clip-on meter options.

[msbarnes]

What are my options? I'm fine with reflective-only

I can only think of three:
1. VC Meter I/II
2. Gossen Digisix
3. Sekonic Twinmate

I have the digisix and I find it "alright". The size is good for my pocket , but the controls a little fiddly. Well, it's good enough for my pocket, but it seems that it'd be awkward to clip-on because the bracket seems to stick-out (I'm assuming as I don't have one) and awkward when unmounted.

The design of the twinmate seems like it'd serve as a better clip-on meter because it is built in so mounting/unmounting will be less awkward. The VC meter would be cool too, but it's the most expensive.

 

[chris00nj]

The VC II is the best option if you want clip on. I prefer the Digisix though, because I like the incident metering option.

 

[sevo]

The Twinmate has the fastest handling of the three (match needle metering vs. two-scale match-LED on the VC and numeric value transfer on the Digisix). But it is no better than the Digisix as far as clip-on use goes - both are pretty awkward on anything smaller than a medium format camera, and lose some of their pocketability when the bracket is attached. So even though I consider it the least ergonomic of the three, for clip-on it's the VC.

Unless you go for some old one. Quite a few of the dedicated clip-on meters (Leicameter etc.) will also work on (some) other cameras. And there were generic clip-ons as well. I've got a neat little selenium Sekonic LC-II that's about the size of the VC - still reliable, but does only go down to EV 7, so it is only good for situations where you can still shoot hand-held on ISO 100 film.

 

[ssmc]

I also thought the VCII was a bit pricey... until I bought one.

It's amazingly compact and reads to within 1/3stop the same as the meter in my F70 set to CW with a 50mm lens - in other words as close as it can get (or needs to get) considering it's not looking through the lens. It has alternate positions for the foot so should fit most cameras and does not stick out past the back of the camera. The profile is so low that as long as it's a tight fit in the shoe (my copy is in every camera it needs to be on except the S3, where it slides off a little too easily) that you can leave it on in and out of the case, if you use one.

I only wish it had a button on the right side of the body as well as the back, so you could operate it more easily with the camera up to your face. Even though it looks like plastic the top shell is metal which is nice. I bought a black one and to my surprise it also looks good on a chrome camera if that's important (it seems to go well with the black leatherette/lens). My other wish (maybe we will see this on a "mark III"?) would be click stops at every 1/3 stop on the ISO dial.

HTH,
Scott

 

[Leigh Youdale]

I had a VCII when I was shooting early Leicas with no metering. Small, convenient and very accurate. I sold it when I bought the M6 TTL and the Rolleis.