Light meter for prewar cameras

Hello!

Can anyone recommend a good light meter for use with prewar FED1 cameras?

Do any working lightmeters with the old nonstandard exposure time and f-numbers exist?

For the sense of nostalgia and fun I'd like to use one of these but I guess it's no big deal to use a modern one as the differences are not that big (and new ones will probably be a lot more accurate)...

Regards,
Christian

Hi Niko,

I use Leningrad-4, it's not prewar but practical

Leningrad-2 can be found cheap & easily, plus it looks so early 50ies that it goes well with a prewar-FED. Not the most presice meter, but works well enough for these cameras.

Best regards,
Juhani

Thanks!

As a kid I frequently photographed with an old Zenit camera using a Zeiss-Ikon Ikophot light meter. I like the look with the leather case, however its selenium cell is not working anymore.

Since selenium cells don't live forever I am a little bit sceptical about buying an old light meter, and most of the newer ones are just dead ugly.

Regards,
Christian

I would say that a L-2 being 50 years old is either totally dead or still OK by now, so buying one from a reliable seller who says it works OK means it also does work in reality, and most likely will also work next years. Selenium cells do go dead with age, but not all!

Best regards,
Juhani

I believe this to be the regular case but as for my Ikophot - it's not dead, but the reaction to light has become much too weak. It would cause severe overexposure in most situations, which it didn't about 15 years ago.

It does have a screw for adjutment at the back but it is already a the maximum position. So I guess apart from total "death" the cells also lose power over time. I've heard this is mostly due to moisture.

I have never heard of a prewar selenide-lightmeter still working correctly nowadays.

Regards,
Christian