James's Light Meter Collection: Gossen Pilot 2
Gossen Pilot2 exposure meter click for manual
Maker: Gossen
Model: Pilot 2
Circa: 1975
Price (new): $39.95
Cell type: Selenium
Measure type: Reflecting / Averaging and 2D incident

A 1975 updating of Gossen's compact Pilot from a decade earlier. In fact, other than the cosmetics, there's not a dime's worth of difference between them. The only functional difference I've noticed is that the calculator dial no longer has the LVS readout.

Other than that—same thing. Still selenium. Still very small and light. This one is photographed in its plastic clamshell case (same design); it's held in with a screw, so if you want to completely pull it from the case, you have to take the screw out. Since it doesn't use a battery and the sensor is on the leading edge, there's no real reason to take it out, and the case probably gives it some extra protection if it's dropped.

It also has a nice little feature that I didn't notice until I saw it on the box. There's a little white button on the bottom right side, and that's really a slider. If you slide it, a little corrugated curtain rolls across the front cell (like a slender version of the Sixtomat), so you can take incident readings. Very cute.

Nice meter. Mine still works, the match-needle is easy and smooth, and you don't need a manual to figure it out.

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