qruyk12
Established
Anyone have any idea what the angle of metering is on this meter? is it 30degrees?
Rogrund
Antti Sivén
Yes, according to the instruction manual it's approx. 30 degrees.
b.espahbod
Optophile
no kiddin its 2º can't you see how damn sensitive and jumpy it is 
matt335
Well-known
is there a downloadable manual on the meter ?
WDPictures
Established
Try here - http://www.chiifcameras.com/download/VC_II_mater_manual.pdf
I don't know anything about the source but it appears to be a scan of same paper version I have... And yes their pdf file name is mis-spelled... _W
I don't know anything about the source but it appears to be a scan of same paper version I have... And yes their pdf file name is mis-spelled... _W
charjohncarter
Veteran
I thought it was about like a 90mm lens for a 35mm camera. I could be wrong though. it wouldn't be the first time.
matt335
Well-known
Thank you for the manual. Yes, it is 30 degrees. I find it pretty accurate in that my photo seem to be ok on exposure. I picked up a meter on a second hand M4. nice little unit. I have compared it to my internal meter in an MP and it seems to want to under-expose. I guess you become aware of this and manually adjust as per your normal exposuring.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
Well, it better should be accurate, given a price above the Sekonic L-398, which is dead accurate and a rock solid work horse. I was not too impressed by it - it looks awfully nice, but a reflected light only camera top meter without a scale calculator is a somewhat crippled and crippling device. You make do with these limitations in the case of the Leicameter or other coupled meters, where coupling and handheld/incident operation don't mix too well, but as far as uncoupled meters go, the Seconic Twinmate and Gossen Digisix are far more versatile in the same weight class.
Sevo
Sevo
ChrisN
Striving
I've used one for a couple of years, either mounted on the camera or hand held. You can tie a piece of string to the foot and hang it around your neck, too. Using it with B&W film I've never had a bad exposure I would blame on the meter.
A bigger meter might offer incident metering as well as reflected, but that's not a criticism of the VC II, more a comment on the need to think about what you want and are willing to carry.
A bigger meter might offer incident metering as well as reflected, but that's not a criticism of the VC II, more a comment on the need to think about what you want and are willing to carry.
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charjohncarter
Veteran
I agree ("what you want and are willing to carry"). And I have never really had a bad exposure (from the meter, sometimes I mess thinks up).
Paul T.
Veteran
I had one and did love its neatness - although if you're using it off-camera at least some of time (ie if you're using a viewfinder off the camera) the Sekonic 208 is quicker in use, and roughly half the price.
kully
Happy Snapper
The VC Meter II has two problems:
1) The battery door is very easily opened accidently. This you can solve very simply by putting a little cellotape over it. The batteries last for ages so you won't need to remove it for months.
2) The ISO dial is easily moved.
Taking the screw out brings out the two discs of the dial (base and ISO selection) in one piece, under these is a thin metal film washer. You need to remember what ISO setting was on the dial before you unscrewed so you can put it back in the same place. You don't need to worry about the dial itself as the bit it goes onto has a shaped head.
Prising these two discs apart you see a ruffled metal washer and underneath the ISO selection disc two small velour pads. You can either add some slightly thicker pads (I couldn't find any) or add a thin paper sticker. I did the latter and now all is good - enough friction to keep the dial in place unless I move it with my nail.
1) The battery door is very easily opened accidently. This you can solve very simply by putting a little cellotape over it. The batteries last for ages so you won't need to remove it for months.
2) The ISO dial is easily moved.
Taking the screw out brings out the two discs of the dial (base and ISO selection) in one piece, under these is a thin metal film washer. You need to remember what ISO setting was on the dial before you unscrewed so you can put it back in the same place. You don't need to worry about the dial itself as the bit it goes onto has a shaped head.
Prising these two discs apart you see a ruffled metal washer and underneath the ISO selection disc two small velour pads. You can either add some slightly thicker pads (I couldn't find any) or add a thin paper sticker. I did the latter and now all is good - enough friction to keep the dial in place unless I move it with my nail.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I like my little VCII but it's destined to be replaced by an L308s as soon as I have the funds. Having a reflective only meter is fine in some situations but pretty damned useless in many ... nine times out of ten I take incident readings with it off the back of my hand!
Looks good on a Leica M though!
Looks good on a Leica M though!
dng88
Dennis
@kully: I tape the thing for the battery but I find it very hard to move the ISO dial.
The meter is great. Sometimes people ask me why I have it on R3/4A and even M8. I say to them that it is sometimes better to set everything and then ignore the exposure and concentrate on the focus or even just scale focus and pure on composition. With a uncoupled meter sometimes help. Of course, it would be even better if one has a digital T model as the CV T model (and Yashica 124G) can meter without looking. (My Rolleiflex meter is unreliable othewrise, it is also in that club).
The meter is great. Sometimes people ask me why I have it on R3/4A and even M8. I say to them that it is sometimes better to set everything and then ignore the exposure and concentrate on the focus or even just scale focus and pure on composition. With a uncoupled meter sometimes help. Of course, it would be even better if one has a digital T model as the CV T model (and Yashica 124G) can meter without looking. (My Rolleiflex meter is unreliable othewrise, it is also in that club).