Meter Suggestions Needed

[SolaresLarrave]

Well... had to happen again. My faithful but old MR4 seems to be in need of another trip to Hollywood, where Mr. Milton will revive it... again.

I'm getting a bit tired of this.

What meter would you suggest to use with a Leica M3? I have a very small, reliable Sekonic L208, which I use for my MF gear. I guess I'll use that one in the meanwhile, but does anybody here have experience with the CV meter? Any other brand or type of small, inconspicuous meter that may or may not be mounted on the camera accessory shoe?

In the meanwhile, I'll probably pack the MR4 and send it out later, when my M3 goes to Boston for a well-deserved CLA.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Todd.Hanz]

I have the silver VC meter II, incredible quality, fits like it was made by Leica. It feels so much like OEM that I often forget to transfer the settings to the camera🙂

Highly recommended!

Todd

 

[wlewisiii]

I agree completely with Todd. It's a marvellous little meter and it's why I'm considering having a meter-ectomy rather than a meter repair done on the CL I have coming.

William

 

[Paulbe]

Francisco---give the Sekonic L-380S a try if you don't mind a hand held meter. The L-208 was just too small and I found it would give several different readings if you didn't push the little button just right. The 308 is much better and does a bang up job with the M3. Those 2 were made for each other! THe 308 is around $180.00 from B+H.
Paul

 

[lawrence]

I have Gossen Digiflash and Profisix. Digiflash is very tiny and is a true MFD (Mult-Functional Device!). It tells the temperature (ambient) and also the time (when you're not taking a meter reading) but whether you actually need these things is another matter. It is very small and very light whereas the Profisix is massive but, to be honest, much nicer to use! Anyway, I have to disagree with Ferider -- separate meters are often a nuisance as you usually have to fish around in the camera bag or in your pocket to find them (although I did buy a neat accessory for the Digiflash -- one of those retractable belt things that you normally keep keys on). I haven't used the VCII but was thinking of getting one for my Canon L1, however when I measured it I realised it would stick out over the front of the camera so decided against it.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Thanks a lot, folks! I'm going to give the li'l Sekonic a chance to redeem itself (in fact, I used it for a while the last time I sent my MR4 for re-repair). In the meanwhile, I'll take a look at the other Sekonic as you recommended, Paul, and then... I may flip a coin between that and the Cosina Voigtlander. After all, I've seen Todd's photos and if he uses a CV, I'd like one too!

I'm after a meter that can be rested on the shoe, but I'd use it mostly off camera (just like I've used my MR4 so far). Let's see...

In the meanwhile, I'm looking at meters in the *bay site! Why not? 🙂

Ferider... if you don't use your MR4 very often... let me know! I really like these meters and the one you have probably would work better than mine! 🙂

 

[wlewisiii]

Don't know yet, Roland. It's still enroute to me. The seller, enochRoot, says "th meter moves, but doesn't "work" per se" so I'm guessing the cell is toast. So tell me more 🙂 but probably by PM out of Francisco's thread 😀

William

 

[taffer]

Francisco, when I use one (the only one I have), it's the tiny Pilot2 / Sixtino2. Nice meter if you don't need it a lot for very dim conditions, cheap (often around $20 at the bay), more cheap (no batteries needed), and straightforward to use.

I've also heard very good things of the Quantum CalcuLight meters.

Sad to hear your MR-4 is again playing bad tricks 🙁

 

[AGN]

Francisco,
Where do you send your M3 for a CLA in Boston?
Thanks

 

[retrocam]

Gossen Digisix...I attached it to the strap thingie for the badge/id so I can grab it and take a reading easily.

-annie

 

[rover]

I like using a hand held with my M3. It slows me down and makes me think. I have had very good luck with my exposures, and I have to say that I am far from an expert at metering. Your 208 will do fine. And, you have your M6s for those times you need a meter.

 

[peter_n]

Francisco,
Where do you send your M3 for a CLA in Boston?
Thanks

Youxin Ye, Francisco?

 

[vincentbenoit]

Gossen Digisix. Small and does the job.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Peter answered your question, AGN. I recently contacted Youxin, and he said he'd CLA my M3 for $80 plus the shipping cost (his formula: add to the price the cost of my shipping the camera to him). He has a good reputation and I've decided to trust my M3 to him soon... as soon as I finish the roll of Ektachrome 400 that I'm burning in it.

BTW... Thanks, ferider. I think I saw the MR you mention, but it's inoperative. I'll simply use my Sekonic for a while and will ship my Leica to Mr. Milton, in Quality Light Metric, to have it fixed... again!

Now... I did look up the Digisix and it seems really cool... but I must admit that no matter how fancy the meter, if I don't know how to use it my exposures are going to be despicable. It's time for another thread! 🙂 Like Rover, I am conscious of my ignorance when it comes to metering.

Alright... time to check KEH again! 🙂

Who knows... maybe I find something this time... 🙂

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I like using a hand held with my M3. It slows me down and makes me think.

I like my M3 for that reason. In fact, I seldom attach the MR4 to the body.

I have had very good luck with my exposures, and I have to say that I am far from an expert at metering.

I can't lay any claim at that either...

Your 208 will do fine.

I'm sure... It's that at times I simply don't know how to meter and where.

And, you have your M6s for those times you need a meter.

Sorry... limping again in the M6 territory. One of my bodies went back to its old tricks (light leaks). It had been repaired in May last year, and it took a good part of the year to show the same problem again. I sent it to Leica last week, invoking the year-warranty on repairs. Let's see what happens next.

At least one of us is happy! Oscar is a Leica man now! 🙂

 

[rover]

Oh Francisco, this M6 of your's......

You need to invoke the ghost of Oscar Barnack to get the spooks out of it.

That sounds like a good reason for a Luigi half case. Just a little something else to keep it closed up.

 

[Skinny McGee]

DigiFlash Rocks!

 

[TimF]

I use a Gossen Variosix F2 (chosen because it allows selection of both aperture and shutter speeds - many are aperture only) together with a Pentax Digital Spotmeter, but any decent make will do the job.

 

[AGN]

Peter answered your question, AGN. I recently contacted Youxin, and he said he'd CLA my M3 for $80 plus the shipping cost (his formula: add to the price the cost of my shipping the camera to him). He has a good reputation and I've decided to trust my M3 to him soon... as soon as I finish the roll of Ektachrome 400 that I'm burning in it.

BTW... Thanks, ferider. I think I saw the MR you mention, but it's inoperative. I'll simply use my Sekonic for a while and will ship my Leica to Mr. Milton, in Quality Light Metric, to have it fixed... again!

Now... I did look up the Digisix and it seems really cool... but I must admit that no matter how fancy the meter, if I don't know how to use it my exposures are going to be despicable. It's time for another thread! 🙂 Like Rover, I am conscious of my ignorance when it comes to metering.

Alright... time to check KEH again! 🙂

Who knows... maybe I find something this time... 🙂

Thanks Peter,
Thanks Francisco, I didn't realize there was someone close to Boston that specialized in the Leica.
Best, Art

 

[Ronald M]

Weston Master. Model IV is my favorite `cause of the big numbers.

Buy a non working one and send it to George for a $75 repair.

Get the inversone. Models 1,2,3 require a two piece one. Make sure you get both pieces. One is a ND filter that activated the high scale with the baffle open.

http://www.westonmeter.org.uk/