Voigtlander VC Meter II

mrisney · 04-30-2009

Any feedback on the VCMeter II ? I just got mine , and really quite impressed, it fits very snugly into the shoe, and seems very well designed. I have an MR Meter that for some reason, seems slightly - and consistently- under a stop, when I use Portra 160NC. Aside from this, are there any under meters out there worth considering ?

Drewus · 04-30-2009

As much as i'd love one of these, I just can't bring myself to spend the money on one. I don't even have a meter at the moment, but when I can get a hand held one for under $100, as opposed to the VC II which is over $200, it's a little hard to justify the expense

Anyone wanna donate me one instead?

nome_alice · 04-30-2009

i've found it to pretty much spot on.

my only dilema is i bought a silver one to go on my M3 but i've sold they M3 and have a black M4-P now!

Artorius · 04-30-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrisney

Any feedback on the VCMeter II ? I just got mine , and really quite impressed, it fits very snugly into the shoe, and seems very well designed. I have an MR Meter that for some reason, seems slightly - and consistently- under a stop, when I use Portra 160NC. Aside from this, are there any under meters out there worth considering ?

I use the Sekonic L308s or, with the M3, Leica MR4 that has been converted to use a silver-oxide battery.
What is an "under meter"?

mrisney · 04-30-2009

Sorry, meant "other". I use the 508, trying to be arty here, handhelds are great, we all like the handhelds, but Voigtlander has a winner here IMHO.

LChanyungco · 04-30-2009

the VC Meter II is very accurate and very nice looking on a classic M body. I have a silver and a black one and the only complaint i have is that the ISO marker on the black one is very loose and very annoying.

04-30-2009

I agree, the VCII is great but the ASA/ISO dial turns way to easily. So much so that I have to check it regularly in use to make sure that it hasn't moved and changed the film speed... Quite annoying actually...! Regards...

Paul T. · 05-01-2009

It's a lovely little design.

I sold mine and bought the Sekonic 208 because of the ISO dial getting dislodged, and because, obviously you can't have the meter and a viewfinder in the shoe at the same time.

Apart from the 'wheel' issue it's still a well-designed little item . Once I got the 208, I did realise how quick and intuitive an analogue needle is, compared to a LED display.

WDPictures · 05-03-2009

Does the ISO/ASA dial tend to loosen as this meter ages? I haven't had mine long and this issue hasn't come up yet. I like that I can carry this small meter around that gives me whatever accuracy this unit is capable of vs. guesstimating with whatever accuracy I might have.

Keith · 05-03-2009

I think they're a good little meter but they do have limited accuracy IMO. Reflective readings are OK a lot of the time but it's good to have the option of incident as well which the VC doesn't of course.

The loose ISO dial is an easy fix ... remove the center screw with a pair of tweezers and add a thin paper washer or similar to what is already in there.

planetjoe · 05-03-2009

I'm also a fan of my VCII, which fits nicely into my shooting style and onto my M4. I bought it slightly used, but not for much less than it sold for new. I think it's worth the money - well designed and built, and accurate enough for my purposes.

The only thing that bugs me is the inability to take incident readings (a la Gossen Digisix, for example).

I still carry around the Minolta Autometer IV I regularly used for field metering, and I got rather used to thinking in "incident readings". I think, at times, having a little lumisphere-dome (and an incident mode) on the VCII would make it a killer.

VCIII, anyone?

Cheers,
--joe.

Keith · 05-03-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by planetjoe

I'm also a fan of my VCII, which fits nicely into my shooting style and onto my M4. I bought it slightly used, but not for much less than it sold for new. I think it's worth the money - well designed and built, and accurate enough for my purposes.

The only thing that bugs me is the inability to take incident readings (a la Gossen Digisix, for example).

I still carry around the Minolta Autometer IV I regularly used for field metering, and I got rather used to thinking in "incident readings". I think, at times, having a little lumisphere-dome (and an incident mode) on the VCII would make it a killer.

VCIII, anyone?

Cheers,
--joe.

Joe ... I just take incident readings of the back of my hand ... it's surprisingly accurate!

planetjoe · 05-03-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith

Joe ... I just take incident readings of the back of my hand ... it's surprisingly accurate!

Of course, you're right. I think sometimes I have a problem with "needing" the right gear for the occasion. Not that I have to explain GAS to anyone on RFF.

On the other hand, I realize that I might not actually believe the "back of the hand = 18% grey" technique, even though I know it works much of the time.

Oh, well. Maybe a therapist can tackle both issues for a reduced rate?

Thanks, Keith.

Cheers,
--joe.

Keith · 05-03-2009

Perhaps I need some tharapy also ... I'm planning to get an L308s Sekonic in the very near future!

matt335 · 05-04-2009

b.espahbod · 05-04-2009

the vc is great but it needs some kind of art for pointing it

mabelsound · 05-05-2009

I don't have the VC meter, but I am a big fan of "More Songs About Buildings And Food."

wilonstott · 05-05-2009

I have the VC II and the Gossen Digisix. I bought the VC II first--got a fair amount of overexposed shots. Although this may have been my fault--someone said something about an "art to pointing it" and I find that to be the case as well. I like the digisix because its the size of a stopwatch, and I find it more convenient than the VC II--ambient metering works better on the fly--for me anyway. I'm not sure why, but the VC II feels more obtrusive--I think because it kind of has to be attached to the camera. I tried to use it as a handheld, but the little battery door kept opening, which doesn't happen if its attached to the camera. Anyway, I prefer the digisix, which is about the same price.

nome_alice · 05-05-2009

to add, apart from finding it to be spot on. i like how i can take a meter reading and set the camera before bringing it up to my eye. this is why i chose an M4-P with vc meter over an M6.

but i'm sure i'll own an M6 as well some day. it happens to all of us.

Beemermark · 05-05-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by nome_alice

to add, apart from finding it to be spot on. i like how i can take a meter reading and set the camera before bringing it up to my eye. this is why i chose an M4-P with vc meter over an M6..

That's one of the reasons I like the MR-4 meter. You can see at a glance what shutter speed your set at and set the aperture quickly before bringing to your eye. Once you start shooting it's easy to bracket. I have the VC meter on my screw mount bodies and while it's nice it's a lot more fiddley than the MR-4 meter and IMHO not as accurate. The MR-4 meter focus is on the 90mm framelines so It also easy to check exactly what your metering.

If the Mr-4 meter is off 1 stop consistently I believe there is an adjustment screw on the bottom. I find mine meters consistently with the silver oxide battery even though it was made for the mercury battery.

matt335 · 05-05-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by nome_alice

to add, apart from finding it to be spot on. i like how i can take a meter reading and set the camera before bringing it up to my eye. this is why i chose an M4-P with vc meter over an M6.

but i'm sure i'll own an M6 as well some day. it happens to all of us.

yes this is a pleasant surprise to realise you can set exposure and speed without holding the camera to your eye, the only downfall I find is in dark environments where its almost impossible to read the numbers on the dials.