Clip on lightmeter for Fuji GW690 II

[Paul Jonathan]

Hey everyone,
Been lurking for a while and finally made an account (couldn't find the welcome section, so if I should introduce myself, kindly point me to it!)

Anywho, a new old Fuji GW690II is finally on its way to me and I'm looking at different metering options. I've looked at a few threads and it seems like most people have the Voigtländer VC or the Leica one. Anyone can recommend something for less than that?

It seems like a lot of the other ones have old Cds batteries or a rather inaccurate. I definitely aim to learn the EVs for different situations, but just to get me off the ground a little meter would be rather handy, especially since I am planning to do a lot of handheld with this camera.

Thanks! Paul

 

[Dan Daniel]

Hmmmm... I'll make a different recommendation. Read this article:
http://www.fredparker.com/ultexp1.htm
Although he says 'nature photographers,' it applies to anyone working outside of a studio. You'd be amazed at how stable light can be in streets and such.

Another approach- get a hand-held meter and learn to do incident metering. Including how to see a place near where you stand that matches the light of your subject.

I had a GW690 and tried a clip-on meter. It was an old Sekonic, accurate. I found that I basically had a huge bulky hand-held meter for practical purposes (the clip-on and the Fuji). Dropping the camera down to read the meter, transfer settings- a separate hand-held worked as well.

Well, just some thoughts. Welcome to RFF and the 120 section. You'll love the GW690- great viewfinder, great lens and focus system. Very comfortable, I found. The CLACK of the shutter firing has its own... well, uniqueness! but I didn't have any problems from it in the street.

 

[ssmc]

Hi Paul,

I use a VCII on my GW690III and find it to be excellent. But I admit you are paying a lot for the size and convenience.

I don't have any experience with other clip-on meters (only hand-held) but there is a possible inexpensive alternative (though not clip-on) - use an inexpensive pocket digicam. Even an old, low-res one (which are virtually worthless because the product life cycles are so short) will do the job. Just set the ISO to the same as the film you're using, zoom to get the framing close, and away you go, provided you find one that has at least an A mode so you can get a good idea of what the actual aperture and speed are without checking the EXIF on a computer.

I know it's bulkier and not an ideal solution but it will do the job very accurately for not much $$$

As Dan mentioned, the GW690 is a fun camera to use and gives remarkable results. The only downside is having to change rolls every 8 shots - but it sure does encourage checking the lens cap :bang:

 

[ChrisN]

There are several light meter apps for iphone and android smartphones. I haven't found one yet that I like enough to bother with. I find a pocket meter to be much easier to use. The Sekonic L308s is my current preference. I like the fact it takes a AA battery.

 

[Alpsman]

How about the cute Gossen Digisix? Ya can put it in the flashshoe.
http://www.gossen-photo.de/foto_p_digisix.php

 

[ray*j*gun]

There are several light meter apps for iphone and android smartphones. I haven't found one yet that I like enough to bother with. I find a pocket meter to be much easier to use. The Sekonic L308s is my current preference. I like the fact it takes a AA battery.

Plus 1 here .... I find I use this one more than my CV clip on meter.

 

[ruby.monkey]

The Sekonic L-208 TwinMate is a great little meter, and comes with an add-on accessory shoe mount.

 

[mfogiel]

I second the digisix and incident light measurment.

 

[Moto-Uno]

I got the "Twinmate " on sale a while ago and am never without it. And considering the
size of the Fuji, well it almost looks like it belongs there... Peter

 

[Dan Daniel]

t sure does encourage checking the lens cap :bang:

Oh man, yes, I forgot! I actually ended up putting a bunch of brightly-colored tape on the lens cap. It was so loud and ugly, I even had people whose photos I was taking ask me what it was when I would raise the camera to my face, thereby saving yet another blank frame.

Another thing I did was attach a white plastic 'flap' to the lens cap, overhanging anout 1/2 inch for maybe an inch of width. I was certain to always put the cap back on so that the flap was oriented to the viewfinder and I would be certain to see it as I framed.

And still.... still, I could forget! :bang:

 

[thompsonks]

Another echo for Digisix. IMO incident measurement is the way to go, if you aren't spot metering & using the Zone system. And the tiny Digisix is just as accurate as my iPhone-sized DigiPro F.

 

[FrankS]

My lens cap is transparent so even when I don't take it off, it doesn't interfere with picture taking.

iPhone app for light meter, even though I have a plethora of real light meters.

 

[Paul Jonathan]

Thanks for all the thorough suggestions! And great read Dan, I had seen the site before but never actually sat down to read it.

I'll see if I can find a good deal used on any of those models. Since I don't have a smart phone the whole app thing doesn't apply to me, but thanks for the recommendation.