How do you meter with your meterless Leica?

[kivis]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Question goes for really any meterless camera. I use an app on my iPhone (Pocket Light Meter), but I am trying to train myself to use the "force within". You know, try to remember or guess what the reading would be. Not that good at it yet. What are others doing? A real meter? Please be specific as I still, after all these years am wishing to learn more what others do.

[Julian H]

Hi

 

I am no Jedi Knight so use meters.

 

The Minolta IVF is great except when I am not in the same illumination as my subject.

 

I also use a Pentax Spotmeter for more considered work. it is a superb tool particularly for black and white. IME, it does not sit well with r/f for spontaneous work but if you are doing street photography where you are waiting for the moment, you often have time to prepare. In that situation, it works a lot better.

 

I often tend to carry a simple kit of my M4-2, one lens, usually 50, film, and both meters. Usually the IVF is around my neck and the Pentax is in my coat pocket. I am seriously considering aquiring an M7 to allow me to be more spontaneous though. However, I will still carry the IVF to supplement the camera's built in selective meter. I have always carried, and used very often, a handheld meter, even with my metered cameras.

[Julian H]

ps. cool name. I used to have a cartridge on my record player called Akiva:).

 

 

Cheers, J

[250swb]

Buy a real meter, something like a Sekonic 308 or 208, use it, and before long you will start to remember the association between what you see and what you want, you can then often do without a meter. But an experienced photographer will know that hubris is a dangerous thing, and a meter should never be consigned to the drawer, you are always better off checking the facts than relying entirely on educated guesswork.

 

Steve

[Chuck Albertson]

When I owned a M4-2, I used a Sekonic L-398 handheld meter, still use it with other cameras. The "sunny 16" rule takes you a fair distance, but some films (like transparency films) are really picky about exposure.

[xalo]

Just started using a Gossen Sixtomat digital, generously offered by a friend. Since I also have a perfectly functional Gossen Lunasix 3 and a fairly reliable Leicameter MR, I didn't really need the Sixtomat, but notice now that its feather weight and flat built make me take it anywhere. The Leicameter is sometimes practical, but not that precise in low light and somehow induces more awkward handling of the M3. Also, it can't measure incident light. With the spot attachment, the Lunasix will serve more for landscapes now.

 

Agreed, the more one consciusly measures the light, the closer guesstimations will get. That said, while I enjoy the mental exercise to think about the light, I remain anxious to get what I wanted or hoped for. Part of the film fun...

 

Alexander

[aesop]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

...Sekonic L-308S. A wonderful user-friendly tool.

[ynp]

My iPhone 5.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Julian H]

Does anyone use the Sekonic 208 on top of their M as their main light meter? How accurate is it? Whats it like to use? I like the match needle operation which seems intuitive compared to transferring readings etc..,

[bephoto]

Sekonic 308S is the best, light, slim, AA battery.

Sekonic 758 badass waterproof incidental/spot bigger than a Leica body (not joking) THE BEST expose meter

[250swb]

Does anyone use the Sekonic 208 on top of their M as their main light meter? How accurate is it? Whats it like to use? I like the match needle operation which seems intuitive compared to transferring readings etc..,

 

I keep the 208 in my pocket, even though small it isn't as neat as a Leicameter when mounted on top of a camera. The idea of having a dial is good though, it is neither aperture or shutter biased, you choose if the shutter speed or aperture is the lead value to work around.. Alternatively the Sekonic 308 digital meter is shutter biased, and if you instead want to keep to a set aperture you need to scroll through the single line display after each reading to find the aperture value you have set on the lens, and then read off the shutter speed. While a good meter by any standards this can be a PITA if you want to work quickly, especially as I think many Leica users do bias their exposures around the aperture value.

 

Steve

[xalo]

FWIW, the Gossen Sixtomat digital has the options of pre-selecting either aperture value or shutter speed. It runs on one AAA battery.

The Lunasix 3 is a match needle device, perhaps nicer to read (I find), but slower to use. It takes two weincells (that strangely seem to last forever in there).

 

Alexander

[gberger]

Another vote for the Sekonic 308. Excellent for both incident and refractive metering. Uses one AA alkaline battery, fits in the shirt pocket, is easy to use and read, is accurate, and lightweight.

 

I've probably used every light meter since my Dad's GE that he used for his 8mm motion picture camera in the 30s. Loved the Weston Master, Norwood Director and various Minoltas. Settled on the 308 as the best compromise among accuracy, useful\ness, cost, battery availability and versatility.

 

Just my ancient two cents.

[pico]

Why is this topic here?

 

 

 

Sent from my Etcha-sketch.

[captaingumby]

With B&W I use "Magic Numbers" and 45 years of experience, with slides I use my iPhone app, and the same 45 years. People sometimes look at me weird because the skin on the back of my iPhone is an M2 with a cron just like the one around my neck.

[BorisBulldog]

Question goes for really any meterless camera. I use an app on my iPhone (Pocket Light Meter), but I am trying to train myself to use the "force within". You know, try to remember or guess what the reading would be. Not that good at it yet. What are others doing? A real meter? Please be specific as I still, after all these years am wishing to learn more what others do.

 

 

Leica Meter MR eBay $49.00

 

[Julian H]

Thanks Steve.

 

I fell for a 208. Hopefully it will arrive today. Should be quite a useful addition to have in my pocket. It could even replace the IVF if I like it. I have tried an MR meter many years ago. I didn't get on with it at the time. Cant recall why though.

 

Julian

 

 

I keep the 208 in my pocket, even though small it isn't as neat as a Leicameter when mounted on top of a camera. The idea of having a dial is good though, it is neither aperture or shutter biased, you choose if the shutter speed or aperture is the lead value to work around.. Alternatively the Sekonic 308 digital meter is shutter biased, and if you instead want to keep to a set aperture you need to scroll through the single line display after each reading to find the aperture value you have set on the lens, and then read off the shutter speed. While a good meter by any standards this can be a PITA if you want to work quickly, especially as I think many Leica users do bias their exposures around the aperture value.

 

Steve

[dtborden]

Doesn't anyone bother to read anymore? The question is: "How do you meter with your meterless Leica?"

 

You do it the old-fashioned way - First you begin training your eye to the existing needs for the existing light, and you add the reference data that comes printed on the packing sheet with the film. Soon enough you'll be hitting acceptable exposures with negative film by doing some exposure bracketing and analyzing the results. Color positive takes a little longer and there's no more "instant gratification" with this process. Imagine you're using a camera that's totally "fixed" - shutter speed and aperture, like the old rollfilm cameras. There we made our exposure corrections during film development and printing.

 

Otherwise - purchase a decent meter, although it seems sort of contradictory to be packing more bulk when the object of the miniature camera was compactness.

[budrichard]

"First you begin training your eye to the existing needs for the existing light"

 

Have you learned how to control the involuntary opening and closing of your iris?

If not, then training your eye will not work, that's why light meters were developed.

 

I used a Nikon with 135mm lens to meter for my M3. Have Luna Pro but have never liked handhelds and have MR4 meter.

 

Got M6 and later M7's.

Much better!-Dick

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[AB007]

When in doubt, I use the Voigtlander VC Meter II. It is very compact and is shoe mounted. You can get it in chrome or black.