FAQ's NorWood Director and descendants

What we don't know" is NOT out there to know.."
Oh, ask you weary ones..." and ye will receive wisdom!"

Many questions have been asked by persons who, never having used the Director, fail to operate its utter simplicity. Here are some of them:

Why is it that the Director should be held at arm's length for best results??

Under some conditions light colored clothing worn by the photographer may reflect enough light to the Photosphere to influence it slighty unless it is held away from the body. If you want to take a reading very close to your favorite model..wear black :-)

Why don't you point the Director at the subject like you do with other meters?

The Director and descendants are true incident light exposure meters, measuring all the light falling on the subject. The Photosphere is a miniature model of the camera side of a three dimensional subject. It should receive the same light as the camera subject, therefore the photosphere is pointed toward the camera from the subject position!

Is there a way to know if the meter is working properly and can be trusted?

OUTDOOR:
Take a reading on a clear sky any time between 10 A.M and 2 P.M.
Place your meter on a table or other flat surface not obstructed by nearby buildings or the like. It is important that there be no clouds or haze in the sky, because this will of course make a considerable vibration in the reading. However on a day when the sky is blue and free from haze you should expect approximately 250 (x30) Footcandles.
Slight deviations from the value above can be disregarded: pecularities of atmospheric conditions can cause variations of 1/3 below or above normal.

Battery:The needle does not move..Where can I find the battery compartment?

These meters don't use batteries. The Selenium cell gets power from light...!
Conclusion your meter is probably death.
See alsoNew Cell

The needle moves and reacts to light. How do I know if it is correct?

Congratulations: Check your meter with a meter which has proven good results.
Or try this rule: With the High slide in - On a Sunny day around 12AM, aim the meter towards the Sun. The readout should be the Shutterspeed 1/ASA (You have to set the ASA according your filmspeed) f-16 or about. This is very close..but no cigar as light can vary due to slight deviations from the value above .These can be disregarded: pecularities of atmospheric conditions can cause variations of 1/3 below or above normal. If your meter responds accordingly, your cell is OK.

I don't have a user manual...
Can you tell me where I can download a user manual in .PDF or text .doc document please? I would like to learn how to use it.

It works about the same as the Sekonic L-28 and 398 series.
The only difference are the numbers on the scale.
In short:
#1 Adjust the ASA in the window to the Asa of your film.
#2 Measure with the (High)slide in:
Point your meter to the camera and note the number the needle stops. Let's assume 64. Now turn the dial with the red arrow to 64 on the inner scale.
Done that? Now all combinations are locked and can be used on your camera.
With the dial out (Low light) do the same but with the white pointer instead!.
Hope this will help...

I want my meter overhauled and having the Cell replaced.

These older meters are not serviced anymore...
One problem with the early Norwood meters is that the cells are not easily replaceable. The cells from the current Sekonic ones will not fit.(larger Dia.) If the needle reacts to light and is consistent it is still usable, but the bright light readings are low, the typical problem with defective Selenium cells.
Here is the good news See alsoNew Cell

I have only the High Slide, can I use this one also for direct reading?

Yes, you can...With the high slide in use this value: 1/60 - ASA 10 and compute it your actual FilmSpeed used. For example 100 ASA would require a Shutterspeed of 1/600 whereas an Asa setting of 320 would result in 1/2000
Slide out use this value: 1/60 - ASA 400 meaning if you are using a 100 ASA film use a shutterspeed of 1/15 and use the aperture given by the needle.
You have to do some mental math., but it can be done quite easy! This could be important in case of a lost HighSlide in an emergency!!
More on this

Where do the numbers stand for 4-1M?

These numbers are representing the Illumination values in foot-candles. The highest number is 1000 1M. All numbered white blocks represent an increase of 100%.(1 stop) With the HighSlide out you read directly from 0 - 1000 foot-candles.
With the HighSlide in you have to multiply the numbers with 30. Thus the highest reading of 1M will tell you this is 30.000 foot-candles.

My High slide is colored red, why?

