The Final Information To Accent Shoe Mild Meters

The movie images market has been inundated with new accent shoe gentle meters for the final a number of years. Some are revisions of earlier fashions with cheaper price factors and slight adjustments. A number of are utterly new and distinctive designs.

Selecting which mannequin is true on your specific software may be overwhelming.

After years of utilizing DOOMO, TTArtisans, Sekonic, and Voigtlander meters; and doing latest product exams for AstrHori, DOOMO, Hedeco, and KEKS I’ve give you this information to accent shoe gentle meters.

Desk of Contents

What Are They?

Accent shoe gentle meters are meant to be mounted to cameras or may be handheld or worn on a lanyard or wristband. They normally take 30 to 40° angle center-weighed mirrored gentle readings and have been manufactured utilizing various completely different info shows together with swing needle, LCD, LED, and most just lately, OLED panels. They’ve been powered by all the things from photo voltaic selenium cells to mercury, alkaline, silver oxide, lithium, and rechargeable lithium batteries.

How This Evaluation is Totally different

Many opinions belabor the query of accuracy of accent shoe gentle meters when in comparison with handheld, or different built-in gentle meters. Nonetheless, most variance may be accounted for in product parameter variations and may be accommodated with intentional use and even adjusted for some meters. Insofar as every mannequin that I’ve examined, at the moment out there accent shoe gentle meters are all moderately correct and in settlement with each other inside about 1 cease or nearer in numerous lighting circumstances. What differs extra and I feel deserves extra consideration is the particular type issue of every gentle meter.

Subsequently, moderately than being a technical analysis, this text will probably be extra of a survey of accessible accent shoe gentle meters with suggestions for forms of images and specific cameras for which every meter is greatest suited.

Meters That I Don’t Advocate

Once I started this text, I used to be of the opinion that every one accent shoe meters out there as we speak are high quality merchandise. I wished to present an unbiased opinion of how greatest to make use of every of them, extra so than claiming one is inherently higher than one other. Sadly, it turned out that there are a number of meters that I simply can not suggest.

I wished to like the TTArtisans brass meter as an inexpensive Voigtländer VCII various with increased high quality supplies. The TTArtisans brass meter has a fantastic end and feels bombproof however may be very giant in comparison with related meters. In follow, its dimension is tolerable however the true issues are that the ISO dial is definitely modified inadvertently, and the LED is extraordinarily faint in daylight. Moreover, the replaceable CR2032 battery died in lower than a 12 months of pretty conservative use.

Once I requested a product pattern of the up to date TTArtisans Mark II Meter, I used to be instructed by a consultant that “really the brass gentle meter is healthier than [the] common gentle meter.” After an try to bridge the communication drawback that appeared to be occurring with the Chinese language-based firm, I used to be nonetheless unable to safe a take a look at pattern of the TTArtistans Meter II on the grounds that the older meter that I bought, which isn’t that nice, is healthier than the most recent model.

Solely days earlier than I finalized this overview, one other meter that I wished to like, the AstrHori AH-M1 broke, was discontinued and has been changed with the AstrHori XH-2. I managed to do an ad-hoc restore of the AH-M1 however can’t suggest it as a result of this failure. I communicated this to AstrHori, who has been very pleasant and communicative. They equipped me with an XH-2, which is similar to the AH-M1 internally and construct quality-wise. I point out the AH-M1 as a result of this product change occurred fairly just lately and the AH-M1 continues to be out there new from some distributors. However should you just like the AstrHori OLED panel, clicked management wheel, and brass building, think about the XH-2 as a substitute.

Meters That I Didn’t Check

There are a slew of classic and fashionable accent shoe meters that I haven’t personally examined. Clearly, monitoring down each classic meter in working situation can be tough and arguably not as helpful as at the moment out there meters for normal functions. There are additionally various anonymous, fashionable Chinese language accent shoe meters out there solely on websites like eBay, Temu, and related. I don’t get the impression that these gadgets are manufactured by absolutely scaled companies and I’ve seen dicey opinions of some, so I might not suggest them based mostly on this alone.

