Anyone using a Voigtlander VC II Meter on their film Leica?

[css9450]

I had the version 1, worked well, but I dislike shoe-mounted meters. That's where the aux viewfinder goes!

I like the double-accessory shoe, for that very reason. But I use it very seldom because I never really became comfortable with raising the viewfinder by the additional height the double shoe adds. It would be a tough lesson to find out my framing was thrown off by that much!

 

[john_s]

I use one on my IIIF. Handy but not likeable. Film speed setting changes too easily. On my M Leica's I use the Leica MR-4 meter. Field of view corresponds to the 90mm framelines and shutter speed is coupled to the shutter speed dial making it extremely easy to use.

The coupled MR-4 meter is great, but I find shoe mounted meters more awkward than a separate meter on a lanyard around my neck.

My solution, see post #30:
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=116314

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Like Beemermark said: "handy but not likeable." I dislike the way accessory shoe mounted meters change the weight and balance of either an M or Barnack Leica. I have an MR-4 (a very cool engineered piece) but never use it mounted. Most of the time I use a Gossen Digisix meter in incident mode.
Having spent a considerable time in LF photography....developing and printing...I'm not a huge proponent of Sunny-16 guess/exposure. I always aim for a near-perfect negative....so printing isn't hit-&-miss.

 

[Solinar]

A classic shoe mounted meter in my opinion

A classic shoe mounted meter in my opinion

I use one on my IIIF. Handy but not likeable. Film speed setting changes too easily.

Amen, with regards to the film speed setting changing.

With regards to accuracy of any reflective meter, you have to turn on your brain when in use - which is also true of a fancier built-in matrix meter a ny modern digital camera. Reflective meters see an all white or black background as 18% gray.

I have two Voigtlander VC II meters, one in silver and one in black.

 

[charjohncarter]

I use one on my IIIF. Handy but not likeable. Film speed setting changes too easily. On my M Leica's I use the Leica MR-4 meter. Field of view corresponds to the 90mm framelines and shutter speed is coupled to the shutter speed dial making it extremely easy to use.

I somewhat agree, but in the back of my mind I know this can happen so I always check the ISO. On my hand held I switch it on and forget to check from my last use much more than my VCII.

 

[Rayt]

I have one but sits in a drawer. I find it too slow to use when I can meter with a tiny handheld Sekonic 308. I need to aim the VC to an area nearest to middle grey and then turn the dials for that green light, look at the exposure setting to transfer to the camera. Recompose. Meanwhile the subject is half a block away.

 

[Bmoze]

Okay, this will be a long post because I seem to have a mild addiction for light meters. I have handheld Sekonic spot and reflective meters for medium and large format work. I bought a VC II meter when I got my first Leica (M4) last year. I actually like the shoe mounted meter concept. It’s separates the electronics from the camera and provides a nice methodical shooting process. All that’s said above about thinking through the exposure applies to all meters, and the VC meter gave generally good base readings for B&W. I sold it because the slipping ASA dial drove me nuts, and it’s a two step process: turn on, adjust leds. I did like that, once set, you can see equivalent exposures at a glance.

I’ve also bought via Kickstarter the Reveni Labs meter and the KEKS meter. Both are very good and both have their own issues. The buttons on the Raveni are tiny. I use it on a IIIf with a dual shoe mount for a 28/50 viewfinder. Really like that setup. The Raveni weighs nothing, give the same readings as my Sekonic handheld, and the LEDs are really bright - easily visible in backlit sunlight. Battery life is a weak spot - must be fresh to work properly. Still, I like it, and will probably get another for a recent TLR purchase.

I use the KEKS on my M4. It’s weaknesses are its LED, which washes out in backlit sunlight, and that you can’t adjust the meter to avoid intermediate readings (1/300 @ F8), (at least I don’t think you can do that). Its USB rechargeable battery seems to last forever on a charge.

Overall, I like these LED meters better than the VC meter because the reading is one-step and instantaneous. I don’t find it too tough to calculate the equivalent exposures in my head, but you can fiddle with the buttons if needed.

I’ve also bought, via Kickstarter, the Lime light meter, which should ship soon, and the Raveni Labs spot meter, which is a way’s off. I can report back about them.

 

[Nitroplait]

Both the VCI and VCII are match-needle type meters. I can understand buying a vintage match-needle device if you are a purist and want to match the components of your kit to the same vintage, but if you buy a modern meter, why not get one with direct readout (like a Sekonic L-308 series or the like)?
It is much faster, convenient and flexible as you get incident and reflected options, direct aperture or shutter prioritised readout depending on preference, and even flash meter options.
The top mounted meters warts are at most clumsy one to two trick ponies.
Just my opinion of course.

 

[Larry H-L]

Several people have mentioned that the dials slip. The tension on the dials is easily adjustable. If you look a Akiva's photo at the top, you'll see set screws at the center of each dial. Use a pair of needle point tweezers from the drug store and simply tighten down the screws to adjust them to your preferred tension.

 

[Godfrey]

I am intrigued by this little accessory. Anybody using this on their film Leica? Or am I being lazy even considering one?

I have one. It works very well, like any small reflected light meter does once you understand how to use it properly. The user interface is simple, direct, and easy to work.

I use it with my M4-2, Perkeo II, and GS645S Wide 60 on an occasional basis. It's a useful alternative to my more usual handheld incident light meter due to the convenience in carrying it.

G

 

[Paul T.]

I used one for a few years. It is neat looking and works well.

But ultimately I sold it and bought the Sekonic Twin Mate . Becuase it has a dial, it's more intuitive for me, really easy to see if you're one stop over or under, and all the shutter/aperture combinations etc, without rotating the dials back and forth.

The dials slipped on my VC11, tightening fixes it for a reasonable amount of time, having the wheels placed like that exacerbates it (does depend on if you have a case, and what style it is, though).

 

[CLAdictic]

I'll chime in. Yes I do on my M4-P. I have a Leica meter, which works, but eats batteries. The VC is obviously utilizing latest state of the art.