PR-1500 Spotmeter
 < Home< Products < Photometers
Photo Research spotmeters are the standard of the industry.. select the model best suited to your needs.

Over four decades ago, PhotoResearch invented "spot" photometry when it introduced the Spectra Screen Brightness Meter for the motion picture industry. A few years later, a military customer inquired about measuring aircraft instrument panels and Photo Research produced the first Spectra Spotmeter microphotometer

The PR-1500 Spotmeter is a sensitive, versatile photomultiplier-tube photometer that can measure luminance(photometric brightness) at any distance from 1¾ inches (44 mm) to infinity without the need for accessory lenses or changes in calibration. The PR-1600 SpectraSpot, a silicon-cell photometer/radio meter, is designed for applications requiring the inherent stability and near infrared response of the silicon cell, without requiring the higher sensitivity of photo multiplier tubes.
Typical Applications
Display measurements
Cathode ray tube luminance
MIL-SPEC Lighting compliance
Street and Roadway lighting
Aircraft Panel Checkout
Material Reflectance Studies
Automotive Lighting
Color Temperature Determination
Airport lighting
Air pollution monitoring
Lamp quantity control
Photomultiplier Tubes

The standard photomultiplier phototube supplied has an S-20 response. These are specially selected and seasoned low-noise photodetectors.
Filter Turret

A 6-position filter turret is located between the aperture mirror and the photomultiplier detector. This turret contains the "photopic" filter which modifies the spectral response of the instrument to precisely match CIE or "human eye" response. This photopic filter is individual trimmed and calibrated for each SpotMeter. With this filter in position the Spot meter functions as a precision luminance photometer(photometric brightness meter).

Red and blue filters are included in standard instruments for relative tristimulus and color temperature measurements. (If special filters, such as red LED or scotopic response filters are installed, tristimulus and/or color temperature measurements capability is not available). Option 32 provides three individually trimmed colorimetric filters for red, blue and photopic making the PR-1500 a more accurate relative colorimeter. The filter turret has an OPEN position for use in making relative radiometric measurements. An internal calibration-reference source is mounted in the CAL position of the turret for quickly checking the instrument calibration prior to making a measurement.
USB Connectivity Option

We've made it easier to get data from the PR-1500 into the computer environment.

We now offer an optional Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectivity. This feature can be ordered with a new instrument, or retrofitted to existing instruments (must be returned to factory for retrofitting).

The USB enables all the capabilities of the BCD and more. The customer has a choice of ordering USB, BCD or both. Information returned from the USB bus is the DPM reading, exponent and sign, and CIE filter turret position.

We're also including a software installation CD, and fully documented sample software source code in C++, Visual Basic and LabView to make it easy for user integration.

