AstrHori AH-M1 Light Meter

AstrHori AH-M1 Light Meter - 30-degree metering view

Without a meter mounted on the camera, taking a reading means using a separate handheld device. The AstrHori AH-M1 Light Meter puts a 30-degree meter in a compact unit made for analogue cameras, with readings shown on a 0.66-inch OLED screen. It weighs 48 grams, so it adds little to a camera bag or strap setup. The field of view is close to that of a 50mm lens, giving you a defined area to measure rather than a reading across a very wide scene. Choose continuous or spot metering, then work with the shutter-speed and aperture ranges to match the settings available on your camera. For a street scene, the quick-to-read display and shutter-priority mode keep the important exposure information in view; for a more considered portrait or still life, spot metering gives you a narrower area to read. Aperture-priority operation is there too, along with three stops of exposure compensation. It’s a small accessory, but the useful point is how much control it packs into that size: metering modes, priority settings and a broad range of film speeds in one unit.

Highlights

• Made for analogue cameras: The AH-M1 is a dedicated light meter for film-camera use. Its aluminium-alloy body keeps the unit compact, with a listed weight of 48 grams.
• 0.66-inch OLED display: Read the meter’s information on its built-in screen. The OLED display is part of the unit itself, rather than a separate accessory.
• 30-degree field of view: The meter reads a defined angle, approximately equivalent to the view of a 50mm lens. That gives you a narrower area to measure than a broad scene-wide reading.
• Continuous and spot metering: Select either measurement type to suit the reading you need. Both are available on the AH-M1, so you’re not limited to one metering approach.
• Shutter speeds from 32 seconds to 1/8000 second: The meter covers long exposures as well as fast shutter settings. This range is useful when matching a reading to cameras with different shutter-speed options.
• ISO 5 to 6400 and apertures from f/1 to f/32: The broad ranges cover low and high film-speed settings, alongside a wide span of apertures. Set the values within the meter to work out an exposure for your chosen combination.
• Aperture- and shutter-priority modes: Choose which exposure setting to prioritise, with three stops of exposure compensation also available. These controls provide more than a single fixed way to arrive at a reading.

Good to know

The AH-M1 measures 38 × 26 × 14 mm, keeping its footprint notably small on a camera setup. Its built-in 120 mAh lithium battery runs the meter for approximately 12 hours of continuous measurement. Charging is through USB Type-C with a 5V power supply. The supplied USB-C cable is included for charging, alongside an Allen key and the user manual.

What's Included

• AstrHori AH-M1 Light Meter
• USB-C cable
• Allen key
• User manual

Technical Specifications

• Brand: AstrHori
• Model: AH-M1
• Type: Light meter for analogue cameras
• Metering: Continuous and spot
• Field of view: 30 degrees, approximately equivalent to a 50mm lens
• Shutter-speed range: 32 seconds to 1/8000 second
• ISO range: 5–6400
• Aperture range: f/1–f/32
• Exposure modes: Aperture priority and shutter priority
• Exposure compensation: Three stops
• Battery: Built-in 120 mAh lithium battery; approximately 12 hours of continuous measurement
• Charging: USB Type-C, 5V power supply