Meter differences between R?A and R?M

[redsky]

I am the owner of a R2A, and last week got a - never used - R3M 250 Jahre. One of the things I noticed right away was the difference between the meters in the two cameras. More precisely, there are two main differences:

1- R3M meter is center-weight, while R2A will meter closer to the left bottom of the frame. That's ok, I just need to get used to it.

2- R3M meter seems to have a stop-metering mechanism that is triggered when I try to meter under certain ISO/Speed combinations. If I set my ISO 3200 and shutter speed 1/8s, for example, the meter blinks -2 and will not change, regardless amount of available light or aperture. R2A meter will work very well under the dimmest light, while R3M will be blocked for (3200/8, 1600/4, 800/2, 400/1) ISO/speed combinations. I confess I do not like that since I see myself shooting 3200/8 often. I can work around the issue by using 3200/15, metering +1, and then decreasing the shutter speed to 1/8s and shooting, but I find it to be an inconvenience. So, I just want to make sure this is the standard behavior for any R?M. Has anybody else noticed this?

Thanks

 

[kshapero]

Your R3M does not seem right to me.

 

[redsky]

I believe it is. Other people in a flickr group confirmed this behavior is expected for the R3M. There is even speculation that the use of LR44 vs SR44 makes difference. It didn't for me.

You say that because yours meter normally with ISO 3200 and 1/8s, for example?

 

[Spyderman]

It is a design issue.

The mechanical shutter cameras are made to meter up to 1s at 100ASA and because the ASA dial is part of the shutte speed dial. The shutter speed dial is mechanical, and the metering is directly dependent on the position of the dial, and the position of the ASA.

The same on OM-2000 (Cosina made body), Bessa R, R2.

The Auto shutter bodies are somehow different - maybe because the shutter speed dial is completely electronic and the metering can be hooked to the circuit in some other place than the shutter speed dial / ASA dial.

 

[redsky]

That makes perfect sense! Thanks.