light meter & scanner ??

[Neil]

First post here.
I have this problem ! I make my living from photography but as I'm using digital
I have a kind of frustration about the downloading life. In other words, I find my love of photography being a bit blunted by the digital age.
So, I want to get back to taking pictures (not images) in my non working life.
But here's the nub ! I don't particularly want to shell out big money on prints.
I have a brilliant b/w and colour printer here in London but at £30 for a 10x12
plus film plus dev and contact it works out pretty expensive.
So, what are my options ? I have an M2 and 3 lenses, but I hate to not have a meter. A voitlander hot shoe mount meter was mentioned to me (anybody know about them)? And them you've got the scanning. I have an Epson 4990 scanner which is good for 6x6 but not so good for 35mm (any suggestions).
Failing a meter for the M2, can anyone reccomend a suitable point and shoot
Nikon 35Ti/Contax T2 for example, or failing all that.............a small digital without
too much golf ball noise at ISO's above 200 ?? Not asking for much !!!!!!!!!!
Many thanks in advance.

 

[Ash]

Tiny meters: definitely track down a VC or VCII meter, check here for info: http://cameraquest.com/voivcmet2.htm

That should be all you need, or else look into the MR/MC meters from Leica, I'm not sure which model couples with the M2, but you should find that info from someone here 🙂

Failing that, spend the cost of a pint of beer on a cheap Leningrad-8 meter. I find them fine for casual outdoor shootinh

 

[Neil]

Thanks Ash, the Vc's look like they might do.

 

[Terao]

As far as scanning goes I use a Nikon Coolscan. I have a 4000ED (Super Coolscan) primarily for its batch capabilities (had a load of my Dad's slides to archive). They come up on eBay for a little under £400 fairly regularly, you may get lucky and get one a little cheaper. Its cheaper cousin (Coolscan 4 I think) just lacks the batch slide ability so may be an option. I get my film cut in to sixes and use the strip scanner to scan (which I think you can also do on the cheaper model)
Aside from the batch slide capabilities on the Super you can also get a rollfilm adapter which is handy if you just want to loop up a 36 shot roll and head out for the day.

VC Meter 1 or 2 are both excellent (2 is slightly more compact and easier to use)

It makes no sense given that I have an Epson R-D1 but I still like shooting and scanning film...

Can't think of a compact that has decent noise control, certainly steer away from anything with Panasonic on the front though - notorious for noise...

 

[haagen_dazs]

First post here.
...a small digital without
too much golf ball noise at ISO's above 200

haha i like your description... the noise level these days for PnS are not bad at all =)

 

[Neil]

Thanks for your valuable input folks.
I think I'll go down the film/ scanner route as I just want a break from digital and
I guess film has still got the poetry and soul.