This is not the HighSlide. It is a Colormatic Slide used in these days (Early fifties) and meant as a direct reading slide for Color-film (typically film Speed 10/12 ASA)
The holes are just a very little larger (You have to measure this). The corresponding time was 1/50 second at 10 ASA
The Highslide has readout capabilities at 1/60 second at 10 ASA.
Conclusion it won't do much harm to use it as a HighSlide nowadays if you fancy the red one!

How are these meters used in an airplane?

Hold the meter up to a window in which the sun is shining, pointing the Photosphere toward the sun. Determine the exposure. Take the picture out of the window on the opposite side of the airplane. (Hence, the light reaching the metercell is reduced by the window pane but the light entering the cameralens is reduced by the same amount so one compensates for the other.

Why don't I get the same exposure indication with the Director as with my reflected lightmeter?

Do not expect to get the same indications from the director as you might get with a reflected lightmeter. The basic principle of the two meters is completely different. Use the exposure indicated by the Director and if you wish to satisfy yourself, make one with the reflected lightmeter reading for comparison. The results will show that your confidence in the Director has not been misplaced....

Why are Director meters so accurate?

These Director and descendants are accurate because experience has shown that incident light is the true criterion for correct exposure. All the incident light that falls upon the camera side of the subject is correctly measured and intgrated by the Photosphere to provide the one single correct setting for your shutter and diaphragm.

Can I tell how bright a background will appear in a portrait?

Yes, you can..Hold the Director against a background with the Photosphere pointing to the camera. With the same reading as at the subject position, both will render as you see them. If the background is half as much as the subject the background will come out appreciable darker than it appears. If the background measures more as your subject it will be lighter..

How do I get correct exposure on black and white film with a filter over the lens?

From the manufacturer of the film or filter find the correct filter factor! This factor gives the additional exposure required because of the absorption of light by the filter. Divide the needle indication on the Director by this filter factor and set the pointer to this new light value. For example, a certain yellow filter on a specific film has a factor of 2. Assuming a meter indication of 250 we divide 250 by 2 and get a value 125. Set the pointer to 125 instead of the previous number 250!

How does the brightness of the background influence the Director?

Because the Director does not measure the background but only the light falling on the subject, the exposures are not influenced by the background.

How is the Director used to photograph distant scenic views with the sun coming toward the camera?

With no important subject in the foreground the pictorial effect of a backlighted or cross lighted distant scene may be improved by reducing the indicated exposure by one stop or 1/2 stop respectively.

At light levels below, which even the Director can not expected to show a needle movement, how can an emergency indication be obtained?

Remove the photosphere and slide and point the open photoelectric cell towards the camera. Open up 3 stops or 10 times the exposure indicated. (Please note: This is an emergency procedure only which has a very low order of accuracy!)

How to handle an extremely light colored subject like a white wall in full sunshine?

Use the Director in the normal way, but close the lens down 1/2 stop smaller than the indicated aperture. If a person is prominently in the picture, don't make this compensation or the proper flesh tones will be lost!

And for the other extreme a color image of a very dark subject like dark foliage?

Use the Director in the normal way, but open up the lens aperture 1/2 stop (larger) than indicated. Make this compensation only when there are no persons prominently in this picture to maintain correct fleshtones!

How can I use the director for an outdoor image of a person backlighted by the sun?

By using the director in the usual way the face will be correctly exposed. However, if you are more interested in getting a correct exposure in the horizontal ground surfaces that are brightly lighted by the sun close down the lens one-half to one stop.

Next Question please...

