Re: [Leica] Leica metering questions with M3

["Bud Cook" <budcook@ibm.net>]

Thanks Andy.  My problem is that I can get OK transparencies with the MR-4
meter but not the perfect ones I can achieve with the TTL meters in my
Leicaflexes.  Maybe I have a problem transposing from needle position to
exposure setting on the MR-4.
I suppose I need a digital spot meter (which is cheaper than a new M6):-).
Bud
- -----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Morang <a.morang@cerc.wes.army.mil>
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Date: Friday, February 13, 1998 12:23 PM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Leica metering questions with M3

>Bud,
>
>I use the MR-4 meter and have very good results with Kodachrome 25.
>Some suggestions:
>
>1.  Point the meter down towards the ground when you measure a typical
>landscape.  This is an traditional practice that many photographers used
>in the old days of broad acceptance-angle meters.  Too much sky usually
>fooled meters.
>2.  Try to get close to your subject.
>3.  Make sure the meter is in good calibration - maybe it meeds a check
>or new mercury battery.
>
>In the past, I used the selenium Leicameter and made sure to point it
>down.  For me, it worked well because it integrated a broad range of
>light values, sort of a primitive analog matrix meter.  You can use the
>same technique with the Pentax Spotmatic or other SLR's that have
>averaging meters.
>
>Another option:  Use a modern hand-held meter with an incident dome.  I
>find that the incident reading is almost always perfect for landscapes
>and urbanscapes.  I have a Gossen Luna-Pro Digital - it is compact,
>accurate, easy to use.
>
>Good luck,
>
>Andy Morang
>Vicksburg, MS
>