Vc Meters - Which & Why Please?

[ARCHIVIST]

I am seriously considering a VC meter to suit the hot shoes of many of my RFs that do not have metering.

The VC seems to be the way to go but I do not know the pros and cons between the VC and VCII. Any information / opinions would be most welcome.

Can I safely assume these are very accurate and built to last a while?

Regards
Peter

 

[Pablito]

VCII smaller, slightly nicer design, works very well.

 

[Tuolumne]

The only problem I have with the VC meters is that it is very easy to move the ISO setting accidentally. This is, in my opinion, a design flaw. If you wear a hat with a bill, as I do, the bill will constantly move the ISO setting by accident. You WILL get the wrong exposure. There is probably some way to add a dot of adhesive to the dial to make it stickier, but I do not know what it is.

/T

 

[sanmich]

The only problem I have with the VC meters is that it is very easy to move the ISO setting accidentally. This is, in my opinion, a design flaw. If you wear a hat with a bill, as I do, the bill will constantly move the ISO setting by accident. You WILL get the wrong exposure. There is probably some way to add a dot of adhesive to the dial to make it stickier, but I do not know what it is.

/T

I solved this issue by opening the dial and adding a small disc made out of film under it. Now there is enough friction.
Careful though not to lose the very small bearing ball that does the clicks on the dial.

 

[Tuolumne]

I solved this issue by opening the dial and adding a small disc made out of film under it. Now there is enough friction.
Careful though not to lose the very small bearing ball that does the clicks on the dial.

Was this "film", as in photographic film? What speed film did you use? 😀

 

[landsknechte]

If I'm not mistaken, the mount on the VCII can be repositioned slightly to allow it to sit in different positions so as to clear the knobs and whatnot on some cameras. The VC doesn't allow for that.

 

[palec]

VC meter II has ability to drop on the ground and open battery bay on impact, so I have to chase small batteries (especially in high traffic). Otherwise I like it. Small, sturdy and intuitive.

 

[Paul T.]

THe main difference between the two, apart from size, is the fact the VC II holds a reading for 5 seconds or so after you press the button. On the VC I you have to keep it pressed. This is the main reason the 'II is better.

I find the 'moving' ASA dial a major pain in the proverbial, too.

 

[ARCHIVIST]

Thanks for the replies.

All points taken on board.

Regards
Peter

 

[Maxapple88]

I've had a bit of grief with the VC II. It pushed a major dent in to my M's top plate. Only have it mounted when you're using it.

 

[Abbazz]

THe main difference between the two, apart from size, is the fact the VC II holds a reading for 5 seconds or so after you press the button. On the VC I you have to keep it pressed. This is the main reason the 'II is better.

On the VC I, the button works exactly the same way as on the VC II. By the way, the delay is 10 seconds, not 5.

I find the 'moving' ASA dial a major pain in the proverbial, too.

I tried both and I found the ISO dial much stiffer on the VC I, making it almost impossible to move accidentally.

The VC II has a couple of niceties lacking on the VC I (movable accessory foot, improved layout), but the electronics are exactly the same on both models. I prefer the VC I, due to the better ISO dial.

Cheers!

Abbazz

 

[Paul T.]

On the VC I, the button works exactly the same way as on the VC II.

There must be some variations in the VC I, because the one I tried definitely didn't have the exposure lock. According to Gandy, the meter on the 'I stays on for 10 seconds, but doesn't lock the reading:

http://www.cameraquest.com/voivcmet2.htm

http://www.cameraquest.com/voivcmet.htm

http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00A6re

Being able to lock the reading is far handier.

 

[ferider]

The one thing that annoyed me with the VC I was difficulty in setting "non-regular" ASA settings, like 160 ASA, etc.

In the VCII this is easier since the ASA setting is on the aperture dial which is stepless.

Roland.

