Gossen Digipro F - Manual (Page 3)

GOSSEN Foto- und Lichtmesstechnik GmbH 3
2 The Functioning of the Digipro F
2.1 Preparations
Battery
The Digipro F operates with a 1,5 V AA-type battery (alkaline-manganese battery). Since the meter’s power
consumption is minimal, the battery will last for a long time. When the battery’s capacity becomes exhausted, the BAT
symbol appears on the display as a warning that the battery has to be replaced at the earliest possible opportunity.
Measurements cease to be possible if the display only indicates BAT. The battery must be immediately replaced.
To change the battery open the battery compartment of the Digipro F. Remove the exhausted battery and insert the
new one. Ensure correct polarity „+“ and „–“! Push back the battery compartment cover. Battery changing deletes all
stored values.
Self-Checking routine
The microcomputer performs a self-checking routine as soon as the battery
has been inserted. Every possible display segment appears in the display during
this routine. The duration of the self-checking routine is approx. 10 seconds,
but it can be interrupted by pressing any button. The factory programmed
basic settings are automatically displayed as soon as the
self-checking routine has been completed.
Basic values
ISO: 100/21 ° f: 5.6 COR: 0/ 1.0 EV: 12 t: 1/125 Flash: f 5.6 1/60
2.2 Incident and reflected light measurement
The features and measuring capabilities provided by the Digipro F are ideally
suited for the dedicated amateur and the professional photographer.
The swivel head will rotate through 180 degrees. This feature allows the
photographer to read the values measured in the display, while the
measuring head is directed towards the subject or light source.
When you remove the diffuser dome, reflected light and contrast
measurements can easily be taken.
Measurement by the incident method is far more accurate and reliable to
establish the correct exposure setting than the calculating of a mean value obtained with the reflected light
measurement in your camera. In the latter case, the reading depends upon the range of contrasts of the subject.
However, there is not always a uniform distribution of bright and dark areas of equal importance within the subject.
Incident light measurement is also imperative with inaccessible subjects.
For this purpose it is necessary to select a point that has the same lighting level as the subject. And then a meter
reading is taken that lies parallel with the projected connecting line between the actual subject and the camera. This
very convenient method of light metering at a point with the same lighting level is highly recommended for outdoor
shots. The measurement is performed with a complete „180°“ turn in front of the camera so that the reading is taken
with the meter pointing towards the camera, i.e. opposite the actual picture shooting direction.
Incident light measurement, i.e. with diffuser, also gives a precise reading of the brightness range of the lighting. Both
kinds of lighting – flash and ambient light – are measured with great accuracy by the incident light method with
diffuser.
In addition to this, the Digipro F also offers the reflected light measuring method. In this mode the diffuser dome
must be taken off and the meter is pointed from the camera towards the subject. The meter now only measures with
angle of 25 degrees the light reflected by the subject. Consequently, the reading always depends upon the inherent
brightness of the subject!! This means that inherently brighter subjects are not precisely measured and therefore
rendered darker. If readings are to be taken exclusively by the reflected light measuring method, then it is
advantageous for the professional to use a grey card (18 % reflection) in this mode. The reflected light method is used
to measure the subject contrast which is displayed by the Digipro F on its analog scale (see Section 3.2.4 Contrast
measurement, page 4).
3 The individual functions
3.1 Setting the film speed
Select ISO with the function buttons
Set the required ISO value with the value buttons
(display left: DlN value, right: ISO value)
Once the film speed has been set, it is transferred to the memory
of the Digipro F and maintained when the meter is set to any operation
function. It remains visible on the top right-hand side in the digital display.
Any change of the film speed directly influences the stored paired aperture and shutter speed values. The selected
film speed is retained in the memory until it is changed in the described manner.