Meter for Leica MP-3

[Nick De Marco]

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(Title should say meter for Mp-4 of course)

 

Another question rom a new Leica M user.

As I mentioned on another thread I recently purchased the M3 and M4-P on ebay. The M4-P has arrived and is in good order. I already have a lovely 50mm f2 M summicron lens to go with it. I have to admit to a very silly mistake - I knew the M3 did not have a meter but I assumed the M4-P did have one.

 

I have a Leica meter MC which I had already bought in anticipation of mt M3. Obviously it fits on the M4-P as well and seems to work. But hoe reliable are these meters? I have heard the voigtlander meter is a better meter, anyone agree/disagree?

 

I can't afford an M6 now having bought 2 Ms, the 50mm and just recently the 35mm f2 summicron v4 (I can't wait for that). The M^ looks great. Clearly it has a meter and so does not need one of these things stuck on tp. Is it otherwsie much better than what I have got - should I even think of selling the M4-P and maybe M£ (but as a classic collector I want to hang on to the M3) to pay for it?

 

Views from Leica users and experts much appreciated.

 

Nick

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[doubice]

Nick,

 

First - your meter dilemma...... While the MC meter was good in its time, its accuracy today would be questionable. Selenium cells deteriorate with age and both sensitivity and accuracy will suffer.

 

There were two MR meters - for the M4P I would recommend the MR-4 version. Its switch sits on the top plate and does not get in the way when you rewind film. Again - some of the CdS cells might have deteriorated with age, but you still stand a good chance of finding a good and accurate MR meter. Its advantage over the Voigtlander meter is that it couples to the shutter speed dial of your M camera.

 

However, the Voigtlander meter will probably be more sensitive and accurate. So - there are your pro's and con's.

 

My recommendation to your main dilemma would be to keep the M3, sell the M4P and buy an M6. Those are bocoming relatively inexpensive these days. You can find a used M6 for less than US$1,000 if you don't jump at the first one that comes along. Metering with the M6 is a pleasure and definitely worth the extra expense over the M4P with an add-on meter.

 

All the best,

 

Jan

[Shootist]

I have a working MC Leica meter and 2 MR-4 working meters. They all work well and are shutter speed dial coupled. But with the MR type you can't get the mercury batteries any more. You can get other types that do work in the MR, alkaline and WEIN Zinc-Air.

For a alternative meter for the M I bought a Sekonic Twinmate L-208 and that works real well. No it is not shutter speed dial coupled but it does come with a attachment that screws on to the meter and fits in the flash shoe.

I haven't used any of the Leica meters on my M3's since I got the Sekonic. In fact I'm just about to put all the Leica meters on ebay for sale.

[Nick De Marco]

Thanks for the advice. I shall get another meter soon.

 

I think I will use the M4-P for a couple of moths then sell it and try and get an M6

[RichieC]

I have a Leica MR4 meter which is OK most of the time. But the new VC meter would be more accurate and more sensitive. I plan to buy one next week for use with my M3 and Leica LTM bodies.

[Simon Larbalestier]

The VC Meter II works well for me as a small back up meter. It is better designed than the VC Meter I and can be used hand held very discreetly. It will retain the last reading. You can also get a neck cord for it.

 

For more tricky lighting situations outdoors i use a Zone VI pentax digital spot meter and indoors i favour the Gossen Sixomat in incident mode.

[R.Morrison]

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I use an MR meter on my M4-P and am quite pleased with it because I can meter at waist level unobtrusively and do not have to raise the camera to my eye. Of course I am always carefull that I have the meter pointed at something of neutral density (no large areas of solid blacks or whites, no sky etc.) I like the fact that it is coupled to the shutter-speed dial.

It is my understanding that the selenium(MC meter) and cadmium disulphide (MR meter) cells did not deteriorate too badly but that the circuitry would oxidise over time and that the MR meters were somewhat less prone to this.

Of course the LED meters in M6 and later Leicas are more rugged than the delicate galvanometers used in the MC and MR meters. In fact it is often said that after you have used your M6 to beat to death the theif that was trying to steal it the light meter will still work.

 

Yours,

Robert Morrison, M4-P, etc.

[flavio]

Nick,

On my M4 I use Leicameter MR or Weston Master V (selenium).

Both appear to be reliable at all. Sometime, I have to admit, I prefer use the WM: a no battery system is really nice. I also purchased a Cds Weston Master Ranger 9 but it is usually in the rest. Anyway n.9 appear to be reliable too.

 

Being a light meter lover, I'd love use a Gossen Starlite.

[wilfredo]

Have you tried shooting without a meter? Using one particular film under different lighting situations until you get the hang of it, an intuitive feel?

 

Cheers,

Wilfredo