Old Cameras Need Lightmeters

When you buy old cameras light meters become an iffy proposition at best. Most cameras made after the 1960's came with a built in light meter. This simplified the photographers job and reduced the cost outlay.

The challenge is that today, fifty years after many of these cameras were made, the built in light meters are failing. This can be due to age, most of the rest of the camera is mechanical and can easily be fixed, or due to a voltage disparity between the batteries it was designed to take, and those available today.

If you look at cameras pre-1960's you will not find built in light meters. Today a good light meter can set you back a few hundred dollars which is many times what many of these cameras go for.  Or you can try an app for your phone.

I purchased an app after reading most photographers condemn them as being untrustworthy.  Everything I read indicated that they only way to go was to drop USD500 on a light meter.  But I decided to try it as it was a little over a dollar.

I have used it countless times since then and have NEVER gotten a poor reading.  Every shot I took using it came our correctly exposed. I have since read some reviews and found that other photographers, who actually put these apps to the test, found that for general use they are indeed very effective. 

I suggest you give it a go.  Buy old cameras, if the light meter works great, if not then pull out the cell phone, take a reading and shoot away.  By the way unless the light changes a great deal you can take a single reading and use it for all shots.  No need to pull it out for each and every shot you take.