Light meter "animation" on Leica MP at 1 sec shutter speed

[cesc]

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Hi all! I was just "cleaning" the mechanics of my Leica MP, just shooting at slow speeds to run the mechanism... and I saw the light meter going "crazy". I am a 3D character animator and I didn't know I could animate the light of the light meter!

Here's the effect I am talking about.

 

Is it because of the nature how the light meter system is designed? or is it something I have to be aware of my camera

Because my other M bodies were all meterless I am still understanding this little red friend appearing in my VF when I am shooting.

Have a nice day all!

 

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[cesc]

feels like the light meter keeps measuring the light while the shutter speed decreases so the arrows go to underexposed while the shutter time decreases....  it makes  sense

[aesop]

 

    ...hmmm - if the available ambient light of a scene being measured is static, I don't see why the light-meter indicators should vary for a given shutter speed or shutter speed/aperture combination.

I tried to replicate your result on both my MPs with a steady ambient light scene but I definitely did not get any animation at 1s. Instead, I got the triangle LED lighting up for the duration of the 1s exposure (it was a delight to hear the timing mechanism whirring away for 1s, BTW). I also ran the experiment with and without a lens attached to both MPs - the results were the same. Definitely no animation.

It may be worth adding that my batteries are fresh. Thanks.

[250swb]

Just for the record my meter is also animated at 1 second and 1/2 second, if I've set it to overexpose or there is a point of bright light in the scene. My theory is that the meters sensor keeps working even though the spot on the shutter blind it reads off has disappeared during the exposure.

[cesc]

This morning I tried with a film inside and the meter didn't move from overexposed, same light condition as yesterday.... Bouncing light? Whatever just a curiosity

[a.noctilux]

Flickering lighting with LED "lighting" reactions ?

[cesc]

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Misterious... because now I finished a roll and it's empty and the behaviour is as expected, the arrow doesn't move. Such a mistery! Meterless cameras are less complicated!

[a.noctilux]

Cesc,

😉 you DO have one meterless M,

following the bright idea that some has found, take out the battery, then you are done.

[davidmknoble]

I guess it is possible that whatever happens to the meter when the shutter is pressed to turn it off is not working.  It is also possible that over the years different methods or circuitry have been used.  There is no ‘bios’ update for an MP, so it could just be an improvement from early designs.  It would clearly make the battery last longer if the meter turned off.

Great video by the OP!

[davidmknoble]

@cesc, you peeked my curiosity.  I have two MP’s that were a-la-carte.  The older is the 0.85 and the newer is the 0.58 viewfinders.  The newer one is one of the last in the a-la-carte programs because as soon as I submitted the request, Leica announced stopping the program.  

I took the body cap off, no lens and set it to 1 second shutter.  Clearly there is too much light and the meter showed over exposure (arrow pointing to the left).  I pressed the shutter and the meter stayed on during the shutter speed.  As soon as the shutter closed, it turned off the meter.

Never would have paid attention to it if not for your video!

[Anbaric]

Reminds me of something. Better be nice to it!

 

[cesc]