Voigtlander VC Meter II

<p>I know the Voightlander VC Meter II has been discussed here before, but I would like to revisit it.</p>

<p>After researching photo.net and other sites, I am seriously considering purchasing this meter for it's on camera convenience. The only inkling of a serious problem I am picking up on the Internet has to do with low light accuracy. </p>

<p><i><b>For those of you who have used the newest version</b></i>, what is your impression about it's accuracy in low light situations? What are it's other shortcomings, if any, in your opinion? </p>

<p>I have a Minolta V and also my trusty old Sekonic L-398 hand held meters, but don't want to bother with hand held readings while shooting negative film with my Leica film bodies. My Leica MC meter is the pits in low light, so that's not an option.</p>

<p>Stephen Gandy's report is glowing, but after all, the guy is selling these meters.</p>

<p>get it. the only drawback I can find, is that it has no way of wearing it around your neck. ;) I love it. It's always on my M3, and makes the trip over to the Mamiya c330s from time to time. I'll often pul it off my m3 in low light, and use it like a mini spot meter... walking around w/ it, sampling shadow areas, and calculating my exposure.<br>

I love it. Not once have I felt that I needed more form it. In fact, I was shocked that it only cost what it does. <br>

There is one little thing.. and this is just a tiny nit-pick.. but the over/under arrows are backwards from what I see in my M6.. so when I'm shoting w/ both cameras, there's a good chance of getting confused. (I often keep 100asa in the M6 w/ a 35mm, and 400asa in the M3 w/ a 50mm).</p>

<p>You'll be amazed at how small it is when you hold it in your hand for the first time.</p>

<p>get it.. don't look back.</p>

 

<p>As Joel says, go for it. The VC II is the only meter I use with my M3s. Before I tried the MR meter, a classic, but clunky and dangerous for the finish of the camera (sooner or later you will scratch it). Also tried the Sekonic L-208, a very small and nice meter, but better suited for pocket use (I mean, best carried in a pocket). Never heard of inaccuracy of the VC II in low light, I don't know where is the low light limit of this meter, but is enough for an exposure of f2 & 1/15 sec with ISO 400 film. You don't need anymore sensitivity with a hand held camera. You don't use a tripod with your Leica... do you? </p>

<p>It sure has been an accurate and convenient meter for me. Like Joel, I would like to have a lanyard with a shoe so I could wear it around my neck, as I use some cameras that don't have accessory shoes. If someone knows where to buy one please post. </p>

<p>Buy it. I wanted one for years, but put it off because of the price and I have a Sekonic 508. I figured it was only a matter of time until I lost the 508 or broke it because I juggling the camera and meter, so I took the plunge and bought the VC Meter for its convenience. The meter's reading has only been off once and this is when I took a photo of a reflective street sign. If you are worried about the low light accuracy, which I had never heard before, I used the meter in Rome to photograph the interiors of many chapels. This included the VERY dark Sistene Chapel, which does not allow any photography. All of the photos came out properly exposed. It's also very convenient to have the meter mounted in the hotshoe.</p>

<p>I have to agree with the other posters. I've had it on my Contax IIa for about a year, and it has performed consistently. This includes when shooting in bright and low light, and everything in between. Though it displays through a small number of LED's, it's surprisingly sensitive. It's small, very easy to use, and works well into the ergonomics and look of my camera. The VCII gets my highest recommendation.</p>

<p>I have one and use it frequently on my Hasselblad & occasionally on a TLR and as a backup travel meter. While I have & use a few other handheld meters and spotmeters, the VCII usually is in my pocket or clip mounted on a classic rollfilm body . . . really a good idea and well made!</p>

<p>I second the recommendation of the VCII meter. I think it works very well in low light. Like any spot meter, you have to make sure to point it the middle gray.</p>

<p><em>"Like Joel, I would like to have a lanyard with a shoe so I could wear it around my neck, as I use some cameras that don't have accessory shoes. If someone knows where to buy one please post."</em><br>

-<br>

Such an item was definitely available for the first meter. Here is a photo of mine. It came with a case and the meter would slip into the case with its strap through the base and you could put the whole thing around your neck. I cant see a reason why it wouldnt work with the 2nd version.<br>

<em><br /> </em></p><div></div>

<p>Okay, I went ahead and ordered one from Stephen Gandy. Thanks for the input.</p>

<p>Keep the metering window clean! The only problem I have had with my meter is that the metering window is so small that I noticed that it was causing overexposures. That was corrected to my satisfaction when I discovered a good bit of dust had acumulated on the tiny, recessed window -therefore blocking light.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Thanks for the tip, Bob. I'll keep an eye on the window for dirt.</p>

I use such a meter all the time with my Hasselblad SWC and with the Leica M3. It is accurate. I just feel that the meter slips off the accessory shoe too easily for me.

Did VC fix the problem inherent to the 1st version where the ISO wheel moved anytime it was touched until the solution became to tape it down. Otherwise the meter was accurate enough, but I stopped using it because of that glitch, it was really a PITA.

Joel Aron wrote:"get it. the only drawback I can find, is that it has no way of wearing it around your neck."

 

I do wear Voigtlander VC meter around my neck

 

Voigtlander VC meter with neck strap

Attach a hotshoe to a hot shoe adapter, than attach

a neck strip

I attached a shoe to a nylon watch band. Then slid the meter into the shoe and wear it like a watch on my wrist. Edited November 16, 2020 by bob_eskridge

I used to have one and I thought it worked well. My only beef was that ISO wheel moved if you just looked at it. I ended using scotch tape to hold it down, and just thought it was a real design flaw. It did the same on both versions of it. Other than that I thought it was a pretty good meter for most conditions.

If you get a Leica booster for the MC meter, it will read accurately in low light.

I used to have one and I thought it worked well. My only beef was that ISO wheel moved if you just looked at it. I ended using scotch tape to hold it down, and just thought it was a real design flaw. It did the same on both versions of it. Other than that I thought it was a pretty good meter for most conditions.

 

On mine the edge of the wheel got slightly folded inward from a fall. That added a bit of extra friction to the ISO dial and keeps it in place really well.

 

Anyone try the DOOMO light meter from China yet? Looks like a good cheaper alternative to the VC II.

A neat solution to putting it around one's neck. A loop of piano wire araldited in two carefully placed holes. I had to be careful because I mount the meter on two cameras, one of which has a shoe that would have been fouled if I hadn't beencareful