Lastly, the 3D printed plastic physique and controls of the Reveni Labs Mild Meter Mk.2 don’t curiosity me as a result of materials and craftsmanship are among the many causes that I take pleasure in utilizing classic movie cameras. Reveni’s merchandise simply aren’t a match for me personally. In the event you’re not postpone by 3D-printed plastic, I actually encourage you to take a look at this Canadian producer’s intensive and artistic choices.

Now, let’s transfer on to the accent shoe gentle meters that I like to recommend!

If the Shoe Matches

Maybe the primary matter of concern for a lot of photographers is whether or not a given meter goes to bodily match their specific digicam(s). Practically each modern accent shoe gentle meter out there new as we speak encompasses a foot that may be unscrewed from the meter physique and repositioned to suit completely different cameras. The one three that shouldn’t have a detachable, adjustable foot are the AstrHori XH-2, KEKS KM-Q, and Reveni Labs Mild Meter & Mk.2 as a result of they don’t really have to be repositioned.

So greater than if the meter foot is adjustable, what photographers ought to think about is that if their cameras function any sort of tensioning mechanism on the accent shoe and if the meter they’re desirous about additionally does.

Earlier cameras equivalent to screw mount Leica, Contax/Zeiss, Konica, and Kodak Retina rangefinders in addition to Yashica TLRs and Voigtlander folders and lots of others, function a easy “chilly shoe” that doesn’t comprise any sort of ball bearings or spring clips for tensioning and holding completely different equipment securely. Subsequently the Reflx Lab Mild Meter, TTArtisans Meter & Meter II and Voigtländer VCII with their easy foot might require a cardboard wedge or little bit of tape to carry the meter onto these cameras.

KEKS KM01C, KEKS KM02, and KEKS KM-Q additionally function easy toes however include additional plastic and aluminum toes in numerous thicknesses to suit numerous dimension accent sneakers. The difficulty with this strategy is that if you wish to use considered one of these meters on a number of cameras, you could have to swap out the foot every time you modify cameras. Not solely does this really feel like a waste of time, however it causes pointless put on to the screw threads. You would additionally revert to utilizing a wedge or tape to safe these meters. Within the case of the KEKS KM02, I discovered that I might mount a foot to both facet of the meter so it may very well be fitted to cameras with reverse layouts with out eradicating both foot. Throughout the writing of this overview, KEKS launched its personal spring-loaded foot that may be bought individually and will remedy a few of these points (when you have them.)

Present iterations of the AstrHori AH-M1, AstrHori XH-2, DOOMO Meter D, DOOMO Meter S, and Reveni Labs Mild Meter Mk.2 function spring-loaded toes that facilitate easy set up on quite a few accent shoe sorts. The Hedeco Lime II encompasses a ball-bearing tensioner that may simply be misplaced when altering foot place however works properly in any other case. I’ve had no issue securing these meters on my earliest Thirties Leica and Contax rangefinders to my latest 1990’s Leica M6 rangefinders and 2000’s Nikon SLRs.

Maybe the neatest meters to purchase if you wish to keep probably the most compatibility throughout quite a few digicam sorts are the AstrHori XH-2, Reveni Labs Mild Meter Mk.2, or KEKS KM-Q with the brand new foot. As a result of these meters are usually not a lot wider than the usual accent shoe and their toes are spring-loaded, they need to match just about something with out adjustment.

Dimension Issues

All at the moment out there accent shoe gentle meters are very small. However each time a photographer is mounting equipment to the restricted actual property of a digicam, each little bit counts. You need one thing sufficiently small to suit neatly in your digicam however not so small that you’ve got issue controlling and studying it.

Whereas the Reveni Labs Mild Meter Mk.2 is definitely the smallest meter out there, one might discover its diminutive controls and display problematic, which might be why many of the accent shoe gentle meters in the marketplace comply with an oblong format.

The KEKS KM-Q is just barely bigger than the Reveni however its 4 buttons are usually not crammed collectively in a single cluster, moderately they’ve been relocated to the edges of the meter housing and they’re bigger than the Reveni. All KEKS meters function professional-looking and feeling aluminum our bodies and controls so the KM-Q is my private favourite various to the Reveni.

