[Leica] RE: M Meters

[BOB KRAMER <BobKramer@COOPERCARRY.com>]

Thanks to everyone for the thoughts on metering with my M3.  It sounds like
an MR or MR-4 meter will be the way to go for me, with my luna-pro for back
up if the shot allows me the time to pull it out to use.  I actually like
the ability to meter by just looking down at the top of the camera, since
this way I can bring the camera up to eye level just to focus and shoot.

And since my M3 isn't anywhere close to mint condition, another scratch or
two on the camera top won't be a problem for me.  Actually, I rather like
the "character" marks on my camera.  :-)   I did see the website for the
Cocina meter but  -  and maybe it's just me  -  I don't think I would enjoy
using it.  I much prefer analog meters where you can match the needle and
get an immediate sense of the adjustment that needs to be made in the
shutter and aperture settings.  The over and under exposure settings LED's
kind of make me crazy!  One reason I haven't dashed out to get an M6.

There's just something about that old M3... man, I love that camera.

Bob Kramer

> -----Original Message-----
> 
> From: "Roger L. Bunting" <rlbunting@ameritech.net>
> Subject: Re: [Leica] M Meters
> 
> Bob,
> 
> I've used a MR meter on my M3. I used it often and rarely failed. It
> reads the area of the 90mm lens and it is quite easy to jostle the frame
> lines to 90mm at the same time as pushing the meter on switch. The meter
> reading is locked when you release the switch and the shutter speed is
> coupled to the shutter speed ring. Really quite fool proof to transfer
> the reading to the aperature (or re-adjust both), shallow learning
> curve.
> 
> Draw backs: batteries, scuffs the top of the camera body. The scuff
> marks may lower the value of a 'premium' M3 body by as much as $200-300
> - - others may care to comment on the valuation numbers I'm just going
> from recent numbers on Don Chatterton's site. The shutter speeds are
> slightly off at the ower end. the 1/8 vrs 1/10 sequencing but you make
> the adjustment very easily.
> 
> I no longer am using the MR4. Have switched to a Sekonic 308BII. Very
> much like the quick operating of this hand-held and the convenience of
> incident metering.
> 
> T.A. has reported on the new Cocina clip on metering. I'm sure if you
> search the archives you will find those postings, they are quite recent.
> Check http://www.cosina.co.jp/ - think that's correct.
> 
> Regards,
> Roger
> 
>