vc meter: how do you expose?

[msbarnes]

I know it's a reflective meter but how do you guys usually operate it?

Do you frame a shot then meter or do you use it like a make-shift incident meter (e.g. metering hand or something)?

This is one of those items i've been contemplating.

I hated the ergonomics of the digisix, felt that the twinmate was too bulky mounted and didn't find it any more useful as a pocket meter than my gossen digital luna pro f.

Currently I use my Gossen as an incident meter but I'd like to expedite things a bit and it seems that I have three viable options:
1. Get the VC II
2. Get a metered Body
3. Learn to read light.

 

[Gumby]

I don't use that particular meter, but...

meter, set camera, then frame shots. Re-meter only if the light changes.

 

[FrankS]

Just point it in the general direction of the subject and a little lower so as not to have the sky, if present, fool the meter. I've learned not to be excessively compulsive about metering with negative film, just be sure to give enough exposure. Futsing over metering interferes with my creative/compositional efforts which are more important, IMO.

I prefer the CV meter on my M2 over the M6 I used to have, because I can meter and set exposure controls without lifting the camera to my eye. If you also set focussing distance using zone focus method and the lens distance scale, and pre-framing using your mind's eye, actually taking a photo is super quick.

 

[msbarnes]

Just point it in the general direction of the subject and a little lower so as not to have the sky, if present, fool the meter. I've learned not to be excessively compulsive about metering with negative film, just be sure to give enough exposure. Futsing over metering interferes with my creative/compositional efforts which are more important, IMO.

I prefer the CV meter on my M2 over the M6 I used to have, because I can meter and set exposure controls without lifting the camera to my eye. If you also set focussing distance using zone focus method and the lens distance scale, and pre-framing using your mind's eye, actually taking a photo is super quick.

Thanks. This little device always has me thinking. I would like to use it as you described. I would find taking it to eye-level, then metering, a bit cumbersome. But ofcourse one must learn how to use a meter appropriately and avoid compulsive metering.

 

[pschauss]

The field of "vision" of the VC meter is narrow enough that you can use it to do a rough scan to get an idea of the extremes of light and dark areas. I generally set my exposure to match the darker areas of my picture ("expose for the shadows").

With the original VC this is quite easy because the meter continues to read for several seconds after you press the button. I make an initial setting of speed and aperture on the meter to get the green light and then move the meter around a bit to see if the red light on the right comes on indicating that there is a darker area. Since the VC-II holds the reading at the value that it detected when you first pushed the button, I need to hold the button down while I scan the scene. Either way, I can get a reading quickly. When I print my negatvies, I find that my exposures have usually been at leasts as consistent as the ones I get when I use a camera with a TTL meter.

 

[Godfrey]

I use it as someone else said: meter, set exposure, shoot until the light changes. I'll variously meter the scene or my hand, and adjust accordingly.

It works ok, but I tend to prefer using an incident meter and get more accurate results that way. My Sekonic L328 is wonderful, and I would like to upgrade to the L358.

 

[Monochrom]

Hi, great answers yet posted....

1-set it on the hot shoe.
2-read exposures without lifting the camera.
3-Meter is about a 90mm lens so you can look throu the VF and set the 90mm FL in order to "know" your meter area.
4-Is great for any meterless camera...i use itr a lot on my retina, vitessa, contessa, and every sinlge meterless camera...also great help on my foca!!!

Just to say i also have the leica meter MR, at first i didn´t like such a device...but now i have to admit it works great becasue the speeds are coupled tween camera and meter so you only have to set aperture...also can be used without lifting the camea to your eye....by the way the ZI camera has a usefyull button on it´s back to do the same....

GReat precise little device the VCII meter!

Cheers!