Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/07/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I'm sorry but this advice is not only ridiculous but borders on condescending. >I'd not complicate the issue but just go out and use the camera like it's >designed to be used. The M series was not designed to be used with a built in meter. The meter was added later, first on top and with the M6, in the body. >If you then somehow found something deeply unsatisfying about how the >camera works then cross that bridge then. Sorry, but it's called "experimenting". Learning what works for you. You don't have to find something "deeply unsatisfying" to seek out alternative way. >If you had a series of cameras with no meters and loved you meter then perhaps >your choice on an M might be to get an M4. OK, if you're not going to use the meter in your M6 you must get rid of it right away. As stated the M6 is designed to be used with the built in meter. You need an M2, M3, M4. You guessed it! Leica designed these cameras NOT to be used with a built in meter. >But starting out as you say you are >I'd not complicate things for yourself. That's right little lady, you should be in the house anyway, cooking and cleaning rather than toting a Leica around. My guess is that anybody that came to the conclusion that a Leica rangefinder was the camera for them can certainly handle learning to use a hand held meter. >Why insult the camera by ignoring it? This is probably the silliest thing I ever read on the LUG OK, I'm not going to carry on any further, to answer your question Anne, there are lots of different kinds of hand held meters. It all depends on what type of features you're looking for. Most Leica shooters want something small that they can carry with them all the time. Check out the Gossen Pilot. If you're looking for something that does more than just incident and reflected light, look at the Minolta line, I've used the Minolta III and the Minolta F spot meter for many years and have been very happy with them. If you really want something that does it all but is about the same size as your M6 look at the Sekonic L-608 or L-508. Good Luck, jc At 11:19 PM 7/15/01 -0700, you wrote: Annie RN wrote: > > I'm fairly new to photography. I took the plunge and invested on a > second-hand Leica M6 Classic. I am very pleased with it. But I'd prefer to > use a separate meter. I'd appreciate if you can share some suggestions. > > Best Regards, > Annie > As you are new to photography why not do the obvious thing and use the meter in the camera? Have you had bad luck with it already? I'd not complicate the issue but just go out and use the camera like it's designed to be used. If you then somehow found something deeply unsatisfying about how the camera works then cross that bridge then. I think it's bad vibes to ignore a perfectly operating meter in a camera. The M6 is a joy to use and use spontaneously. Put a filter on and it compensates for that. Use a telephoto lens and it just meters the center of what the lens sees. If you had a series of cameras with no meters and loved you meter then perhaps your choice on an M might be to get an M4. But starting out as you say you are I'd not complicate things for yourself. USE the camera. It HAS a meter. It's part of how the camera operates Why insult the camera by ignoring it? Have people who have more experience look at your negs and tell you if you are exposing correctly. I've used a hand held meter extensively in the last 2 months shooting with my Hasselblad. It's a Gossen Luna pro digital F. It's a nice way to work which makes you in a way more sensitive to light but is also often slower. When i shot with my Leica i used it's meter. It was the obvious easy thing to do. And the obvious easy thing to do is usually the best thing to do if you ask me. Do you have a "role model" who does so? Mark Rabiner Portland, Oregon USA http://www.rabiner.cncoffice.com/