Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/07/18
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Annie, > 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. There's a grip available for the M as well (Leica part 14 405, usually available for $90, a lot less gray or used); it may seem overkill to use it with the 35, but I keep mine on all the time (I have 35, 50 and 75 lenses) and love it. It provides that same very secure one-handed grip you feel with the BP-300. The thing I love about the Elan 7 is how Leically quiet it is, and how light. What bugs me is that they took away both the prior version's spot-meter and built-in infrared assist light. The decisions camera designers make can be so frustrating. I've heard many good reports on the Gossen Luna Pro digital F. I've also seen heaps of praise for the Sekonic L508 (see http://luminous-landscape.com/meters.htm, for instance), but it is much more expensive than the Gossen. I've been happily surprised at how accurate the M6 TTL partial metering has been for me. I shoot mostly slide film and I'm not all that careful with my metering. I am at least dimly aware when I'm shooting a mostly black or white scene, and so close down or open up a stop or two, respectively, to compensate under those circumstances. I suspect under trickier conditions, the best bet (or at least the easiest) would be an incident meter. The Gossen would suffice for this (it does not, however, have spot-metering). Keep us posted on whatever you decide to do, and how you fare. Dan