PR-1500 SpotMeter Lens Selection and Field Coverage Chart
Objective Lens Focusing Range Working Distance Aperture Size
3° 1° ½° ¼° 1/8° ½° x 1½° 1/8° x 1½°
MS-55* 3.25 in. to ∞
(82.6 mm to ∞) 		10 ft.
(3.05 m) 		6.30 in.
(160 mm) 		2.10 in.
(53.3 mm) 		1.05 in.
(26.7 mm) 		0.53 in.
(13.5mm) 		0.26in.
(6.6 mm) 		1.05 in. x 3.15 in.
(26.7 mm x 80 mm) 		0.26 in. x 3.15 in.
(6.6 mm x 80 mm)
MS-1X Fixed 3.80 ft.
( 96.5 m.) 		0.114 in.
(2.90 mm.) 		0.038 in.
(0.97 mm.) 		0.019 in.
(0.48 mm.) 		0.010 in.
(0.24 mm.) 		0.005 in.
(0.12 mm.) 		0.019 in.  x 0.057 in.
(0.48 mm. x1.44 mm.) 		0.005 in.  x 0.057 in.
(0.127 mm. x1.44 mm.)
MS-165 Fixed 6.5 in.
( 165 mm.) 		0.114 in.
(2.90 mm.) 		0.038 in.
(0.97 mm.) 		0.019 in.
(0.48 mm.) 		0.010 in.
(0.24 mm.) 		0.005 in.
(0.12 mm.) 		0.019 in.  x 0.057 in.
(0.48 mm. x1.44 mm.) 		0.005 in.  x 0.057 in.
(0.127 mm. x1.44 mm.)
MS-2.5X Fixed 1.76 in.
(44.7 mm.) 		0.046 in.
(1.16 mm.) 		0.015 in.
(0.38 mm.) 		0.008 in.
(0.19 mm.) 		0.004 in.
(0.10 mm.) 		0.002 in.
(0.048 mm.) 		0.008 in. x 0.023 in.
(0.203 mm. x 0.584 mm.) 		0.002 in. x 0.023 in.
(0.048 mm. x 0.58 mm.)
MS-77 Fixed 4.25 in.
(108 mm.) 		0.038  in.
(0.97 mm.) 		0.013  in.
(0.32 mm.) 		0.006  in.
(0.16 mm.) 		0.003  in.
(0.080 mm.) 		0.002 in.
(0.04 mm.) 		0.006 in. x 0.02 in.
(0.16 mm. x 0.48 mm.) 		0.002 in. x 0.019 in.
(0.04 mm. x 0.48 mm.)
MS-5X Fixed 1.11 in.
(28.2 mm.) 		0.024  in.
(0.58 mm.) 		0.008  in.
(0.19 mm.) 		0.004  in.
(0.10 mm.) 		0.002  in.
(0.048 mm.) 		0.001  in.
(0.024 mm.) 		0.004 in. x 0.012 in.
(0.10 mm. x 0.30 mm.) 		0.0001 in. x 0.012 in.
(0.024 mm. x 0.30 mm.)
MS-7X Fixed 0.7 in.
(17.8 mm.) 		0.015  in.
(0.43 mm.) 		0.005  in.
(0.14 mm.) 		0.003  in.
(0.069 mm.) 		0.001  in.
(0.034 mm.) 		0.0007  in.
(0.017 mm.) 		0.003 in. x 0.008 in.
(0.069 mm. 0.21 x mm.) 		0.0007 in. x 0.008 in.
(0.015 mm. x 0.21 mm.)
MS-10X Fixed 0.6 in.
(15.2 mm.) 		0.011  in.
(0.28 mm.) 		0.004  in.
(0.10 mm.) 		0.002  in.
(0.048 mm.) 		0.001  in.
(0.024 mm.) 		0.0005  in.
(0.012 mm.) 		0.002 in. x 0.006 in.
(0.048 mm. x 0.14 mm.) 		0.0005 in. x 0.006 in.
(0.013 mm. x 0.14 mm.)
MS-25X Fixed 0.6 in.
(15.2 mm.) 		0.0045  in.
(0.12 mm.) 		0.0015  in.
(0.039 mm.) 		0.0008  in.
(0.020 mm.) 		0.0004 in.
(0.010 mm.) 		0.0002 in.
(0.005 mm.) 		 0.0008 in. x 0.002 in.
(0.020 mm. x 0.068 mm.) 		0.0002 in. x 0.002 in.
(0.005 mm. x 0.058 mm.)
MS-50X Fixed 0.3 in.
(7.6 mm.) 		0.002  in.
(0.051 mm.) 		0.0008  in.
(0.019 mm.) 		0.0004 in.
(0.010 mm.) 		0.0002 in.
(0.005 mm.) 		0.0001 in.
(0.002 mm.) 		0.0004 in. x 0.001 in.
(0.010 mm. x 0.029 mm.) 		0.0001 in. x 0.0001 in.
(0.002 mm. x mm.)
MS-55 with 12mm extension Fixed 1.34 in.
(34.0 mm.) 		0.093  in.
(2.36 mm.) 		0.031  in.
(0.79 mm.) 		0.016  in.
(0.41 mm.) 		0.008  in.
(0.20 mm.) 		0.004  in.
(0.10 mm.) 		0.016 in. x 0.047 in.
(0.41mm. x 1.19 mm.) 		0.004 in. x 0.047 in.
(0.10 mm. x 1.19 mm.)
MS-55 with 20mm extension Fixed 1.15 in.
(29.2 mm.) 		0.084  in.
(2.13 mm.) 		0.028  in.
(0.71 mm.) 		0.014  in.
(0.36 mm.) 		0.007  in.
(0.18 mm.) 		0.004  in.
(0.10 mm.) 		0.014 in. x 0.042 in.
(0.36 mm. x 1.07 mm.) 		0.004 in. x 0.042 in.
(0.10 mm. x 1.07 mm.)
MS-55 with 36mm extension Fixed 0.88 in.
(22.4 mm.) 		0.069 in.
(1.75 mm.) 		0.023  in.
(0.58 mm.) 		0.012  in.
(0.30 mm.) 		0.006  in.
(0.15 mm.) 		0.003  in.
(0.076 mm.) 		0.012 in. x 0.034 in.
(0.30 mm. x 0.88 mm.) 		0.003 in. x 0.035 in.
(0.076 mm. x 0.86 mm.)
MS-55 with 68mm extension Fixed 0.54 in.
(13.7mm.) 		0.051  in.
(1.30 mm.) 		0.017  in.
(0.43 mm.) 		0.008  in.
(0.20 mm.) 		0.004  in.
(0.10 mm.) 		0.002  in.
(0.051 mm.) 		0.008 in. x 0.026 in.
(0.20 mm. x 0.66 mm.) 		0.002 in. x 0.026 in.
(0.051 mm. x 0.66 mm.)

