Weston Master IV 1960-63 S461.4
The Master III meter finally bit the dust, glass fell in which is a common fault, so although nostalgia means it is retired with honour a replacement was due.
Step forward the advance that was the following model the IV which enjoyed only a short reign from 1960 until 1963 when the model V was introduced.
Why only the IV given decent examples of all the more modern models are common but the IV, due to the short run or perhaps to photographers like me that see it's advantages, less so?
The IV was a complete redesign, new casing smaller size, lighter but more importantly higher sensitivity (an extra stop at the low end) and with the needle lock. In this model an intuitive slider, replaced by a press action, far inferior in use IMHO, in all later models. A redesigned Invercone, marked IV as it will not fit earlier models, the V invercone is the same but marked IV and V, much confusion in poorly informed e-bay sellers, beware, I had to return a IV supplied with the "correct" cone, no it wasn't it was a Model III fit.
Now rather like early M3 Leica production there seems to have been much "tinkering" during the shortish run. There are certainly two calculator dials one, as in my Serial M example, that is "simplified" ie much clearer to read but with a silver "Setting" arrow and a more "traditional" one seen in at least the Y series more like a complex slide rule with a red arrow resembling the Series III. Some models have the ASA rating, yes Weston Ratings are gone, with a ratchet type click lock others seem not to but that could be wear perhaps, on others the slide lock button works in the opposite direction, all interesting but the light still gets measured.
This one tested accurate against my "standards".
A tip for buyers is to look for one sold with a tatty or well worn case, that means, hopefully, it has been stored protected from light most of its life which is what preserves the cell. The lock by the way is often instructed to be engaged when stored, the manual says the opposite of course !!
I am more than happy with my £10 expenditure with cases for both meter and invercone and the year 1960 matches one of my favourite M2 bodies, win, win.
For the curious the red blocks against 25th 50th 100th are speeds of 30th 60th and 125th for the cameras with those speeds.
Weston Master IV 1960-63 S461.4
The Master III meter finally bit the dust, glass fell in which is a common fault, so although nostalgia means it is retired with honour a replacement was due.
Step forward the advance that was the following model the IV which enjoyed only a short reign from 1960 until 1963 when the model V was introduced.
Why only the IV given decent examples of all the more modern models are common but the IV, due to the short run or perhaps to photographers like me that see it's advantages, less so?
The IV was a complete redesign, new casing smaller size, lighter but more importantly higher sensitivity (an extra stop at the low end) and with the needle lock. In this model an intuitive slider, replaced by a press action, far inferior in use IMHO, in all later models. A redesigned Invercone, marked IV as it will not fit earlier models, the V invercone is the same but marked IV and V, much confusion in poorly informed e-bay sellers, beware, I had to return a IV supplied with the "correct" cone, no it wasn't it was a Model III fit.
Now rather like early M3 Leica production there seems to have been much "tinkering" during the shortish run. There are certainly two calculator dials one, as in my Serial M example, that is "simplified" ie much clearer to read but with a silver "Setting" arrow and a more "traditional" one seen in at least the Y series more like a complex slide rule with a red arrow resembling the Series III. Some models have the ASA rating, yes Weston Ratings are gone, with a ratchet type click lock others seem not to but that could be wear perhaps, on others the slide lock button works in the opposite direction, all interesting but the light still gets measured.
This one tested accurate against my "standards".
A tip for buyers is to look for one sold with a tatty or well worn case, that means, hopefully, it has been stored protected from light most of its life which is what preserves the cell. The lock by the way is often instructed to be engaged when stored, the manual says the opposite of course !!
I am more than happy with my £10 expenditure with cases for both meter and invercone and the year 1960 matches one of my favourite M2 bodies, win, win.
For the curious the red blocks against 25th 50th 100th are speeds of 30th 60th and 125th for the cameras with those speeds.