Add-on light meter

RML · 12-03-2004

One thing I learned from my stay in Mongolia is that my Leica M2 is a nice enough camera but IT NEEDS A LIGHT METER! Damn you, Leica, for not keeping up with technological progress! (Maybe I better go into hiding now?)

I hardly shot anything with the camera simply because it was a pain to take out my handheld meter for almost every shot (the contrast between sunny and shaded areas is immense in Mongolia), especially at -15 degrees C. I mainly used my Leitz Monilta CL and Bessa R, simply because they have internal light meters.

So now I'm looking for a stick-on light meter. I saw the new CV light meter ($159) and I'm wondering wheter anyone here has any experience using it or the older CV meter.

Also, does anyone have one on offer second-hand?

Pherdinand · 12-03-2004

There IS a Leica with a light meter...

RML · 12-03-2004

I would build one in IF I had the skills Huw has.

doubs43 · 12-03-2004

Just a thought but the new Gossen Digisix is advertised as small enough to use on-camera and has an accessory attaching piece I believe. B&H Photo sells the meter for $129.95. I've been seriously considering one because of the small size.

Walker

oftheherd · 12-03-2004

Doing an ebay search for "shoe light meter" gave several old light meters that you might find interesting. Especially the selenium cell meters that didn't require batteries.

I understand your frustration, but were you wearing your light meter on your neck? I find that is much less frustrating to use than keeping one in my pocket. Granted in the temperature extremes you mentioned you would want to keep in inside your coat for the sake of the batteries. However, if inside a building, that might be less of a worry.

RML · 12-03-2004

Because of the cold I kept it inside my fat, down-filled winter coat. No way I was going to hang it around my neck; the batteries wouldn't last half a day. Even in my coat pocket my CL's battery was having trouble after a couple of hours.

I'm really more interested in a new meter. I don't have much faith in old selenium meters. The little Gossen looks nice but it wouldn't match one bit with any of my RF cameras; it'll look like a bright UFO on top of a pink M2.

peter_n · 12-03-2004

I have a nice new selenium meter that I hang around my neck...

I think the major difference between the new & old CV meters Remy is that the new one will lock the reading for you. I really like that feature in my Megatron.

doubs43 · 12-03-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by RML
The little Gossen looks nice but it wouldn't match one bit with any of my RF cameras; it'll look like a bright UFO on top of a pink M2.

If you think the Digisix would stand out, have a look at the new Digisix-F!

Walker

Brian Sweeney · 12-03-2004

Quote: "Damn you, Leica, for not keeping up with technological progress!"

Hmmm... 1957. Wait a minute... Okay, 2 of 3 of my Retina IIIS Selenium meters still work, and I replaced the unit in the third one with a Retina Reflex S Meter, they all work now; My 1961 Canon 7 Selenium meters still work, but the one i sold to Joe was hopeless; My Contax IIIa meter still works if I give it a massage every so often...

But My Leica clip-on MC meter died. The booster cell works, I can use it with that. But I can fit another MC, MR, or MR4 meter on it which couples with the Shutter Speed Dial and fits in the Leica ever-ready case. They are less than the VC meters. I could also replace the selenium cell with a Silicon cell and put a Hot Mirror filter over it. But i tend to just use my Weston 715. A good Selenium and Bakelite lasts forever!

Leica MR meter for your M2

An older Selenium Meter like mine

Pherdinand · 12-04-2004

Brian, sorry to be abit off-topic - what's that "massage" you talk about? My contax's meter works too but it's about 1 f-stop off (less). Too much to adjust with the small screw. Do you think a "massage" would help?

Brian Sweeney · 12-04-2004

When i got my IIIa the meter did not respond at all. I read somewhere that the electrical contacts get "dirty". Without getting into the meter, I gently moved the cell back and forth from the front. That was enough to make contact. Every so often, if it does not respond I just rub the platic cell cover from the front. I get a good exposure from it. If yours is one F-Stop off consistently it may be out of calibration, or the cell is weakening. But it is worth the try to clean up the contacts.

Pherdinand · 12-04-2004

Aha, i see what you mean. Those contacts I've cleaned when i took the camera apart. Still 1 stop off. It's not a BIG problem though - i can just compensate, it's quite consistently off if the light is enough to meter.