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Posted by Donide on April 05, 2002 at 10:31:32:
I just bought a Beseler PDT 022/09 - Enlarger Meter / darkroom timer from an estate sale. I know how to use the timer, but the meter part has me stumped. It has a sensor that obviously measures the image. But, I can not figure out what the readings mean. The two big dials on top do not seem to do anything. They are marked with contrast grades and seconds.
Does anyone know how to use the meter? Better yet, does anyone have a manual for this thing?
I bought this to use as a timer, but since it has a meter attached, I would like to know how to use that too. I can not find any information on it anywhere.
Editor's Note: First a cautionary note. The photo cell in an enlarging meter should never be exposed to room light with the meter turned on.
While I am unfamiliar with your particular enlarging meter, they generally work one of two ways. Most meters have a dial with ANSI paper speeds on them. The paper speed should accompany a circular in the box of photographic paper. Set the correct ANSI speed on the dial - generally it will be a number like 200 or 400. Generally the outer rim of the indicator dial is marked in seconds. With the safelight off and the enlarger on, stop the lens down to the aperture you want to use for the exposure. Generally two stops down from maximum aperture will yield the sharpest print. The eye of the photo cell is placed on the baseboard on a portion of the projected negative that you want rendered as a highlight with detail, such as the side of a person's face in sunlight. (This will be a dark area on the negative.) Slowly turn the dial on the meter starting at 2 or 3 seconds in the direction of more time until the indicator light goes out on the meter. Then you can directly read from the outer markings the number of seconds the paper should be exposed. Set the timer and make the exposure. Generally times longer than 15 seconds are more accurate, times shorter than 10 seconds are likely to be wrong.
Using an enlarging light meter requires repeated use and skill in identifying the same target area on different negatives. With practice and proper calibration, it will save you lots of time and money because you'll reduce wasted photographic paper.
The other way some enlarging meters work is to establish a fixed exposure time for all enlargements. The probe is placed on the same highlight area with detail and you slowly stop the enlarger lens down until the indicator light on the meter goes out.
Some of the old Gossen darkroom light meters worked the opposite way. The probe was placed in a shadow area (bright area of the negative) and the readings were taken. I believe this methodology went out of favor when manufacturers started assigning ANSI speeds to the paper.
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