Stuart Eagon

Anyone here have experience with taking a light meter to 8,000 feet or so?

I recently purchased a Sekonic L-858D-U light meter. I am currently reading through the manual and just read the line "do not use at altitudes above 2,000m (6,561 feet)." I may be taking part in a project in which there is a strong possibility that I would be filming at altitudes above 2,000m. Does anyone have experience with taking this light meter (or other ones) to high altitude? If so, I'm wondering if you have actually encountered problems with your light meter at altitudes above the listed 2,000m? Perhaps e-mailing Sekonic directly is the best option, but I wanted to ask around to see if anyone else could speak to this from experience.

Thank you for your quick responses. I got it figured out. For anyone else using the Aaton, make sure to be aware of the diopter on the XTR--the lock for the diopter ring is not the best and it can come loose pretty easily.

Last evening when I was out filming with the XTR, I was attempting a shot (on a tripod) which was looking straight up at the top of building (camera almost parallel to skyscraper). After I changed lenses in between shots, I suddenly noticed that the image that I was looking at through the viewfinder was somewhat blurrier (the focus had not changed at all) than on the previous shot. I tried all four of my different lenses--to no avail--the image is still blurry...maybe I'm crazy, but it seems even more blurry today than yesterday. I was thinking that maybe a drop of water got on the mirror or something happened to make it foggy, in between the lense change...cleaning the mirror hasn't seemed to help... I'm at a little bit of a loss...any ideas? Thanks

I have a quick question regarding some 'vertical lines' that I noticed on one of my recently developed/telecined 400 foot rolls of Kodak B&W Double-X 7222. I just posted three screen shots on FLICKR: http://www.flickr.com/photos/78043811@N05/ These illustrate the 'vertical lines', which are visible in the middle of the frame. Over the course of the eleven minute roll, these 'lines' seemed to become slightly more prevalent and more noticeable. On the two rolls that I shot previous to this one, and the one which I shot after it (with a different magazine) I had no similar issues. I am not quite sure of the possible causation--any insights would be appreciated. I'm assuming it could be any number of things...but I really have no idea if it was an issue with how the film was put into the magazine, or something in the gate, or something else? Figured I would at least check in, to see if any of you might have any ideas. If there is another forum on cinematography.com that you recommend I post this on as well, for additional insight, please let me know. Thanks. Stuart Eagon

Where do you recommend buying these cleaning tools (besides a lint free cloth)? B&H Photo or elsewere??

Thanks!

For cleaning the Aaton XTR gate is it an appropriate cleaning method to spray compressed/canned air into the gate? I know that the manual specifically states that you are not to spray compressed air onto the mirror. I am assuming that the gate is a different story. Just looking for someone to verify if this as an appropriate method of cleaning the gate (in addition to cleaning the magazine with compressed air). Thanks.