Re: [Leica] Meter Choices, anyone?

[lea <lea@whinydogpress.com>]

Annie,

The Sekonic L-508 is the meter I use and I love it. Bought it a couple years ago
for work with the zone system but also use it in my studio. It's hot. Get
one...you won't be sorry.

It has a zippy neck strap AND a belt loop. I am a small-boned woman as well and
can sooooo understand what you say about it sometimes being hard to hold all the
wonderful tools of the photo trade. But they are fun to have and to use.

My motto is: If you've got it, spend it. Then shoot like mad.
Lea



Annie RN wrote:

> I'd like to thank those who have replied to my post - good or bad.  I guess
> I should have been more specific.  I was planning on a spot meter but I
> thought that if I'd buy a spot meter, why not buy an all-around meter like
> the Sekonic 508 or it's Gossen counterpart.  Or the new Sekonic 608.
>
> My choice of using an separate meter from time to time is not an expression
> of dissatisfaction with the Leica M6 metering.  My hands are small and being
> left-handed,  I find it quite heavy sometimes when I take a meter of the
> palm of my hand or when I use a grey card.  I have a 35mm Summicron-ASPH
> lens.  (I hope I can buy an 90mm Elmarit this Christmas). Taking a
> reflective reading using the M6 is just fine.  But reading off a separate
> meter seems an easier option for me sometimes.  And then I'd like to try
> using the spot meter for backlit objects as well as when taking pictures
> inside a theater.  My other camera, an Elan 7e, doesn't have a spot meter as
> well.  I use a battery grip with it so it's not as difficult to hold when I
> take reading off the the palm of my hand or a grey card.  Just because a car
> has windows, doesn't mean you can't have AC, right?
>
> I believe I handle my belongings well - whether I use them often or not.  I
> do so because I want to enjoy them for a longer time and not because I'm
> afraid to hurt their feelings, if any. ;)
>
> Thanks again.
>
> Cheers!
> Annie
>
> >From: Mark Rabiner <mark@rabiner.cncoffice.com>
> >Reply-To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> >To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> >Subject: Re: [Leica] Meter Choices, anyone?
> >Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2001 23:19:01 -0700
> >
> >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/
>
> _________________________________________________________________
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- --
Lea Murphy
Whiny Dog Press
816-333-9111
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