M4 problems

[Deleted member 65559]

"and stop squandering film -- it's simply indefensible, if for no other reason than that it's environmentally unsound."

...... really?

 

[Tom R]

What kind of film?

What kind of film?

A few months back I got my first Leica, an M4. I coupled it with a Zeiss Biogon 35mm f2. (lovely lens)

I love the camera and the lens and have run about 10 rolls through it so far. I have to my standards had some really nice shots from it. Problem is Ive also ruined some opportunities which I feel if I had an in camera light meter would have nailed.

I am used to my OM1 which has a light meter and has served me well. Im learning about the exposures and have a light meter app and a weston master but I find it slows me down.

Should I perservere or should I cut my losses and sell the M4 to make way for an M6?

You hadn't specified what kind of film you're using. As a general rule, B+W films have a pretty good latitude whereas some color emulsions are more particular; and slides are perhaps the most demanding as far as exposure is concerned.

I have used a variety of Leica bodies for over thirty-five years with no meter (expect for those instances where I was using a flash or shooting slides, and then I'd use an incident/flash meter), with no big issues. It's a matter of practice but YMMV.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[mthomas]

There may be a generational factor here Marc. How you feel about using a light meter often is influenced by what you learned just starting out. For myself, and perhaps others, we started out just "learning" how to judge light. That was in the early 70's for myself and my mentor had a handheld meter he would consult only occasionally. The proof that his method worked (at least for him) was a strip of 36 Tti-X negs with very even and consistent density, they were easy to print.
Just turned 70 myself and often stuff a Gossen Pilot in my pocket if I'm wandering about outside. that cheap little meter will suffice for daylight and even do incident readings. I personally do not to consult if for every exposure.

Now, exposing photo paper in large format, that is really hard to get right, and a metering of the scene is only a starting point.

As far as wasting film....well I'm also a member of Filmwasters forum and as such authorized to waste film.

Points well taken.

I am 67 years old and my first camera was a Minolta 16 II. I bought a mail-order "Spiratone" enlarger with money from my paper route when I was eleven, and did all my own wet work thereafter. The 16mm cassettes were relatively easy to load but I nonetheless recall my considerable relief when -- a year later -- my beloved, seventh-grade English teacher (and avid photographer) encouraged me to buy a new Sekonic "Microleader" exposure meter (which the American consumer publication "Consumer Reports" had just rated very highly back in 1964).

Soon thereafter, I started to use the "zone" system assisuously following my acquisition of a Mamiya-Sekor 500DTL spot-metering SLR.

To this day, I refuse to use auto-focus, or any form of programmed exposure mode. Neither will I use matrix metering. I always want to be in "control" of the *whole* photographic process.

But exercising "control" necessarily implies being "informed."

I cannot understand purists who deliberately shun data -- simply for form's sake. If time is of the essence, then a quick "snap" shot is often unavoidable. But in more leisurely circumstances, the use of, e.g., a Leica MR meter will always yield more consistently accurate information than our eyes alone can provide.

I strongly empathize with Leica owners who appreciate simplicity and elegance of design. But when zeal becomes religious fervor, I'm inclined to leave the building.

Marc