Voigtlander VC II Meter on Yashica Lynx 14e

[ColSebastianMoran]

This meter is just terrific.

But, the hot shoe position conflicts on the Lynx 14e. I need to raise the meter 1/4" or shift it to the right. Here's the situation; the meter sits too low and conflicts with the rewind knob.

Is there any gadget to do this? Or do I need to make something myself? (I'm aware of the VC II option to mount the shoe with alternate screw holes. That doesn't move it enough.)

I am willing to remove the meter to change film.

More: Same problem but not as bad on the Canon QL17 iii. VC ii meter fits perfectly on the Minolta Auto S2.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I'm was recently hunting for something to raise a hotshoe-mounted accessory RF out of the way of any controls on other camera's as well.
Hama has a hotshoe adapter/extender (for flash) which should do the job. It won't look very stylish though 😉

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Mr. Flibble, thanks... That will work. It's a Hama 6951 and available from B&H among others. I'm hoping to find something neater

 

[stratcat]

I have the Hama hotshoe adapter and have used it to use flash with my Lynx. Unfortunately it sits really loosely in the Lynx's accesory shoe, requiring a slip of paper or cardboard to hold it tightly. It definitely works but it adds to the 'unneatness'.

If only the Cosina Voigtländer double accessory shoe had not been discontinued...

 

[useless generation]

I've been faced with the same issue with my kodak retinette IA!

 

[Beemermark]

You can remove the shoe from the meter and shift it to mount on the other side of the hot shoe. VC designed it this way on purpose, it was demonstrated in the instruction sheet. I have to swap it if I swap between my IIIF and Nikon s2

 

[stratcat]

You can remove the shoe from the meter and shift it to mount on the other side of the hot shoe. VC designed it this way on purpose, it was demonstrated in the instruction sheet. I have to swap it if I swap between my IIIF and Nikon s2

As the Colonel posted, in the case of the VC Meter II, that is not enough to clear the Lynx's rewind knob as the shoe really doesn't mount on the other side of the hot shoe but more to the center.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

As the Colonel posted, in the case of the VC Meter II, that is not enough to clear the Lynx's rewind knob as the shoe really doesn't mount on the other side of the hot shoe but more to the center.

Yes, the shiftable mount is ingenious, and very well done. Voigtlander gives perfect instructions, and includes extra screws. Just superb.

But the shift just puts the shoe-mount in the center of the little meter. That works for the Canon QL-17 iii, but not enough for the Lynx or any camera with the accessory shoe way over to the left by the rewind knob.

 

[farlymac]

Voigtlander also made a multiple mount accessory shoe for using a meter and viewfinder at the same time. This could be enough to move your VC away from the rewinder.

PF

 

[Leigh Youdale]

Voigtlander also made a multiple mount accessory shoe for using a meter and viewfinder at the same time. This could be enough to move your VC away from the rewinder.

PF

There were three different models, all now discontinued but probably available second hand from the usual suspects. CameraQuest's web page on Voigtlander Accessories illustrates and describes them all and their configuration. One is significantly offset and would probably be ideal.
I have the "A" model (mount height 4mm) and used it when I had a IIIf. I was lazy and didn't bother refitting the shoe to the opposite side - just reversed the way I mounted it and pushed the VCII in from the front. If you do that you just have to make sure the shoe is a good fit and the meter isn't going to slide out onto the ground! I've just compared mine to the photo in the OP and it looks like it should work for him just fine.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

There's one now on the UK E**** site for 70 pounds (gulp) with three days to run. Item number: 190641369469.
It looks like it is the B or C model which sits higher than the A.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Thank you, fairlymac and Leigh. The Voigtlander double accessory shoe looks like a good item. Will watch for it.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

I have continued looking for a good mount for the Voigtländer VC II meter on my Lynx 14e. I don't trust the meter on the 14e and prefer to use a modern meter.

Here's the meter on a Canon QL17 G-III. This is just want I want for my Lynx.

and from the back:

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

An easy-to-find solution is the Wien Safe-Sync. I don't need the sync feature, but it would raise the meter enough to clear the rewind knob.

Too bad the result is ugly:

And, there's a further problem. There's a ridge on the front of the Safe-Sync that tilts the meter upwards and prevents it from mounting fully. I have rejected this solution.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Some time watching and searching on eBay produced this interesting item. It's branded as "RPS Studio RPS Insulated Acc. Shoe." It will extend an accessory shoe by about 3/8" and it has a threaded hole to mount on a tripod.

This looks pretty good. It's 1" front-to-back (see ruler) which is much longer than a camera accessory shoe. I will have to remove metal to use it on a camera.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Here's the VC II on my Lynx with the RPS Accessory Shoe:

And, here's the result of being too long. I'll have to remove some metal to use this on a camera.

I can see that even after removing some metal it will not be the perfect solution. Have not seen the suggested Voigtländer double shoe or anything better. Unless I can find a good solution, I'll just use a small meter on a neck chain.

Thanks for all your suggestions above.

 

[farlymac]

Col., you could always get a Vivitar 24 meter. Just checked it on my 14E, and it clears the rewind knob, though you still have to take it off to raise the knob. Here's a shot of it on my Vito B. It's a bit out of proportions for the Vito, but looks fine on the Lynx.


Voigtlander Vito B With Vivitar CdS Meter by br1078phot, on Flickr

PF

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Farly, With the Viv meter on the 14e, can you put your eye up to the viewfinder OK? Any change of a photo from the front of the 14e with the meter on it? Many thanks!

 

[farlymac]

I'll take some photos to show you. I had no problem with interference in any form, except that you can only raise the rewind a little bit. But by the time I'm doing that, I'm putting the meter away because I usually only have the one roll of film that's in the camera, and no reload. I suppose if it was more than a test run, I would have extra film with me.

PF

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Thanks! Removing the meter to change the film is something I'm ready to accept.