As technology evolved in the twentieth century, so too did the ability to use light—the fundamental element of photography. Exposure meters measure the amount of light falling on a subject, allowing photographers to determine the aperture (F-stop on a camera) and shutter speed to create the best possible exposure.
Controlling Light
-
General Electric PR-1 Exposure Meter c.1950s
Exposure meters such as the PR-1 relied on Selenium. This GE meter was known for its size and portability, the point and lock feature of the needle, and the new […]
-
Gossen Luna Pro Exposure Meter c.1961
The Gossen Luna Pro was one of the earliest CdS (Cadmium Sulfide) exposure meters. Introduced in the 1960s, CdS meters—more effective than Selenium—quickly replaced the old exposure meters.
-
Argus C3 c.1939-1966
Nicknamed “The Brick,” this camera had both a coupled rangefinder and the first internal flash synchronization system, which linked the flash mechanism with the speed of the shutter.
-
Kodak Starflex c.1957-1964
Invented in 1925, the flashbulb allowed photographers to take pictures in darker settings. The Brownie Starflex was a camera in Kodak’s “Star Series”—a series of cheap, plastic, accessible cameras with […]
-
Beseler Topcon Unirex c.1969-1973
This camera was a 35mm SLR (Single-lens Reflex) with a “through the lens” CdS meter. The light meter on this camera measured only the light that entered through the lens—eliminating […]
-
Argus Cosina 35 c.1971
This was a typical camera from the early 1970s—an automatic 35 mm camera that used a built in CdS (Cadmium Sulfide) meter cell to measure light. CdS revolutionized exposure meters […]