NOTES:

  1. Field coverage is proportional to distance at distances greater than 5ft. At 1.75 inches, field coverage equals MS-1X field coverage
Full-Scale Sensitivity Chart
Accessory Units Aperture
1° ½°

MS-55
MS-1X
MS-165
MS-2.5X
MS-77
MS-5X
MS-7X
MS-10X
WL-16
ZL-16

 footLamberts = fL
Option 52-0 		10-2 to 10+2 10-1 to 10+3
microwatts per steradian/square centimeter
µw.sr-1.cm-2
Option 52-0 		10-2 to 10+2 10-1 to 2x10+3
candelas per square meter
cd.m-2
Options 52-1 		10-1 to 10+3 100 to 10+4
µw.sr-1.cm-2
Option 52-1 		10-1 to 10+3 100 to 10+4
MS-25X
MS-50X
FP-16 		fL 10-1 to 10+3 100 to 10+4
µw.sr-1.cm-2
Option 52-0 		100 to 10+4 10+1 to 2x10+5
cd.m-2 100 to 10+4 10+1 to 10+5
µw.sr-1.cm-2 10+1 to 10+5 10+2 to 10+6
CR-100 footcandles = fc-Opt.52-0
(lux = lx-Opt.52-1) 		10-1 to 10+3
(10+1 to 10+5) 		100 to 10+4
(10+2 to 10+6)
IB-16 fc
(lx) 		10-6 to 10-2
(10-4 to 100) 		10-5 to 10-1
(10-3 to 10+1)
LR-16 millicandelas - Opt.52-0
(millicandelas - Opt.52-1) 		10+1 to 10+5
(10+2 to 10+6) 		10+2 to 10+6
(10+3 to 10+7)
Specifications
Measuring Field Apertures Specify either ½° or 1° aperture (see Lens Selection and Field Coverage Chart)

Sensitivity Range

 (see Full-Scale Sensitivity Chart)
Field Coverage see Lens Selection and Field Coverage Chart
Viewing field Bright, erect 9.2°  viewing field with 6X viewing magnification. (16.6°  with optional 3°  circular aperture)
Eyepiece Large(22mm) diameter focusing eyepiece with rubber cap.
Standard Objective Lens MS-55(55mm, f/2.8) MacroSpectar lens. Focuses from 1¾ in.(44mm) to infinity.
Spectral Response(Unfiltered) 375-1,100 nm
Calibration Traceable to NIST. Standard luminance calibration units are footLamberts but calibration in "candelas per square meter" is available upon request. Radiometric calibration is in microwatts per steradian per square meter.
Response speed From 10 microseconds (on least sensitive range) to 200 milliseconds (on most sensitive range)
Absolute accuracy (includes uncertainty of NIST standards)
±4% for photometric measurements(of a black body source);
±10% for radiometric measurements
Relative accuracy (repeatability)
±1% per month;
±2%per year
Operator Controls Power, Sensitivity and Response Speed switches - plus potentiometers for zeroing the amplifier and zeroing the dark current - are located on the back control panel. Two knobs on the side control panel are for filter selection and insertion of a viewing shutter.
Meter Hold Push button on back panel allows transient meter readings to be retained for inspection.
Readout Indicators A 3½ digit, no-blinking digital readout has an illuminated Multiplier Indicator
Output signals All models have a 0-2 volt analog output jack, capable of driving any analog device whose impedance is greater than 10,000 ohms. In addition, all models can be provided with a BCD output jack (Option 54)
Operating Temperature 32°F to 110°F(0°C to 43°C)
Power Requirements 117 volts, ±13 volts, 50 to 400Hz, 5 watts maximum; 230 volts, ±40 volts available on request.
Size and weight 12½ in. (31.3 cm) x 6¼ in. (15.9 cm) x 5¾ in.(14.6 cm). Weight is 8½ pounds(3.9 kg)
In this page
Typical Applications
Lens Selection/Field Coverage Chart
Sensitivity Chart
Specifications
Printer Friendly
PR-1500 Brochure
Information Request
Product Registration
* NEW * USB Connectivity Option