Leica LTM Leica exposure meters - are they ALL junk ?

[Luddite Frank]

Pardon my slightly bitter tone, but what's up with Leica meters?

Are they ALL "dead" after 40 years ?


One vendor on e-Bay referred to their late collector/father as a "completist", so I guess that would define me too, when it comes to camera gear...

I have been looking for a Leica exposure meter to go with my screw-mounts, but they all seem to be "dead"... (Jim),


And yet the lowly GE and Westons from the same era seem to survive in great numbers, still in working order... and you can have as many as you want for less than $20 a piece.

With all the dead Leica meters out there, is there anyone with a little cottage industry putting new photocells in them ?



LF

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Frank, probably the ones from the era of your Barnack camera are simply beyond repair. They used to be selenium meters, which don't need batteries but also tend to die. The newer ones, which probably won't fit your camera, are considerably better (as long as they're the MR type; the MC are still selenium, and also die young).

In case you have some and want to hear from someone who knows, look up George Milton. I can't remember the name of his business but he's the DAG and Sherry Krauter of meters. If he cannot repair one, it's beyond repair.

You may consider something like a Sekonic L-208 for your use. Or a Digisix if you like adjusting your camera by EVs. Good luck!

 

[SolaresLarrave]

QLM (Quality Light Metric) is the name of the place. George's e-mail is georgepmilton-at-worldnet.att.net

He's a nice guy, and very much into personal contact. Ask him for his phone number, call him, describe the meter or meters to him. He'll tell you to send him the stuff. After receiving it, he'll look at it and will call you with his estimate. You can give him your credit card number over the phone. He won't overcharge you, and will send you the meter within two weeks, tops. He's repaired my two MR meters already. Let's hope they don't have to go back to him again, because they do suffer from lack of use.

Have fun!

 

[Santafecino]

Quality Light Metric is a good outfit; they rebuilt a Weston Ranger (a CdS meter) for me and sold me a Weston Master IV with a new selenium cell. They (i.e., George) can replace the cell even on a Leicameter selenium cell meter.

But I disagree that the old Westons and GEs are all ticking along fine. I don't think that any 30 year old selenium cell meter can work with its original cell. There are a lot of Weston Masters for sale on eBay for peanuts--and they will all (my experience) disappoint you, because they all need a new cell. That's where George comes in.
--Lindsay

 

[Luddite Frank]

Thanks, all for the replies and for the info on George Milton...


So, just because the needle repsonds to light and will swing all the way to the right -end of the scale, I should not assume that an older meter is "working" ideally ?


LF

 

[Jocko]

So, just because the needle repsonds to light and will swing all the way to the right -end of the scale, I should not assume that an older meter is "working" ideally ?


LF

That's right , Frank A meter should always be tested against one or more which are known to be accurate, but in regard to functionality, a great deal depends on the conditions in which the camera/meter has been stored. Although it is often said that selenium meters last longer in the dark, humidity is perhaps an even more important issue - damp is a killer. I have a couple of meters, not later in date than 1960, which remain accurate, but both had been barely used and must have sat out the years in perfect conditions. My Sekonic, of similar vintage, was obviously "well loved" and is completely useless.

Cheers, Ian

PS. For a remarkably effective "in period" alternative I recommend a Johnson Calculator - http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26776&highlight=johnsons - and read down!.

 

[Luddite Frank]

Ian,

Thanks for the links ! That will make fascinating reading !


I will see if I can check my workhorse Weston IV and GE PR-1 against some new meters at the local Ritz kiosk... both meters have lived in dry enivronments...

 

[Graybeard]

Quality Light Metric is a good outfit; they rebuilt a Weston Ranger (a CdS meter) for me and sold me a Weston Master IV with a new selenium cell. They (i.e., George) can replace the cell even on a Leicameter selenium cell meter.

But I disagree that the old Westons and GEs are all ticking along fine. I don't think that any 30 year old selenium cell meter can work with its original cell. There are a lot of Weston Masters for sale on eBay for peanuts--and they will all (my experience) disappoint you, because they all need a new cell. That's where George comes in.
--Lindsay

Having George Milton repair a Weston Master isn't a bad way to acquire a meter. For quite a bit less than the cost of a new plastic-bodied meter, you obtain a high quality, metal bodied, and compact unit. I'd suggest a Master IV or V. These are more rugged as the meter movement locks to prevent damage when it isn't in use.

 

[Santafecino]

I agree with Graybeard and also note that a selenium cell Weston can read down to a surprisingly low light level. It can effectively replace a CdS meter in many situations. No batteries to worry about.
--Lindsay

 

[Luddite Frank]

FWIW...

I just got four rolls of film back from the local Ritzcamera, and I used my "new" GE PR-1 meter... my out-door shots all seemed to be "correctly" exposed...

I will still try to borrow a new, high-end meter, and check all my old selenium meters against that, just to see what needs to go to George...

( I have indeed seen old selenium meters whose needles barely moved, even when held right up to a bright light-bulb... I didn't buy them... )


Thanks for the replies... so much still to learn...


LF