Guidevalue to f-stop

[<error>]

So my story is that I bought a Minolte Flashmeter IV off fleabay. I set ISO and shutterspeed and aperture. When I fire my cobras, the meter tells me something that I need to adjust the GV up or down by that-and-that value to be good with the aperture.

Fine so far, but what's the way to get from my flash intensity to GV ? I can do it by trial and error, of course, but that goes a bit against what I bought the meter for.

I have a Canon 40D, two YN560-III and a YN-560TX, if that matters.

Still a long way to be a strobist .. but enjoying the trip !

Thanks guys !

 

[tirediron]

I'm not sure what you're asking. What is it that you're not able to determine?

 

[Ysarex]

Do you have the meter set to read out in EV?

Joe

 

[<error>]

John : Oops. Sorry!

Say I have set ISO-100, speed 250, aperture 8.0 on my Minolta FM-IV. One cobra @ 1/32. If my Minolta tells me that I need to do +1 GV, how does that translate into the corrections for either aperture or flash intensity.

Joe : I will have to check that again, but I stupidly followed the settings given in the manual. I am under the impression that I have to enter ISO/speed/aperture in any case and the meter gives me a corrective GV to match the aperture. I am ultimately fine with that, we are still in the magic triangle after all. I just think I need to understand the "light part" : getting from flash-intensity to GV.

Thanks!

 

[tirediron]

I use the Flash V as my primary meter, but I've never had it set to "EV". Rather, when in the 'Flash' mode, mine simply gives me an appropriate aperture based on the flash intensity.

 

[<error>]

Hmm, I had a go again. It seems I don't have a direct aperture readout on mine. But it's still easy enough to get one: I can toggle through the apertures and the GV changes accordingly.

But my problem seems to be the opposite: If I want a certain aperture, how to adjust the flash?

The previous owner seems to have had the same problem. And a solution. There is a tiny sticker on the back of the meter (do Japanese have that much better eyes ????). I'll take a photo and upload it tomorrow. Maybe someone can translate the sticker for me. For whatever that's worth.

Have a good one, it's 11pm here: Pillow calling !

 

[WayneF]

The manual is available here: Minolta Flash Meter IV instruction manual, user manual, free instruction manual, pdf manuals

Guide value is mentioned several times in the PDF version, but without having the meter available, its not clear what Guide Value means. They seem not to ever define it.

 

[<error>]

Thanks for the manual, that's the one I had. And it becomes apparent that I haven't read it: On page 14 the procedure is clearly described how to adjust flash power to the GV indicated by the meter. All good for the moment, I'll give that a try.

Here are the two stickers on the meter from the previous owner. The first one is the table for flash adjustment, as from the manual. The second one, I have no idea (yet) what it means. If someone can make sense out of that...

Eventually all will be good. Thanks guys!

 

[astroNikon]

I use the Flash V as my primary meter, but I've never had it set to "EV". Rather, when in the 'Flash' mode, mine simply gives me an appropriate aperture based on the flash intensity.

I have a Minolta IV F meter. I do it the same way John mentions above.
I think I tried the GV setting once and it was too confusing for me at that time.
You can use it multiple ways.

 

[<error>]

I have a Minolta IV F meter. I do it the same way John mentions above.

Another proof I haven't studied the manual not enough, yet. At least now I know it can do this as well, I just need to figure out what settings go there.

Thanks all, I guess the problem is sitting in front of my screen.