For a wholesome mixture of petite type issue and management, the Hedeco Lime II rivals the Reveni in having the smallest OLED meter out there. Its dimension is flattened into just a little “pizza field” form that tremendously reduces protrusion from the digicam. Accent shoe meters enhance the peak of the digicam they’re mounted to. This could make placing the digicam in a bag tough or tight except you take away the simply misplaced meter every time. With the Hedeco Lime II mounted, cameras match nearly as properly into my digicam luggage as if no meter had been mounted. The Lime II seems very smooth additionally.

The Reflx Lab Mild Meter is just just a little bigger than the Reveni and options simply two buttons as a substitute of the 4 of the Reveni and KEKS KM-Q. This permits these buttons and LCD display to be a bit bigger and probably simpler to navigate/view.

Conversely, the TTArtisans Meter & Meter II are most likely the most important accent shoe meters out there proper now. The older TTArtisans Meter is made from thick gauge brass and isn’t solely the most important however, heaviest meter I examined. The newer Meter II is made from aluminum and isn’t as lengthy however continues to be taller than related meters. They appear most at residence on a TLR or different larger-bodied digicam however are comically disproportionate on one thing like a half-frame digicam, screw-mount Leica, or Voigtlander Perkeo. Regardless of their dimension, the TTArtisans meters don’t provide any bigger show or controls than the equally designed DOOMO Meter D or Voigtländer VCII.

Show Kind

Classic accent shoe gentle meters featured swing needle shows however there are three sorts of read-out now. They’re; LCD, LED, and OLED. Which show you select is dependent upon a number of circumstances that I’ll get additional into under. Suffice it to say, the principle bodily variations are in show dimension, battery consumption, and menu choices.

OLED shows may be very small however this after all additionally reduces display and knowledge dimension. I discovered the DOOMO Meter S OLED panel to be probably the most optimum steadiness of small dimension and enormous, easy-to-read info with the AstrHori AH-M1 and AstrHori XH-2, which share the identical panel, tied for a really shut second.

OLED shows can present extra info equivalent to Publicity Worth. Controls and menus may be very nuanced, permitting the photographer to set cease increments, aperture or shutter precedence, and various different customizations. The German-made Hedeco Lime II even permits its meter to be recalibrated to swimsuit the photographer. The KEKS KM-Q can really flip the show upside-down to be used on oddball cameras like Rollei 35s with bottom-mounted accent sneakers! However these cool settings are buried in menus and I discover myself having to seek the advice of the manuals to OLED meters for lesser-used settings since controls for these are much less intuitive.

LED meters just like the DOOMO Meter D and Voigtländer VCII don’t have any of those options however are, by the identical token, simpler to be taught and can be utilized extra intuitively and rapidly.

Energy Consumption

From a purely theoretical technical perspective, LCD and LED shows ought to present probably the most conservative battery consumption. Nonetheless, blogger Jim Gray’s LCD-type Reflx Lab Mild Meter appeared to kill its single CR1632 battery inside hours of use! Equally stunning, my LED-type TTArtisans Meter required a alternative battery after lower than one 12 months of conservative use.

The LED-type Voigtländer VCII that I’ve used for over ten years takes lengthy sufficient to empty its twin A76/LR44 batteries, which I feel I’ve solely changed twice. Since these are quite common batteries utilized in many fashionable cameras just like the Pentax K1000, Nikon FM sequence, and Leica M’s, you solely must maintain one kind of spare in your digicam luggage.

OLED-type meters just like the AstrHori AH-M1, AstrHori XH-2, DOOMO Meter S, KEKS KM01C, KEKS KM02, KEKS KM-Q, and Reveni Labs Mild Meter Mk.2 use built-in rechargeable batteries kind of out of necessity. I’ve been utilizing the DOOMO Meter S intermittently for a few 12 months and solely just lately needed to plug it in. I’ve not used the others lengthy sufficient to require their first recharge.

