Leica MR-4 meter

[xasthur]

Hey all!

With my M2 being with Don and me contemplating on buying an MP for the meter. I'm also considering just buying a black paint MR-4 meter. I know that there are modern meters which work great but I want a OG one to go with my M2. I messaged Don the other day asking if he still repairs these and he said yes and has extra parts for them which is nice.

I like the idea of getting a OG black paint one for my Kanto repaint M2 so I'm curious to know how it is using them in the field on a camera? I've watched a few videos and talked to a couple people who said they aren't very accurate so I'm looking for more people who have used these for long period of time.

I know there are some members on this forum who have been shooting for a long time and maybe have some deeper experience with using them rather than the 10 minute youtube video of someone talking about it in a room. All opinions welcome of course.

Thanks,
David

 

[Gregm61]

MR4 is very nice and seems very accurate to me. I need to send mine to Don for servicing, which while doing he will also re-calibrate for still available batteries.

You can manually bring up the 90mm frame line while taking a reading, which roughly shows you the field the meter is reading so depending on the lens you're using it can be anything from highly center-weighted to semi-spot with wide/super-wide lenses to metering beyond the angle of view when using a 135mm.

You just need to be sure not to have the low-light setting chosen when metering outside in bright light, and it definitely could scratch the finish if you are not careful when mounting and removing from the camera.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

... I'm curious to know how it is using them in the field on a camera? ...

There are other options from hand-held meters, to CV (and CV-like) shoe-mount meters, to smartphone meters. However, Leica-meters have the fewest steps (linking directly to the shutterspeed dial on your camera) requiring only one hand. MC meters have no-battery cells and tend to be the least accurate Leica-meters; MR (and MR-4) meters take batteries and are reasonably accurate.

IMHO MR-type Leica-meters are your best option for metering for non-metered Leica M cameras if they are properly calibrated - and Don Goldberg ("DAG") can do that for you.

I have only one caution: generally prices are high relative to other flash shoe options, especially for a black paint model, and you really should plan to have it cleaned and calibrated (add around $100 + shipping to the total cost).

A smartphone light meter app can be downloaded for free and they are very accurate!

 

[Godfrey]

I have a very nice MR-4 that I use with my M4-2 occasionally. It's accurate enough for my needs and works nicely, but it is another component on the camera and most of the time I just leave it behind and use my iPhone with a light metering app. It's not so difficult to meter manually and make the settings... 😀

G

 

[xasthur]

TBH I'm manage fine without a meter and when I do question my brain or want to make sure I have the proper settings. For example a street portrait, I always pull out my phone and use an app which I find annoying so I would rather just have a MR-4 on my camera at all times. The camera is a user anyways so I'm not worried about scratches.

Whenever I do manage to get one it will be going directly to Don for the battery upgrade and all around CLA. Currently on the hunt for one now so hopefully I will find one relatively soon.

Does anyone know if all of the MR-4's are made of brass under the silvering or are just the black painted ones?

 

[maddoc]

I have a black chrome MR4 that I had sent to Germany for recalibration and repair about 10 yrs ago or so. It looks nice on a M Leica and is quite convenient to use but adds bulk. Biggest problem is that it blocks the hot shoe so when I am out with the Super-Angulon or even my 28/2.8 M-Hexanon, I need an external VF and a different meter anyway. Therefore, I use a couple of iPhone apps as light meters and any single of them is more precise, in difficult lightning.

 

[Beemermark]

I've used an MR and MR-4 meter for near on 40 years on various bodies. Extremely accurate and very easy to use. Since they couple to the shutter dial you can make an exposure reading while the camera is at waist level, set the lens aperture, and shoot. Or if you have time you can look through the VF, use the 90mm frame lines and get a semi-spot meter reading. Much more convenient then a separate hand held meter. My M4 still has one attached. Years ago I bought an M6 when they were first released and quickly got rid of it for an M4 and MR-4 meter.


Most faults with the meter are easily fixable with a mediocre expertise at camera repair. Most meters work fine with silver oxide meters and a bit of a twerk with the bottom screw.

 

[Nitroplait]

Use with care.
Back when I was in the market buying my Leicas, I saw so many otherwise pristine cameras marred by bent or scratched top plates due to Leicameters - I want to cry just thinking about it.

 

[View Range]

The good - the MR4 is a very nice meter with field of view matching the 90mm frame lines. It is coupled to the shutter speed. It is easily repaired and calibrated. The bad - make sure you put tape on the bottom of the meter or on the top of the camera to prevent the meter from scratching the camera.

 

[Hari]

Just got a first M-mount lens for my Leica M2,
the Voigtlander 35/1.4 Nokton series II,
so I'm relearning using the M camera after
years of only using a Leica II.
I got a black MR-4 with a Chris adaptor.
The thing I like about the meter is it's your
choice whether to mount it on camera or not.
Also, it's small and can be used with other cameras.
Mine needs repair, as I must use the battery check
switch to activate the meter. Probably easy to fix,
but I'll live with the work around. Also, the meter on
the Leica makes turning the shutter speed dial bigger
and easier to change.

 

[hendriphile]

Bought an MR4 in the early eighties to use with my M3 and love it. I use a Wein EPX-625 cell with no problem.

 

[Beemermark]

The good - the MR4 is a very nice meter with field of view matching the 90mm frame lines. It is coupled to the shutter speed. It is easily repaired and calibrated. The bad - make sure you put tape on the bottom of the meter or on the top of the camera to prevent the meter from scratching the camera.

Just slip a business card between the meter and camera when mounting the meter. Once mounted you can pull the card out. Can you still find business cards? You get the idea though.


For everyone that recommends using a phone app (I have one). 35mm cameras, and specially RF, are for spontaneous shooting. I find trying to balance the cell phone and camera while trying to get a street photo almost comical.

 

[Hari]

Unfortunately, too many people
have acted like idiots and failed
to adjust the 3 set screws on the meter and
carefully balance the meter to
the camera, ruining the tops
of countless M cameras!

 

[sanmich]

I was honestly surprised that Leica did not propose a new version of the MR meter when they started proposing the M-A....

 

[CLAdictic]

I have an MR-4 meter, which while calibrated and fully functional, I keep it in its box. I have a M4-P and a Nikon S3000 and find I use a VC shoe mount modern reflective meter or a Gossen handheld for both incident and reflective light. I found that the Leica meter ate up batteries, where as the VC with modern circuitry and the Gossen is battery free are my choices.


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