Bolex H16 Light Meter

On Bolex Reflex cameras, the reflex viewing system is achieved by diverting 20% of the light coming through the lens toward the viewfinder, with the remaining 80% directed onto the film, by means of a beam-splitting prism inserted between the lens and the film. Most other film camera brands achieve reflex viewing using a mirror shutter that diverts 100% of the light to the film and 100% to the viewfinder. When using a standard light meter with a Bolex Reflex camera, you must always adjust your readings after taking them, in order to compensate for the difference in light reaching the film due to the presence of the beam-splitting prism.

To simplify light metering, Bolex introduced its own light meter specifically designed for Bolex Reflex cameras. The meter is built to automatically account for the difference introduced by the beam-splitting prism and to provide a reading that can be directly applied to adjust a lens setting. The light meter can of course be used with Non-Reflex Bolex cameras or those from other manufacturers, but adjustments will need to be made to compensate for the absence of a beam-splitting prism on these cameras. It would therefore be wiser to purchase a standard light meter for instant readings without any intermediate calculation step.

The light meter was introduced in 1960 and was manufactured for Bolex by German maker Gossen. It features a small metal bracket that allows it to be attached to the accessory shoe located on top of all Bolex H16 cameras.