MarkoKovacevic
Well-known
Want to get this to use with my Leica III. What do you think of this meter?
Gossen Digisix?
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FPjohn
Well-known
I use one. Chiefly as an incident meter - small compact and easy to use. A great complement, IMHO, to the "sunny 16" rule.
yours
FPJ
yours
FPJ
Yup, I use it for incident readings, like it a lot.
cmdrzed
wallflower
I agree with the posts above. It's a nice little meter.
bmattock
Veteran
I like mine because it reads out in EV. This is fine when you have an old camera that has LVS settings on it - you just set it to the EV number and you're done. Otherwise, you have to use the dial on the Digisix to convert from EV to f-stop and aperture.
Things I don't like about the Digisix are these:
1) It does not turn off. You have to keep it in its little pouch and even that runs the battery down. Taking the battery out is a slight pain, so either way is a chore.
2) Setting the ISO speed is a bit hit-and-miss. You click the button and it goes up in steps. Go past by one? Well, cycle through the complete ISO settings again, all of them.
I am also not fond of the way they charge an extra $15 for the accessory shoe adapter; it's a cheap bit of plastic that ought to be included.
However, all that said, it's a nice, small, meter.
Things I don't like about the Digisix are these:
1) It does not turn off. You have to keep it in its little pouch and even that runs the battery down. Taking the battery out is a slight pain, so either way is a chore.
2) Setting the ISO speed is a bit hit-and-miss. You click the button and it goes up in steps. Go past by one? Well, cycle through the complete ISO settings again, all of them.
I am also not fond of the way they charge an extra $15 for the accessory shoe adapter; it's a cheap bit of plastic that ought to be included.
However, all that said, it's a nice, small, meter.
MarkoKovacevic
Well-known
How do you find the extra features? Do they detract from using the meter? Also, I didn't know it doesn't have a off switch! How long does the battery last on average?
bob338
Well-known
i have a digiflash which is practically the same meter. the extra features i remember it having are a clock and an alarm, i find them fairly useless.
it DOES have an off switch, but you have to push a button a couple of times to turn it off. i rarely turn it off and i get 6-9 months out of the battery, but i don't use it as much as others may. the batteries are fairly easy to find at walgreens or cvs. and i don't ever use the case that came with it.
you'll have a hard time finding a smaller meter. it's probably not as versatile as some others, but for regular photographers, i don't think it can be beat.
bob
bmattock
Veteran
I agree on the extras - never use them. I can't even figure out what they're supposed to be for. Mine has a temperature readout, which I could not care less about. As to the 'off' switch - the Digiflash may have one, but the Digisix, I am pretty sure, does not. At least, if it has one, I'm going to feel kind of dumb, because I've never managed to turn it off and there is nothing about that in the manual.
http://www.gossen-photo.de/pdf/ba_digisix_gb.pdf
Matus
Well-known
I have one too - a bit over a year (or so). The battery lasted for about a year - not that bad. Yes - the on/off switch would be nice, but I am doing fine without it. Actually - if I am out shooting - I hang it around my neck and after I use it for the first time - O do not close the pouch. Anyhow - it takes the metering only if you push the main button.
Setting the ISO - yes it is cycling - but if you need to make a full round just hold it - it goes fast.
Temperature measurement - more-less useless - has a long thermalization time as the sensor is somewhere inside the body.
The time - I have already found quite useful for long exposures. it beeps during the last 10 seconds so you do not have to watch the display all the time.
It is actually also capable of reflected metering - the white dome can be shifted. You get about 30 degree metering that way.
I used it as ,my only meter during my 3 week trip in New Zealand - should have trained more beforehand, as I underexposed quite a few shots, but it was my fault.
Altogether - a small and very useful tool - weights nearly nothing and gets to job done. I want to get the Pentax Digital Spotmeter one day, but this small guy I will keep too.
EDIT: if you want to stick it on top of the Leica, than you should also consider the small Voigtlaender VCII meter.
Setting the ISO - yes it is cycling - but if you need to make a full round just hold it - it goes fast.