 

[Abbazz]

There must be some variations in the VC I, because the one I tried definitely didn't have the exposure lock. According to Gandy, the meter on the 'I stays on for 10 seconds, but doesn't lock the reading:

http://www.cameraquest.com/voivcmet2.htm

http://www.cameraquest.com/voivcmet.htm

Being able to lock the reading is far handier.

Do you mean that on the VC II, the reading is locked for 10 seconds after pressing the orange button? I didn't remember it behaved this way, but that doesn't look like a desirable feature to me...

Cheers!

Abbazz

 

[Paul T.]

Do you mean that on the VC II, the reading is locked for 10 seconds after pressing the orange button? I didn't remember it behaved this way, but that doesn't look like a desirable feature to me...

It is, it means you compose the scene, then can spin the dials without worrying if you're still framed correctly.

If you want to monitor the light continuously, as on the VC I, you simply keep the button pressed.

Of course, different people might have different methods of working, but plenty of people complained about the old meter's lack of locking, and on the new one, at least you have a choice.

Edit: I agree with tuolomne, in that the Sekonic 208 could be far handier if you want to use the meter off-camera. I've been monitoring eBay auctions for one. Overall, the VC II works brilliantly on my Kiev, where the wheels don't get knocked out of alignment because of where it sits on the camera, but it's more of a pain on my M3, and next to useless with my Autocord. Leave it in your pocket, that orange button invariably gets pressed and the batteries run down.

 

[Tuolumne]

Another point on the easily moved ISO dial, I also do not like mounting the VC meter in the hot shoe. As one poster said, it can leave marks on the top plate and it always marks the hot shoe. ( I almsot never use flash on my Leicas or this would not be an issue.) So, Iprefer to carry a light meter in my pocket and take it out when I need to use it. This is deffinitely a pain with the VC meter, because you will ALWAYS disturb the ISO setting doing this. So, my favorite pocket (and hot shoe mounted) light meter is the Sekonic L-208 Twinmate. It is small, analogue and can be carried in pocket or mounted on the hotshoe. I hate digital light meters because they are totally unintuitive but if that's your cup of teas Gossen makes this highly regarded Digisix which is a digital light meter. It has a reputation for eating batteries, which mine certainly does. A battery is drained in 2 weeks whether you use it or not, but perhaps they have fixed this problem in newer models. Both light meters will do incident and reflected light measurememnt. The VC meter only does reflected light. The VC meter is nicely made of metal but both the Gossen and Sekonic are plastic. There you go.

 

[dreilly]

What's the angle that both meters read? I have a VCII on my P (and on my "new" Ricoh Diacord) and it's a great little meter. Just have to remember that setting the meter doesn't automatically set the camera itself! Did that a few times. 🙂

Anyway, just wondering how wide that meter averages from, and, has anyone ever devised an incident cover for it? Would an incident cone from another meter work or a piece of milk bottle plastic?

Thoughts?

 

[ferider]

What's the angle that both meters read? I have a VCII on my P (and on my "new" Ricoh Diacord) and it's a great little meter. Just have to remember that setting the meter doesn't automatically set the camera itself! Did that a few times. 🙂

Anyway, just wondering how wide that meter averages from, and, has anyone ever devised an incident cover for it? Would an incident cone from another meter work or a piece of milk bottle plastic?

Thoughts?

About 30 degrees (equ. to 90mm lens). I measure of a surface (like my hand) to meter similar to incident.

Roland.

 

[Captain]

VCII smaller, slightly nicer design, works very well.

This is often stated but not actually quite true. The VCII is thinner but it is also greater in width. When you hold both in your hand the original seems much smaller.

The only problem I have with the VC meters is that it is very easy to move the ISO setting accidentally. This is, in my opinion, a design flaw.

There no design flaw as simply not all of them are like that. I got the original VC meter quite early in production and if anything the ASA dial is really firm to change. If it was a design flaw they all would be loose when simply they are not, its only a batch of them appear to be that way.

 

[cosmonaut]

Why not just get a hand hael and clip it to your belt. Or wear it around your neck and save a lot of money.