Leicameter
The Leicameter is a clip-on exposure meter that is specially tailored to the range finder cameras of the Leica M series. It was developed in cooperation with Leica (today: Leica Camera AG ) and sold by Metrawatt AG Nuremberg from 1950 to the end of the 1980s .
Models
As early as the 1930s Metrawatt had produced attachable light meters, such as: B. 1939 the model LC 60 , which was not called Leicameter.
Leicameter 1–3 (1950–1954)
In 1950 the first Leicameter was offered, a clip-on exposure meter equipped with a selenium cell , which could be supplemented with an amplifier element if necessary (i.e. poor lighting conditions). Models 2 and 3 appeared in quick succession, which essentially differed only in their differently designed scales.
Leicameter M / MC (1954–1956)
With the introduction of the Leica M3 in 1954, a new Leicameter appeared, the Leicameter M. The exposure meter was coupled to the camera's time dial so that the aperture to be set on the lens could be read directly. This light meter also worked with a selenium cell and could be upgraded with an amplifier element if necessary. This first model had a cover plate over the measuring cell, which also functioned as an on / off switch.
In 1956 the successor model MC appeared, in which the cover flap was omitted. Otherwise the MC was identical to the Leicameter M.
Leicameter MR / MR-4 (1963–1987)
In 1963 the Leicameter MR appeared, which no longer worked with a selenium cell but with a CdS cell, which was new at the time, but which was dependent on a battery. The much greater sensitivity of the CdS cell made the use of an amplifier element superfluous, and it was also possible to measure a precisely defined image section, which was selected in both models in such a way that it roughly corresponded to that of a 90 mm lens. In addition, both models were equipped with a button that allowed the measurement result to be locked, which made it considerably easier to read the measurement values. The only difference between the two models is the design of this button, which has been changed on the Leicameter MR-4 compared to the Leicameter MR so that the button does not collide with the new rewind lever of the Leica M4.