Mini meters

Need a lightmeter for your classic film camera?

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After venturing back into a world of large-format photography ten years ago, I had to step back and learn how to use a light meter with accuracy. I went through a few vintage spot meters before I settled on a Sekonic D-758, a modern and rather complex tool with a huge array of functions and shortcuts to memorise.

Fast forward ten years, and just three out of the nine film cameras that I own have a builtin light meter. One of those was sold to me as ‘working’ from a seller in Japan and you guessed it, it doesn’t work.

For the modern digital photographer stepping back in time on a first nostalgic journey, this disarming predicament can feel rather uncomfortable. A separate light meter means more clobber and a creative disconnect from the romance of that first ‘decisive moment’. Something smaller and simpler is needed. Now thanks to modern battery technology, clever aluminium machining and circuit boards the size of your thumbnail, our dreams have come true.

Keep it simple

So what functions could we do with? Aperture priority please, that’s literally all I need. But let’s get a few things straight. These meters like the Keks KM02 and Doomo Meter S that I primarily use on my 35mm Canon rangefinders (and even a Mamiya 645 1000s) are straightforward and really look the part.