Do you know of any SLRs with uncoupled meter like Rollei 35?

anyone? like the Contaflex but with true interchangeable lenses, esp wide and macro

I don't know what you mean by an "uncoupled meter" with your reference to the Rollei 35.

The Rollei 35 has a coupled meter... it is coupled to the aperture and shutter time selector so that when you align the circle and the pointer, the exposure is properly set.

If what you mean is "a camera which has manually settable exposure time and aperture regardless of what the meter is reading", nearly any SLR is like that. If you want one that can be operated without battery power, then you need one of the many that has a mechanically timed shutter and manual film advance.

Like my Nikon F plain prism finder, with hot shoe adapter and Voigtländer meter fitted there... ;-)

G
 
I guess I meant that it has a meter on the top plate so you can set it without having to look through the viewfinder. The Rollei 35 is like this, you can set it without having to look through the viewfinder. Thats what I meant. Coupled or uncoupled doesnt matter, I mis spoke.
 
From experience, the earlier Nikkormat F series, and almost all the second-generation and newer AF Nikon bodies, which have a top LCD with a match-needle display. Ditto for the canon EOS bodies.
As for older mechanical bodies: the Yashicas and Practicas are the only that come to mind.
 
Pentax H, Yashica Penta J, and the early Nikkor F that was built by Mamiya all had clip-on meters that you could read from the top. They were physically coupled to the shutter speed dials, so as you aligned the needle, you also set the exposure at the same time.

PF
 
Canon did it in 1964

Canon did it in 1964

Canon FX - 1964 introduction date, also started the FL series of lenses. It has a CdS meter eye on the left hand side of the camera (as you hold it to photograph with) with a Hi/Low switch, and round meter switch on the back. The meter readout was coupled to the shutter speed dial, and the readout was on the top of the camera.

I don't know if the earlier Canonflex did something similar.

The design of the meter in the FX is very similar to the readout of the contemporaneous Canon 7S, which has the "electric eye" to one side of the RF window. With both these cameras, the "low" sensitivity setting slid in a mask with a small hole drilled into it. Seem crude, but these meters are surprisingly accurate. Both require mercury batteries, or these days - Wein cells. Readout of the meter on the Canon 7S was also on top of the camera.
 
A very handy feature! Nikon offered it for a long time in the film era. Notably:

Nikon F with Photomic FTn meter finder (external needle)
Nikon F2 with DP-1 meter finder (external needle)
Nikon F2s with DP-2 meter finder (external LED)
Nikon F2sb with DP-3 meter finder (external LED)
Nikon F2a with DP-11 meter finder (external needle)
Nikon F2as with DP-12 meter finder (external LED)
Nikkormat FTn (external needle)
Nikkormat FT2 (external needle)
Nikkormat FT3 (external needle)
 
Just a point of curiosity, why do you want a SLR with an external, uncoupled meter? How would this be an advantage?
 
What do you need to know from the readout?

The Contaflex Super isn't TTL. I assume you want TTL metering for the macro work.

Any SLR with LCD top plate readout from the late 80's to today will do this. TTL metering SLRs will have an eyepiece lid or shutter for this purpose which must be used to prevent light from the eyepiece affecting metering.

You might need to use Av or Tv mode to meter then set compensation or manual settings.
 
The Contaflex Super (older version) has a meter read-out on the top as well as macro capabilities (the superb M1:1 lens, and the more pedestrian Proxars), but the wide angle side is limited to 35 mm...


Contaflex by nbg90455, on Flickr
Indeed. Later models (New Super; Super B; Super BC; S) also feature a meter display on top cover. The last two, however, offer TTL metering and viewfinder blind, albeit with the previously mentioned minimum focal length of 35 millimetres.
Cheers,
Brett
 
Back
Top Bottom