The KEKS KM-Q goes into an influence save sleep however takes a bit longer than I’d wish to get up. As a result of it’s such a small meter, it doesn’t show the ISO always, as a substitute, it exhibits the ISO for a protracted time whereas beginning up which I discover annoying to sit down by means of almost each time I wish to take a studying. So whereas the KM-Q is sweet for common match, it isn’t perfect for quick use.

The Hedeco Lime II is the one present OLED meter that takes a replaceable CR2032 button cell battery. It additionally has a novel function to preserve electrical energy – the show really dims robotically in decrease gentle. In the event you want an OLED with a long-lasting, replaceable battery, this meter’s for you.

On Prime or within the Rear?

Classic accent shoe gentle meters featured top-mounted shows. And so do fashionable two-dial LED meters just like the DOOMO Meter D, TTArtisans Meter & Meter II, and Voigtländer VCII.

However with OLED you may have a alternative. In reality, the KEKS KM-Q is the one mannequin of accent gentle meter which you could really order a top-mounted show or rear-mounted model. Different OLED fashions located the show on high or within the rear solely.

Why does it matter?

With a top-mounted show, candid and informal images is made that a lot simpler as a result of studying publicity doesn’t require lifting the digicam to the attention and calling consideration to the truth that a photograph is about to be taken.

However top-mounted LED and OLED shows are usually not all the time readable in vibrant solar. The Voigtländer VCII is probably the most seen two-dial meter, requiring little or no shading with one’s hand. And no OLED meters are absolutely seen in vibrant solar. This makes fashions with rear-mounted shows such because the KEKS KM01C, KEKS KM02, KEKS KM-Q, and Reveni Labs Mild Meter Mk.2 good purchases for individuals who are usually not doing as a lot candid and walk-around images however are sometimes taking pictures in vibrant solar. Their rear-mounted shows assure higher shading or are simpler to shade with one’s hand with out interfering with the sunshine sensor.

When the Solar Goes Down

What meters work greatest in vibrant solar might not be so nice at evening. Whereas LEDs on two-dial meters may be seen at nighttime, their publicity numbers can not. Whereas numbers on the Reflx Lab Mild Meter are seen on an LCD panel, it’s not backlit so the meter is of no use after sundown both. The EV ranges of all these meters are higher than their low gentle visibility, so one might paint the inscribed numbers of the DOOMO Meter D or Voigtländer VCII with glow paint or shine a flashlight onto them, however these options aren’t as straightforward or elegant as merely selecting an OLED meter for concert events and different evening time images.

What Are You Manufactured from?

Authentic classic accent shoe meters of the Fifties had been made from brass and completed in thick satin chrome, however seldom are we handled to this stage of luxurious as we speak. The Reveni Labs Mild Meter Mk.2 is just like the Mannequin T of sunshine meters – you may have it your favourite coloration as long as your favourite coloration is black 3D printed plastic. Brass is after all the next regarded metallic than aluminum as a result of being extra hard-wearing and it’s a higher match for a lot of of our basic cameras too. With use, the black paint will put on down to show the brilliant brass beneath like a photojournalist’s digicam.

Each the AstrHori AH-M1 and XH-2 are made from brass. TTArtisans makes the primary model of their meter in brass and DOOMO affords each the Meter D and Meter S in black painted brass.

The draw back to brass accent shoe meters, nonetheless, is the load. They’re tiny however very dense and add appreciable weight to your digicam. Aluminum, which all however the AstrHori and Reveni are available in, is a greater possibility if you would like a light-weight package deal or are utilizing a silver-colored digicam physique. I do worry their sturdiness within the occasion of an impression although.

Go Lengthy!

