Fixing The Meter To The Camera

Greetings,

Slowly preparing my gear for an upcoming project. Would like to attach my lightmeter alongside or near the viewfinder of my 16mm camera.

Any tricks for fixing it discretely and securely appreciated.

Regards
Emmanuel from Munich

Emmanuel from Munich writes:

>Slowly preparing my gear for an upcoming project. Would like to attach >my lightmeter alongside or near the viewfinder of my 16mm camera.

What kind of light meter would you like to attach, and to what type of
camera?

Brian Heller
IA 600 DP

I recall that Albert Maysles used to have a jig for just this. It was essentially a little metal clamp that hung off the side of his sunshade or mattebox. He used an old (not old at the time!) Spectra Candella that used a selenium cell so it required no battery and could continuously take readings. Use the right eye to the finder and open the left occasionally to check exposure. A machinist should be able to rig you something to clip to the frontrods via dogbone or you could just Velcro it to the mattebox.

Mitch Gross
NYC DP

Brian Heller wrote:

>What kind of light meter would you like to attach, and to what type of >camera?

Greetings Brian,

Spectra P 251 and to fix either on an ACL or NPR on that project.

Also need to be able to take it off easily without having to fiddle around.

Mitch don't want to use velcro, needs something more securely.

The bracket I like that (first only thought of an Israeli arm, but to big to my taste), but how to fix it to the lightmeter itself is what I am looking for.

Regards
Emmanuel from Munich

SUYS Emmanuel wrote:

>Spectra P 251 and to fix either on an ACL or NPR on that project.

Of course, what else? A classic combination.

>Mitch don't want to use velcro, needs something more securely.

Don't underestimate good velcro. The industrial or "pro" type would be more than adequate, that stuff is amazing.

You could also try adapting an old leather belt holster, the one with the removable dome protector comes to mind.

Best,

Anders Uhl
Cinematographer
ICG, New York

Emmanuel from Munich writes :

>>Spectra P 251 and to fix either on an ACL or NPR on that project.

>>Also need to be able to take it off easily without having to fiddle around.

Spectra used to make the exact item you're looking for, and they may still have some in stock. It was called the "Tripod Mounting Clip". It was a stainless steel clip with a 1/4-20 (still camera) screw socket. The plate slips under the neck cord clip on the bottom of the meter and curves up and behind the meter and is held in place by spring pressure. As a result the meter is held very securely, but it's very easy to remove the meter for hand held use.

I believe this is what Albert Maysle used on his camera rig.

In your case, a simple piece of aluminium between the NPR carrying handle screw socket (3/8"-16) and the Spectra clip should do the trick -- or else you might be able to connect it to the matte box support socket. I haven't seen an ACL in a long time and I can't remember if it has a screw socket.

I may still have one of these clips. I'll take a look and let you know. If not, it would not be difficult to fabricate something very similar.

Brian Heller
IA 600 DP

I have one of the Spectra Tripod Mounting Clips.
It is in perfect condition since it has never been used.

All the best,

Mitchell Lipsiner
DP/ Atlanta,Ga.

Brian Heller wrote:

>>...In your case, a simple piece of aluminium between the NPR carrying >handle screw socket (3/8"-16) and the Spectra clip should do the trick

Later NPR's don't have a matte box support socket. ACL’s have a 3/8-16 socket on top that the carry handle screws into and the handle has a 3/8-16 threaded stud sticking up, which would make a good mounting location.

Wade K. Ramsey, DP
Dept. of Cinema & Video Production
Bob Jones University
Greenville, SC 29614

Wade Ramsey writes :

>>Later NPR’s don't have a matte box support socket.

Who knew I think I owned #22 at one time.

But they all do have a 3/8"-16 mounting hole in the handle...don't they?

Does anyone still have parts for NPR’s?

Brian Heller
IA 600 DP

Brian Heller wrote:

>>...But they all do have a 3/8"-16 mounting hole in the handle...don't >they?

Does anyone still have parts for NPR’s?<

Neither of our NPR’s have a hole in the handle, and AFAIK none ever did.

Possibly Optical Electro House has parts. If not, they may have them custom made, as they have done for some parts for ACL 1 models.

Wade K. Ramsey, DP
Dept. of Cinema & Video Production
Bob Jones University
Greenville, SC 29614

Wade Ramsey writes:

>>Neither of our NPR’s have a hole in the handle, and AFAIK none ever >did.

I know mine did, but I have no idea if was done at the factory or as a later mod. Whoever did it, did a nice job.

Brian Heller
IA 600 DP

>>Does anyone still have parts for NPR’s?

I worked on one that was functional, but the variable shutter was stuck due to corrosion. That was the nice thing about the NPR I suppose, variable shutter (compared to all the other advantages of the ACL-well, the ACL 2 w/ good motor etc)

A lot of older cameras w/ magnesium parts ended up corroded w/that white powder where protective paint peeled out. Some Cinema Products BNC mount modified 2C's and some Mitchell’s, FX35's also suffered tragic ends due to this(some mags like the FX 35 ended up terribly corroded all over if not maintained/protected.

John F. Babl
Miami

Mitchell D. Lipsiner wrote:

>>I have one of the Spectra Tripod Mounting Clips. It is in perfect condition >since it has never been used.

Greetings everyone,

First of all thanks for the valuable information, as always.
Intending to use a lightweight Clip on Mattebox.

The Spectra Mounting Clip is exactly the kind of device what I am looking for.

For the ACL with a small Manfrotto Bracket it should do a nice job via the Top handle.

On the NPR I can get a short 15mm rod in the MB support socket, then a small bracket as made by local company over here and stick the clip on there.

Velcro does make a good job, actually I use it quite often just to stick the modulus on the side of the camera, but I get stuck to it to often with the sleeves (lots of velcro on that as well) of my all weather jackets.

Mitchell have send you an email, not sure it has arrived correctly.

Last but not least Bonne Anniversaire Geoff.

Regards to all,
Emmanuel from Munich