Leica Meter or VC II Meter?

Vincent.G

Vincent.G

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Hi

I need help as I know little about light meters. I have a M2 and needs an external meter.

I am shopping for a lightmeter and came across these two:
1) VC II meter; new - USD 190
2) Leica meter; used - USD 130

I understand that the newest version is also called MR4. Am I right to say that the MR4 can be identified by the lever on the top left corner?

I was told by the dealer I should go for those that use alkaline batteries rather than selenium ones as they last longer and battery is cheaper. Is it true?

What I like about the leicameter is that it couples to the shutter dial. However it looks big. The worst thing is I do not know how to test whether it is working or not! It looks complicated to me. Can someone help me on this? I would love to learn how it works so that I can test it for myself before coming to a decision.

Should I go for VCII or leicameter?
 
Unless you buy it for the looks, go for a modern hand-held meter capable of incident light readings. Much more useful tool than either of them.
 
I can't speak for the VCII but I know it is highly regarded.

As for the leica meter, the one you want is the CdS one (which goes by the name MR or MR4, they are the same except the MR4 is more suitable for an M4...) -- you can get 'Wein' cells which are hearing aid batteries with a metal ring around them to fit what would have been filled with an old PX625 mercury battery. They work just fine giving accurate readings, and last around about 6-9 months in my experience of fairly heavy use. They're also easy to come by.

As for the meter, yes it is a bit bulky but it does sit on an M2 fairly comfortably and you get used to it pretty quickly and as it couples with the shutter dial, it makes it very very usable.

Its accuracy is very very good, it takes a reading from around the area of the 90mm f/l frame lines.

In all I highly recommend it, it will also handle up to ISO 6400 and can measure pretty successfuly in low light too if you need it.

On the whole it's a good meter which is accurate.

Vicky
 
Lilserenity said:
I can't speak for the VCII but I know it is highly regarded.

As for the leica meter, the one you want is the CdS one (which goes by the name MR or MR4, they are the same except the MR4 is more suitable for an M4...) -- you can get 'Wein' cells which are hearing aid batteries with a metal ring around them to fit what would have been filled with an old PX625 mercury battery. They work just fine giving accurate readings, and last around about 6-9 months in my experience of fairly heavy use. They're also easy to come by.

As for the meter, yes it is a bit bulky but it does sit on an M2 fairly comfortably and you get used to it pretty quickly and as it couples with the shutter dial, it makes it very very usable.

Its accuracy is very very good, it takes a reading from around the area of the 90mm f/l frame lines.

In all I highly recommend it, it will also handle up to ISO 6400 and can measure pretty successfuly in low light too if you need it.

On the whole it's a good meter which is accurate.

Vicky
Click to expand...

I tried to handle one today at a dealer's store but had absolutely no idea how to use it. There are lots of numbers and dials and I am not sure what to do with them. Can you help me on this? The VCII looks simpler. Just set ISO, press orange button, then set shutter speed and aperture till a green arrow appears.
 
Selenium cells react to light while alkaline ones provide electric current. Vicky has explained the mercury cell problem that MR users face.
 
Just won this one, to go on my black M4-2 and chrome M2:

http://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=220505505647

The earlier one would be correct for your M2; That is, the one with the T-Switch that sticks out, to the side. Push the button, that's about it. Nice thing is, it locks the reading for you. BTW if you get the MR meter, put some adhesive felt on the bottom of it, or you will bugger the finish on the top of your camera.

Here's the Original Instruction Book:
http://www.cameramanuals.org/flashes_meters/leica_meter_mr.pdf
 
Last edited:
I have both the MR4 meter and the VCII meter. The VCII is much simpler to use and more accurate. The big difference in accuracy is going to be when there is low light.

The Wein cells for the MR4 are okay, and the best alternative, but they are a bit of a pain.
 
Hi Nokton48

Thanks for the link to the manual. It is really very useful. I know how to operate it already. And I also realized that the leica meters that I saw today are all selenium cells, not the Cds ones that Vicky mentioned. I am glad I didn't take the plunge blindly.
 
I have the VCII for my M3. I've been very happy with it with one exception. I should have known better regarding the exposure reading the VCII was giving me considering the light condition. Be smart and let it help you with the exposure, but don't solely rely on it.
 
I'd back the VC too. My (new, black) MR4 developed poor contacts in India during the monsoon, and that was maybe 25 years ago. They have not got any newer since...

Admittedly I've not used my VC under those conditions.

Cheers,

R.
 
I have both, the MR-4 and Twin-Mate. The Leica meter looks good on top of the camera but in low-light the Seconic works better and I don't have to worry about scratching the top-plate.
 
I have both the MR-4 and VC meter and would recommend the MR-4 meter for the M2. I've used the MR meter for decades and it is very easy to use and very accurate. The MR-4 meter electronics will adjust for the silver oxide batter decay curve and the meter has a small adjustment screw on the bottom to adjust for the slightly higher voltage of the silver oxide meter. I never found it to be a problem with kodachrome 25 & 64. The only difference between the MR and MR-4 meter is the location of the switch (the MR-4 clears the canted rewind knob of the M4).

I use (or maybe I should say I bought to use) the VC meter on my screw mount Leica and while accurate it requires a lot of fiddling to use (the MR meter couples directly with the speed knob and only requires one adjust to find the right aperture). The two adjusting knobs also turn too easily. I find a handheld meter better than the VC meter.
 
I used the VC meter on an M3 for a few months. No problems, except that it was a bit too easy to accidentally push off the mount. Never took a spill onto hard ground, but it did come off regularly when I stuffed the camera back into its bag.
 
I owned the VC for a couple of years and liked it, bar the fact the wheels, and the ASA dial, would often get knocked out of position. then I got a Tin-MWate, and after using both for a few months, sold the VC. The Twin Mate is far more intuitive to use, and so tiny that it's no hassle to carry it around, and the incident light feature, once you've used it, becomes second nature.
 
I had one of the MC Meters for my M2, but I sold it pretty quickly, although it was very accurate, but had some looseness in it, not typical Leitz Wetzlar build quality. Mine was a bit of a beater, for $39. I'd have kept it, but I want something for lower lighting, the MR4 has always had a good reputation. I've heard alot of people say the CV meters are "fiddly". None of that with the MR.

Vincent.G said:
Hi Nokton48

Thanks for the link to the manual. It is really very useful. I know how to operate it already. And I also realized that the leica meters that I saw today are all selenium cells, not the Cds ones that Vicky mentioned. I am glad I didn't take the plunge blindly.
Click to expand...
 
No experience with Leica meter, but VCII is a great little meter.
The only thing I didn't like is that the ISO setting can change too easily... Otherwise, I like it very much.
Hiromu
 
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