Two-dial kind meters just like the DOOMO Meter D, TTArtisans Meter & Meter II, and Voigtländer VCII solely go right down to one-second shutter speeds. In the event you’re doing one thing like astrophotography and wish prolonged shutter instances, it is best to use an OLED meter not just for the broader metering vary but in addition so you may really see the show at nighttime, in contrast to the Reflx Lab Mild Meter, which fits right down to 30-second exposures however doesn’t have a lit display. Most OLED meters solely go right down to 30 seconds. Nonetheless, the Reveni Labs Mild Meter Mk.2 goes down to 1 full hour and the Hedeco Lime II can measure to an unbelievable 8 hours and 20 minutes! I’m unsure what anybody wants that for by hey, there you go! The utmost shutter instances for the others are listed under:

AstrHori AH-M1 and XH-2 (:30sec), DOOMO Meter S (:30sec), Hedeco Lime I & II (8hrs :20min), KEKS KM01C (:30sec), KEKS KM02 (:30sec), KEKS KM-Q (:30sec)

I Have the Energy!

It’s handy to make use of an adjunct gentle shoe meter that’s powered by the identical button cell battery as most of our metered basic cameras. The Voigtländer VCII is the one present mannequin that makes use of two frequent A76/LR44 kind silver oxide batteries. Not solely is that this handy however it ensures that the precise specification battery will probably proceed to be extensively out there for years to return. The opposite meters that use disposable batteries make use of a CR1632 or CR2032, for which I don’t have every other digicam tools that’s appropriate.

A query that many individuals have requested me whereas I’ve been testing these meters is what the life expectancy and skill to switch the battery inside rechargeable meters. Sadly, most of those meters haven’t been round lengthy sufficient for anybody to do extended-use testing.

What I can say concerning the DOOMO Meter S particularly is that I’ve owned it for over a 12 months and use it a number of days out of every month however solely just lately did I’ve to recharge it – superb for an OLED meter. If battery life is a precedence although, I’m satisfied that the Voigtländer VCII is your greatest wager.

Meter vs Meter

A number of of the at the moment out there accent shoe gentle meters are strikingly much like each other so I wished to do a fast comparability between these.

There are simply three two-dial LED meters in the marketplace proper now and their variations are delicate. The one factor that’s not delicate is the confirmed observe file of the Voigtländer VCII which has been produced for over a decade and has demonstrated infallible reliability for photographers on this time. I’ve seen some very closely abused VCII’s however I can’t bear in mind ever having seen a duplicate that doesn’t work. Mine has been in common use for about ten years with out difficulty. This would possibly make it look like a slam dunk alternative, however not solely do the DOOMO Meter D and TTArtisans Meter & Meter II value lower than half the value of the VCII, they add a number of welcomed adjustments.

Each the DOOMO Meter D and TTArtisans Meter can be found in superior brass building and have a extra squared-off form making them just a little extra cosmetically enticing, and much more sturdy than the unspecified metallic and plastic building Voigtländer VCII on which they’re based mostly.

A really considerate and helpful improve on the DOOMO Meter D and TTArtisans Meter & Meter II is the easy addition of + and – indicators on the meter read-out. While you’re leaping round from completely different meters, the VCII’s primary pointing triangles may be complicated (to me anyway). I way back utilized a small + – label to my VCII however it’s good that the DOOMO and TTArtisans alleviate any guessing out of the field.

The place of the mounting foot on the TTArtisans Meter & Meter II is adjustable however the foot itself is straightforward, with none tensioning mechanism like the unique Voigtländer VCII. Nonetheless, the DOOMO Meter D foot options spring clips that enable it to work very properly with earlier cameras which have easy accent sneakers.

As a result of the ISO dial tends to slide misplaced on the TTArtisans Meter, I maintain a little bit of tape on it to carry it in place. And as talked about the LEDs aren’t as vibrant because the Voigtländer VCII and DOOMO Meter D. The TTArtisans Meter & Meter II additionally fail in that the publicity settings seem like printed on, moderately than engraved into the dials. With put on, these might change into unreadable. The Voigtländer VCII and DOOMO Meter D numbering is engraved into the metallic and ought to be legible even when the paint or floor of the dials are rubbed down.

Meters for 35mm SLRs

Up till now, most of my feedback revolve round 35mm rangefinders. There’s most likely not a whole lot of want to debate how these meters match on 35mm SLRs as a result of let’s face it, all of them look completely ridiculous mounted atop a pentaprism. However from a useful standpoint, any of those meters will match and permit room to work the controls of the digicam when mounted to an SLR. So for 35mm SLRs, you’re just about free to decide on no matter meter you want!