Send your Question to jd@johnDesq.com

See the Models

Typical Specs:
Types A through M2

Incident Light scale: 3.2 -1000 (slide out)
foot-candles: 3.2 -1000 x 30 (slide in)
ASA Range: .1 - 1000
Shutter Speeds: 140 seconds - 1/1200
F-Stops: f1.4 - f45
Cine: 8 - 64 fps
Typical Specs:
Types Brockway S - Sekonic S

Incident Light scale: 3.2 -1000 (slide out)
foot-candles: 3.2 -1000 x 30 (slide in)
ASA Range: .1 - 1000
Shutter Speeds: 140 seconds - 1/1200
F-Stops: f1.4 - f45
Ev Values: 1 - 20
Polaroid: 1 - 8
Cine: 8 - 64 fps

Typical Specs:
Types L-28/L-28c2

Measuring system Incident light type/reflected light measurement
Measuring range (ISO 100) EV4 ~ EV17 (for incident light)EV9 ~ EV17 (for reflected light)
Film speed ISO 6 ~ 12000
f/stop f/1.0 ~ f/90
Shutter speed 60 sec. ~ 1/2000 sec.
Movie scale 8 fps. ~ 128 fps.
Weight 190 grams - 6.7 oz.
Dimensions 112 x 58 x 34mm - 4.4 x 2.3 x 1.3"
Set of 11 direct reading slides sold separately.
Typical Specs:
Types L-398M

Measuring system Incident light type, reflected light measurement is also possible
Measuring range (ISO 100) EV4 ~ EV17 (for incident light)EV9 ~ EV17 (for reflected light)
Film speed ISO 6 ~ 12000
f/stop f/1.0 ~ f/90
Shutter speed 60 sec. ~ 1/8000 sec.
Movie scale 8 fps. ~ 128 fps.
Weight 190 grams - 6.7 oz.
Dimensions 112 x 58 x 34mm - 4.4 x 2.3 x 1.3"
Set of 11 direct reading slides sold separately.

Author ||| Foot-Candle TEST ||| History ||| Identification ||| Yesterday's Meters ||| HelioValve ||| Model M-3 ||| M series ||| FaQ!! ||| Wanted!!
||| SlideShow ||| About slides ||| Condensed Manual Norwood ||| Condensed manual Brockway/Sekonic-S ||| Speed reading ||| Quiz
||| Impressum ||| Friends of ND ||| New Cell? ||| Where to buy ||| E-Mail ||| CD-ROM

Equivalents for Slide-in and Slide-out readings!
Advertisements from the beginning..!

Wallpaper 1024x768
Brockway Studio-S

	Why is it that the Director should be held at arm's length for best results??
	Under some conditions light colored clothing worn by the photographer may reflect enough light to the Photosphere to influence it slighty unless it is held away from the body. If you want to take a reading very close to your favorite model..wear black :-)

	Why don't you point the Director at the subject like you do with other meters?
	The Director and descendants are true incident light exposure meters, measuring all the light falling on the subject. The Photosphere is a miniature model of the camera side of a three dimensional subject. It should receive the same light as the camera subject, therefore the photosphere is pointed toward the camera from the subject position!

	Battery:The needle does not move..Where can I find the battery compartment?
	These meters don't use batteries. The Selenium cell gets power from light...! Conclusion your meter is probably death. See alsoNew Cell

	I want my meter overhauled and having the Cell replaced.
	These older meters are not serviced anymore... One problem with the early Norwood meters is that the cells are not easily replaceable. The cells from the current Sekonic ones will not fit.(larger Dia.) If the needle reacts to light and is consistent it is still usable, but the bright light readings are low, the typical problem with defective Selenium cells. Here is the good news See alsoNew Cell

	Where do the numbers stand for 4-1M?
	These numbers are representing the Illumination values in foot-candles. The highest number is 1000 1M. All numbered white blocks represent an increase of 100%.(1 stop) With the HighSlide out you read directly from 0 - 1000 foot-candles. With the HighSlide in you have to multiply the numbers with 30. Thus the highest reading of 1M will tell you this is 30.000 foot-candles.

	How are these meters used in an airplane?
	Hold the meter up to a window in which the sun is shining, pointing the Photosphere toward the sun. Determine the exposure. Take the picture out of the window on the opposite side of the airplane. (Hence, the light reaching the metercell is reduced by the window pane but the light entering the cameralens is reduced by the same amount so one compensates for the other.

