1/10th stops between two readings.
Memory
The Minolta Auto Meter IV F memory lets you stores two separate readings and displays them at the same time.
~~~ My Final Thoughts ~~~
The Minolta Auto Meter IV F is an easy to use meter for giving you the correct results to capture the perfect photo. The meter will give you the same results on your subject no matter what type of background you have because the meter is reading the subject and not the background.
How to exactly use your meter will take some practice, everyone seems to use them slightly different in the way they approach the subject to get the reading they want. It will take a little practice to see what works best for you.
Using the Minolta Auto Meter IV F is really easy. I like how you can easily hold it in your hand and quickly make your readings.
When using a meter like this check what your camera gives you for automatic settings and then compare with what the meter tells you. Then take a photo with the camera doing all the work for you and then take one with the use of the Minolta Auto Meter IV F. You will be surprised at the results.
The Minolta Auto Meter IV F is probably easier to use than the camera you have, unless it is a point and shoot camera only.
This is a very nice piece if equipment with a retail price between $219 to $249.
Recommended:
Yes
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surferdude7
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