Nikon F and F2 cameras, nonetheless, don’t function their accent shoe atop their prism heads. Somewhat, Nikon made detachable sneakers that match onto the movie rewind crank meeting. Well, DOOMO sells its model of this detachable shoe.

Meters and Mounting for Medium Format

However what about medium format cameras like SLRs, rangefinders, and TLRs?

Rolleiflex-style twin lens reflex cameras find their accent sneakers on the facet. I didn’t discover a single meter that didn’t match the facet mount of my Yashica A. Because the digicam is bigger, the scale and type issue of the meter are of a lot much less concern than it’s on a 35mm rangefinder. Nonetheless, the Yashica’s accent shoe is hooked up to the digicam reverse customary 35mm cameras, which means that the meter have to be slid into the entrance of the shoe with the cease that forestalls it from sliding out situated in the direction of the again of the digicam. That is the place the in any other case good spring-clip toes of the DOOMO and AstrHori meters met an issue. I needed to reverse mount the foot of those meters to be able to set up them on the Yashica. However all the opposite meters slip in effective, although some, just like the Voigtländer VCII, require a little bit of tape or cardboard to carry them in place.

The opposite concern with the side-mounted sneakers of TLRs is that after all the highest of the meter is now oriented at a proper angle from the viewfinder. So I received into the behavior of rotating my digicam on its facet to take a studying and rotating it again for all different operations.

If this sounds foolish, there are answers! DOOMO, Hedeco, KEKS, and Reveni additionally promote numerous equipment that facilitate mounting their gentle meters in uncommon, however helpful, methods. This contains right-angle-mounting sneakers for TLRs and even stick-on sneakers for cameras equivalent to Hasselblad medium format SLRs that function no accent shoe. And even Hasselblad and Rollei/Yashica lens hoods with accent shoe mounts. There are additionally double accent sneakers and even wristbands, rings, and lanyards for carrying your gentle meter. Hedeco and Reveni’s options are 3D printed plastic whereas DOOMO and KEKS’ options are made from metallic. Click on on every manufacture’s identify on this part for a linkback to their creative accent lists.

Private Decide and Conclusion

Many individuals have been asking me what accent gentle shoe meter is my favourite.

I’ve used and cherished the Voigtländer VCII longer than every other however the low gentle functionality of OLED meters tempted me to maneuver on and compile this text. Surprisingly, I discovered that I actually don’t just like the complication of any of the newer OLED designs, intelligent and helpful although they’re. I tremendously want the fast, intuitive two-dial kind meter the place all potential settings may be seen and understood at a look and adjusted effortlessly. The DOOMO Meter D keenly addresses all the minor issues I’ve with the Voigtländer VCII whereas including all brass building as an possibility and a a lot decrease value. It’s change into my most-often used accent gentle meter.

We’ve lined a whole lot of floor because the high of this text the place I discussed that you simply is perhaps overwhelmed with all of the accent shoe gentle meter decisions in the marketplace. I couldn’t talk about each nuance about each product right here however I’ve tried to condense months, and years in some instances, of expertise with every of those meters right into a concise and helpful information.

I hope that you simply’ll be capable to discover the suitable meter, or meters, on your specific purposes with out having to spend on a regular basis that I’ve in coming to those conclusions. Certainly there are some makes use of that I may need missed, however I invite readers to offer extra perception within the feedback part and assist inform everybody who’s desirous about including accent shoe gentle meters to their go-to gear listing.

Many due to representatives from AstrHori, DOOMO, Hedeco, and KEKS for all of your assist!

Concerning the writer: Johnny Martyr is an East Coast movie photographer. The opinions expressed on this article are solely these of the writer. After an adventurous 20-year photographic journey, he now shoots completely on B&W 35mm movie that he painstakingly hand-processes and digitizes. Selecting to work with solely a choose few purchasers every year, Martyr’s uncommonly customized course of ensures unsurpassed high quality in addition to fashionable, pure & timeless imagery that can endure for many years. You will discover extra of his work on his web site, Flickr, Fb, and Instagram.