	Why don't I get the same exposure indication with the Director as with my reflected lightmeter?
	Do not expect to get the same indications from the director as you might get with a reflected lightmeter. The basic principle of the two meters is completely different. Use the exposure indicated by the Director and if you wish to satisfy yourself, make one with the reflected lightmeter reading for comparison. The results will show that your confidence in the Director has not been misplaced....

	Why are Director meters so accurate?
	These Director and descendants are accurate because experience has shown that incident light is the true criterion for correct exposure. All the incident light that falls upon the camera side of the subject is correctly measured and intgrated by the Photosphere to provide the one single correct setting for your shutter and diaphragm.

	Can I tell how bright a background will appear in a portrait?
	Yes, you can..Hold the Director against a background with the Photosphere pointing to the camera. With the same reading as at the subject position, both will render as you see them. If the background is half as much as the subject the background will come out appreciable darker than it appears. If the background measures more as your subject it will be lighter..

	How does the brightness of the background influence the Director?
	Because the Director does not measure the background but only the light falling on the subject, the exposures are not influenced by the background.

	How is the Director used to photograph distant scenic views with the sun coming toward the camera?
	With no important subject in the foreground the pictorial effect of a backlighted or cross lighted distant scene may be improved by reducing the indicated exposure by one stop or 1/2 stop respectively.

	At light levels below, which even the Director can not expected to show a needle movement, how can an emergency indication be obtained?
	Remove the photosphere and slide and point the open photoelectric cell towards the camera. Open up 3 stops or 10 times the exposure indicated. (Please note: This is an emergency procedure only which has a very low order of accuracy!)

	How to handle an extremely light colored subject like a white wall in full sunshine?
	Use the Director in the normal way, but close the lens down 1/2 stop smaller than the indicated aperture. If a person is prominently in the picture, don't make this compensation or the proper flesh tones will be lost!

	How can I use the director for an outdoor image of a person backlighted by the sun?
	By using the director in the usual way the face will be correctly exposed. However, if you are more interested in getting a correct exposure in the horizontal ground surfaces that are brightly lighted by the sun close down the lens one-half to one stop.

	Next Question please...
	Send your Question to jd@johnDesq.com

	Typical Specs: Types A through M2 Incident Light scale: 3.2 -1000 (slide out) foot-candles: 3.2 -1000 x 30 (slide in) ASA Range: .1 - 1000 Shutter Speeds: 140 seconds - 1/1200 F-Stops: f1.4 - f45 Cine: 8 - 64 fps			Typical Specs: Types Brockway S - Sekonic S Incident Light scale: 3.2 -1000 (slide out) foot-candles: 3.2 -1000 x 30 (slide in) ASA Range: .1 - 1000 Shutter Speeds: 140 seconds - 1/1200 F-Stops: f1.4 - f45 Ev Values: 1 - 20 Polaroid: 1 - 8 Cine: 8 - 64 fps

	Typical Specs: Types L-28/L-28c2 Measuring system Incident light type/reflected light measurement Measuring range (ISO 100) EV4 ~ EV17 (for incident light)EV9 ~ EV17 (for reflected light) Film speed ISO 6 ~ 12000 f/stop f/1.0 ~ f/90 Shutter speed 60 sec. ~ 1/2000 sec. Movie scale 8 fps. ~ 128 fps. Weight 190 grams - 6.7 oz. Dimensions 112 x 58 x 34mm - 4.4 x 2.3 x 1.3" Set of 11 direct reading slides sold separately.			Typical Specs: Types L-398M Measuring system Incident light type, reflected light measurement is also possible Measuring range (ISO 100) EV4 ~ EV17 (for incident light)EV9 ~ EV17 (for reflected light) Film speed ISO 6 ~ 12000 f/stop f/1.0 ~ f/90 Shutter speed 60 sec. ~ 1/8000 sec. Movie scale 8 fps. ~ 128 fps. Weight 190 grams - 6.7 oz. Dimensions 112 x 58 x 34mm - 4.4 x 2.3 x 1.3" Set of 11 direct reading slides sold separately.