cidereye Posted March 12, 2010 Share #1 Posted March 12, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Just bought myself an M2 and can't wait for it to arrive! I've been looking around at meters and am considering the Leica Meter MR, fairly cheap (£120 cheaper than a new CV VC II) and the major advantage of being coupled too. I realise the battery situation and as I already have an old Canon F1 I have a nice supply of Wein cells and a suitable battery adapter washer to emulate the size of the old PX625. Any thoughts or opinions on purchasing for or against this meter would be most welcomed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 12, 2010 Posted March 12, 2010 Hi cidereye, Take a look here Using a Leica Meter MR on M2. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
andybarton Posted March 12, 2010 Share #2 Posted March 12, 2010 I have one on my M2. I bought it from Steve Unsworth and it must have been converted to use modern batteries before I had it as I don't recall ever having a problem with the battery, or the metering (it's very accurate - just flick the lever to the 90mm position and that;'s the area being metered) I like it. It looks right and works well. There's another very similar thread here from only a few weeks ago. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted March 12, 2010 Share #3 Posted March 12, 2010 Some people who have large hands find rewinding more difficult, but it does not bother me. Some said the reason the M4 has a 45 degree angle on its crank is to clear the MR meter. Some meters will mar the top plate of the M unless you stick masking tape on the underside of the meter. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted March 13, 2010 Share #4 Posted March 13, 2010 Personally I'm not a fan. I don't like the bulk it adds to the camera and although there are plenty of good working examples they are all rather old now and meters do deteriorate. I use a Minolta Autometer and/or 'sunny 16' metering. I like the incident reading of the autometer. There are plenty of handheld meter options, instead of the VC meter, and plenty of s/h ones out there if you don't want to spend too much. Another option is to use a small digicam as a meter (one which shows the shutter speed/aperture of course). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mab Posted March 14, 2010 Share #5 Posted March 14, 2010 Got a MR4 meter. Well, it works pretty well but I don't really like it. I carry a small hand held meter (Sekonic Twinmate 208) in my bag but most of the time I just guesstimate the f-stop needed and calculate the exposure based on that. In doubt I bracket. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cidereye Posted March 15, 2010 Author Share #6 Posted March 15, 2010 Thanks for all the great advice! After plenty of research I think I'm veering towards James's thought on using a Minolta (Would that be the Autometer III James?, I notice Ffordes have several for £49 which seems a fair price) or maybe a new Sekonic L-208. I don't like the bulk it (Meter MR) adds to the camera either especially as I like to use my camera from my jacket pocket most of the time and from chatting with several Leica dealers it seems getting an accurate MR is not the easiest task, though I understand that they can be adjusted pretty easily or at worst alter the ISO setting to match a known correct meter reading. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sulskyr Posted March 15, 2010 Share #7 Posted March 15, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) At least in the US, Leica will not repair MR/MR-4 meters. I have both and, after 40 and 35 years of continual use, both needed to be refurbished. I was fortunate to find someone (since retired) who was familiar with the meters and that neither unit needed replacement parts. The modern replacements for PX-25 batteries work without any problems that I can see. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cidereye Posted March 17, 2010 Author Share #8 Posted March 17, 2010 Got my M2 today, what a beauty! 50 years old but in great nick apart from light meter sliding scratches on the top plate. Don't think my M8 is going to see much action now for quite a while, I'm in love with this camera already. So I've decided against an on camera meter like the MR, for now I've managed to acquire an old 1950's Gossen BISIX 2 meter which is in pretty good nick and after a minor adjustment meters on a par with my trusty Nikon FA's metering. Only thing is it's awful in low light situations indoors as I guessed it might be. So, James you recommended the Minolta Auto Meter (I'm looking @ the III) - would this be much better? How would a used Sekonic L398 compare or even a brand new Sekonic L208 @ only £69 when used in low light situations? These are the other options I'm looking at right now and I think I would personally prefer this type (dial) over a digital LCD meter for ease of use. