James's Light Meter Collection: Walz Direct F-Stop Meter
Walz Direct F-Stop Meter Japan
Maker: Walz
Model: Direct F-Stop Meter
Circa: 1958
Cell type: Selenium
Measure type: averaging

Walz began as the export arm of Okada Optical in Japan, but eventually became simply Walz (at least in the US). They made a few cameras, but I mostly know them for their accessories: namely filters and the odd light meter or two. It was Walz that ended up with the Norwood Super Director.

Cute little meter, the type cost very little and often showed up as part of an outfit. A lot of manufacturers tried direct reading--the ability to have the meter point to proper exposure with as little input as possible from the user.

Most of them didn't make it, since exposure is a triangle of data: film speed, shutter speed and aperture. For a direct reader to work, the meter needs two of the three values to be input to work. And that can make things complicated.

This one did it by simply requiring a shutter-speed of 1/50th. The user turned a dial on the side that set the proper aperture scale based on the film speed (and to help, popular film names were added). So when you pointed, the needle went right to the f/stop to use.

Not bad. Better than nothing. Mine came in a brown leather case and (as with all these simple meters) appears to work.

©opyright by James Ollinger. All Rights Reserved.

Company names and models are registered trademarks of their respective owners
and are not affiliated with this website in any way.