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My quest to collect my dream cameras has recently been very heavily accelerated. In the last year I managed to purchase 3/5 bringing my total to 4/5 (only the Fuji TX1/TX2 left!). However one of the cameras on my list has proved to be more challenging to use than I had expected. The Leica M3 (double stroke) is a gorgeous camera but I am finding it hard to trust myself to meter using Sunny 16 and using another camera as a meter is proving to be cumbersome. So here I am....asking for some opinions.

Should I buy:
-Voigtlander VC II meter - not the most accurate, but small compact, inexpensive and shoe mounted
-Sekonic (INSERT MODEL) - expensive, features galore (most have spotmetering which I like) but will I use it day to day?

NOTE another of the five is a Hasselblad 503CX so that will also benefit from a light meter as well.

Cameron, I presume you are looking at reflective metering of a whole area compared to spot metering for the zone system? If the latter, you should be able to pick up something like a Pentax spot meter for a lot less than a Sekonic. It will obviously have fewer features.

If you get the Sekonic Litemaster Pro L-478DR Light Meter I'll look after it for you so you won't have the worry of exceeding your storage quota at home.

I have an ancient (~1960) meter if you want to try that out. Scene and incident reading. I think it ranges from ASA10 to ASA200.

Reschsmooth wrote:Cameron, I presume you are looking at reflective metering of a whole area compared to spot metering for the zone system? If the latter, you should be able to pick up something like a Pentax spot meter for a lot less than a Sekonic. It will obviously have fewer features.

The VC II will give me reflective metering, but I am tempted by the abilities of a spot meter for zone system (I do find myself using the spot mode on my DSLR's for that purpose). But if I am going to spring for something in that price range I would probably want to get the most features (hence looking at the L758 and L478).

Mr Darcy wrote:If you get the Sekonic Litemaster Pro L-478DR Light Meter I'll look after it for you so you won't have the worry of exceeding your storage quota at home.

I have an ancient (~1960) meter if you want to try that out. Scene and incident reading. I think it ranges from ASA10 to ASA200.

Thanks Greg! I have a similar device somewhere at home that needs a fresh battery. Thanks for the offer of the loaner and the very generous offer of some storage space!

aim54x wrote:My quest to collect my dream cameras has recently been very heavily accelerated. In the last year I managed to purchase 3/5 bringing my total to 4/5 (only the Fuji TX1/TX2 left!).

I notice there is no 4x5 in that list

Reschsmooth wrote:

aim54x wrote:My quest to collect my dream cameras has recently been very heavily accelerated. In the last year I managed to purchase 3/5 bringing my total to 4/5 (only the Fuji TX1/TX2 left!).

I notice there is no 4x5 in that list

Yes the list is:
-Nikon FM2/FM2n - CHECK
-Fuji Klasse W - CHECK
-Hasselblad (any V series) - CHECK
-Leica M3 - CHECK
-Fuji TX-1/TX-2 - when will I get one of these?

When I shot film I used to use a Quantum Calculite as my main meter which I mainly used in incident mode. It had the advantage of metering down to moonlight. I also used a Pentax Spotmeter (you don't want to get a really old one of those but I don't remember why). I still have them but I haven't completely given up the prospect of shooting film again.