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest maddoc2003jp Posted March 18, 2010 Share #9 Posted March 18, 2010 I have both, Leicameter MR-4 and Sekonic Twin-Mate L-208. The MR-4 looks great but I hesitate to throw my camera into the bag with the meter mounted. The L-208 is very small and maybe one of the easiest and fastest to use light meter out there. It has two minor disadvantages, though. Incident metering doesn`t work very reliable (the meter cell seems to be to deeply recessed in the housing and the light sphere to small) and regularly shows 1 - 2 EV to low (compared to my Sekonic L-508). Also low-light capability is not that good as for example with the Gossen Digisix (I had that meter before). At 400ISO the lowest EV that can still be read from the scale is 5, 4EV is identical to meter standby already. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cidereye Posted March 18, 2010 Author Share #10 Posted March 18, 2010 Thanks maddoc, sounds like the L-208 is not the meter for me then. Any L-398 or Minolta users have thoughts on their experiences in low light? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted March 18, 2010 Share #11 Posted March 18, 2010 Hi, I have the Minolta Autometer lV, I'm not sure what the differences are over the lll it looks much the same. I've found my one to be excellent. I only have the incident reading cone for it but you can buy reflective and spot attachments for them too. It is also great for low light conditions and as a flash meter (not used mine for that yet however). The price you mentioned seems very good, go for it! I'm sure you're going to really enjoy using the M2. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cidereye Posted March 18, 2010 Author Share #12 Posted March 18, 2010 Many thanks James for your personal insight on the Minolta, it sounds exactly what I need and will get one. I do prefer the old fashioned dial type meters but I'm sure I'll get used to a digital display quickly with practice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
willwright Posted March 18, 2010 Share #13 Posted March 18, 2010 DAG overhauls MR's and converts them to 625A batteries for $60. I've just had 3 converted and they are a pleasure to use. Suggestion: put a piece of "moleskin" (anti abrasion tape for foot blisters) on the switch end of the base of the meter and it will reduce the tendency to mar or make "meter rubs" in you top plate. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandro Posted March 18, 2010 Share #14 Posted March 18, 2010 The kind of work may help decide what is best. I like my M4 and M3 with their MR meters and they are pretty accurate too. Indeed one shouldn't be too rough, but a camera should be taken care of anyway. The old battery lasts forever since the meter only uses it while metering. Let go of the button and the battery doesn't use any power anymore. For some situations I use a handheld Gossen Lunasix. Since I once actually picked up the moonlight with it I trust it. Enjoy your M2! Lex Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
picker77 Posted March 19, 2010 Share #15 Posted March 19, 2010 Or, you could do something like this... fast, accurate, small, fits inside the standard Leica never-ready case while mounted, too. I think the meter was about $125 but I did the custom paint job on it. I'm just sayin'... Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/115216-using-a-leica-meter-mr-on-m2/?do=findComment&comment=1265093'>More sharing options...
carbon_dragon Posted March 25, 2010 Share #16 Posted March 25, 2010 I find it just too fiddly to attach the meter and even though my M2 isn't pristine, I don't like the scratch/rub potential of these meters either so I use the VC meter I and it works great. Mine is the older selenium meter. As far as accuracy goes, it works well and seems accurate (and no battery). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted March 25, 2010 Share #17 Posted March 25, 2010 Sunny-16 for me (actually Sunny-12 around here...) Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cidereye Posted March 26, 2010 Author Share #18 Posted March 26, 2010 Sunny-16 for me (actually Sunny-12 around here...) Regards, Bill Well Bill, that was what I ended up doing on my weekend in Oxford just gone as I couldn't trust the two meters I had. A long, long time since I've done that and my problem was working out ISO 100 -> ISO 400 that I was using ...especially whilst in the pubs trying the fine ale on offer! Got the film back today and shock horror most shots were just fine! I was using Kodak BW400CN which I must admit is pretty forgiving and most of the ruined shots are indoor ones where light through a side window has blown out any detail due to total over exposure. Not finished my 2nd roll quite yet which was Tri-X so will have to wait and see how those turn out. Ended up buying a new Sekonic L-308S in the end for a meter (found a great Minolta FlashMeter IV but massive! Way too big.), not entirely happy with it's build quality but readings so far seem spot on and that's all that counts. Thanks again for all who commented on this thread and your help offered, it really is and was very much appreciated! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maggie_O Posted April 1, 2010 Share #19 Posted April 1, 2010 Love the painted lady M2! Now, my M2 and Jupiter-8 say "DA!" to Sunny 16. (but we've got the Light Meter app on our iPhone, just in case) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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