Temperature measurement - more-less useless - has a long thermalization time as the sensor is somewhere inside the body.
The time - I have already found quite useful for long exposures. it beeps during the last 10 seconds so you do not have to watch the display all the time.
It is actually also capable of reflected metering - the white dome can be shifted. You get about 30 degree metering that way.
I used it as ,my only meter during my 3 week trip in New Zealand - should have trained more beforehand, as I underexposed quite a few shots, but it was my fault.
Altogether - a small and very useful tool - weights nearly nothing and gets to job done. I want to get the Pentax Digital Spotmeter one day, but this small guy I will keep too.
EDIT: if you want to stick it on top of the Leica, than you should also consider the small Voigtlaender VCII meter.
Last edited:
FPjohn
Well-known
Hello:
Time and temperature were/are features useful for instant films.
yours
FPJ
Time and temperature were/are features useful for instant films.
yours
FPJ
Last edited:
MarkoKovacevic
Well-known
I have the pentax spotmeter - and I want this meter for its size. The pentax is just far too large for everyday use.
The VCII meter looks nice, though the space on top of the Leica is probably going to be taken up by the Voigtlaender 15mm VF.
Spider67
Well-known
I use the digisix and I like it. Even the extra options......even when I get the weird look when I check the time. The thermometer is a feature I could live without.
The off switch is a big minus
The off switch is a big minus
furcafe
Veteran
I agree w/most of the criticisms, but I have to echo bob338's opinion that it's the best meter for its size (the equivalent Sekonics are significantly bigger) & size matters.
For me, the Digisix/Digiflash's (small) size makes up for its shortcomings, kind of like small format photography, because it means that I can carry it w/me everywhere & not be tempted to leave it behind like a larger meter. As far as battery life, in my experience they seem to last somewhere around 6 months w/heavy use. My main quality complaint has been w/the buttons, which can "wear" out & stop responding to pushes. They are expensive for their mass (perhaps they would be cheaper if they weren't made in Germany), but inexpensive compared to how much I spend on film, processing, & other gear.
For me, the Digisix/Digiflash's (small) size makes up for its shortcomings, kind of like small format photography, because it means that I can carry it w/me everywhere & not be tempted to leave it behind like a larger meter. As far as battery life, in my experience they seem to last somewhere around 6 months w/heavy use. My main quality complaint has been w/the buttons, which can "wear" out & stop responding to pushes. They are expensive for their mass (perhaps they would be cheaper if they weren't made in Germany), but inexpensive compared to how much I spend on film, processing, & other gear.
bob338
Well-known
if you cycle through the functions button, it will eventually show the time. that's 'OFF.'
i forgot to mention before that the little hot shoe adapter seemed like a great idea when i bought mine, but i don't think i've used it more than a couple of times. it's just something else that will get tangled up in the strap or break off eventually. i use the little wrist strap and hang it on my camera strap. although the wrist strap is connected to an even smaller piece of plastic, so i don't know which is better. probably the hot shoe thing.
as far as pricing, $124 is a good deal, i bought mine for about $200(i think) when they came out. the digiflash is a bit more than the digisix, but the only thing it adds is flash metering and i've never even figured out how to use it.
bob
i forgot to mention before that the little hot shoe adapter seemed like a great idea when i bought mine, but i don't think i've used it more than a couple of times. it's just something else that will get tangled up in the strap or break off eventually. i use the little wrist strap and hang it on my camera strap. although the wrist strap is connected to an even smaller piece of plastic, so i don't know which is better. probably the hot shoe thing.
as far as pricing, $124 is a good deal, i bought mine for about $200(i think) when they came out. the digiflash is a bit more than the digisix, but the only thing it adds is flash metering and i've never even figured out how to use it.
bob
oscroft
Veteran
I use a Digisix too, and I think it's a great little meter - like others, I use it for incident metering quite a lot. (A Leica M2, a 35mm lens, and a Digisix are as close to photographic perfection as you can get, I think 😀 )
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