Gossen Digisix vs. Voigtlander VC meter

[Pirate]

Any thoughts on the two?

Which do you prefer or which did you choose and why?

P^)

[besk]

My Digisix never worked for more than a few days before going dead. It had something to do with the electronics because after a few weeks or so of "resting" with the batteries removed it would work again for a few weeks before dying again. (The battery would be fine.)

After two trips to the importer's service department (Bogen)where they paid no attention to my accompanying letters, it now sits in a box on my closet shelf.

While it worked it was very convenient when traveling and accurate in use.

The VC meter I now have is just as good but different. You have to turn the f/stop or shutter speed dial in order to determine the suggested exposure. And it is not as convenient to use off camera . I have adapted it to a wrist band to carry it on my wrist which helps. And is reflective only unless you meter off of your hand or grey card etc.

The Sekonic Twinmate may be the best alternative if you want a small meter that has a direct read out of f/stop - shutter speeds and/or is designed to use for insident and reflective light reading.

That has been a lot of discussion of these meters on this forum in the past. Check the archives.

[Traut]

I have both. I prefer the digisix. The VC tends to shift film speed settings. In addition it is a LED color dot display. The digisix actually shows the EV. With a few days use you tend not to need to transfer to the calculator dial. The numerical readout works with your innate calculator. In addition it is an incident meter as well as a reflected meter. I've never had an issue with either meters.

[Benjamin Marks]

The digisix is a trusty little device, weighs almost nothing. I have never used it attached to a camera (although there is a 1/4 threaded hole and something could be arranged). I always used it as an incident meter.

[robbeiflex]

I had a VC II meter, and I found it ideal for something to keep in the accessory shoe of a meterless rangefinder on a permanent basis. I have moved on to a rangefinder with built in meter, and at first kept the VC II for use with my Rolleiflex. However, I found that it is not very useful as a pocket meter as the film speed keeps shifting and it takes two hands to operate if it isn't in the accessory shoe (at least for me with my big hands). As a result I sold it and will replace it when I get around to it, probably with a digisix or twinmate.

[MCTuomey]

what rob said. VC for on-camera, especially good for "stealth" readings +1

digisix or twinmate for handheld, off camera. i think the build is a bit better on the sekonic, just mho. both fine, very pocketable meters.

[Beemermark]

I have a VC II and for my meterless RF (like my IIIF and S2) it's OK. Very handy to have in the hotshoe. However time you go to take a reading you need to double check:

1) it's still all the way in the shoe
2) the film setting is still right
3) the aperture and SS have changed from the last time you used it, so you have to set the SS to match the camera
4) Now you can get a reading

In other words it very inconvenient but less convenient IMHO than carrying a separate meter for 35mm. For my medium format cameras I carry a hand held meter. For my M4 I use an MR-4 meter.

[edodo]

I have the twinmate and it's really light and not that compact (still very little!). Very good performance, trouble free use in general a perfect meter that doesn't weight a ton, perfect for traveling as light as can be!

[wgerrard]

The VC II is intended to be used in an accessory shoe, and kept there more or less permanently. If that's the kind of meter you want, it will provide a good solution.

I've never found that the ISO setting is liable to change. If the film speed or aperture dials brush up against something, they are likely to move.

The meter may not sit tightly in a shoe that is excessively flexed and worn with age.