The Leica M3 defined an era—an icon of precision engineering that still inspires photographers seven decades later. The KEKS M-Meter revives that legacy, bringing modern metering to classic M bodies without sacrificing the mechanical purity that made them legendary.
When the Leica M3 first hit the market in 1954, it sent shock waves through the photographic community. Instead of a next-gen Leica screw mount, it represented an entirely new evolutionary line for rangefinders and immediately caught on with professional and news photographers worldwide. And while the Nikon F would soon hit the shelves and bring about another revolution in still photography, the Leica M body remained a strong contender through the arrival of the digital sensor and up to today. Indeed, Nikon and Canon have both given up the ghost on their SLR mounts and bodies; Leica still produces the Leica MP and M-A film bodies—perhaps not in similar numbers, but still enough to remain profitable.
For all of its engineering complexities and marvels, the M3 lacked one important ability: in-camera metering. This issue would not be resolved until the Leica M5, a brutalist body that proved far less popular with photographers of the era. Leica solved this with a series of Leica Meters, clip-on dedicated light meters of varying complexity and sensitivity. These devices, roughly the size of your thumb, would slip onto the cold shoe and connect to the shutter speed dial. It was a surprisingly elegant solution, but not one designed for the long term. As the decades passed, the Leica Meter showed its teeth; the aging device became less and less reliable until eventually they became all but unusable. Functional and reliable examples are exceedingly rare, while nonfunctional meters can be had for only a few dollars.
In recent years, a variety of companies have begun to produce shoe-mounted meters of varying quality and accuracy. KEKS, to the best of my knowledge, is the first to produce a modern version that replicates the shutter-speed–coupled version of the Leica Meter. The KEKS M-Meter represents a niche product for a niche community; unlike other shoe-mounted meters it’s designed to work with a limited number of M-mount bodies and nothing else. And yet, in replicating the function and design of the original Leica Meter while updating it with a digital readout, modernizing the user interface with physical buttons rather than the original dials and wheels, and using a USB-C battery rather than the original button-cell batteries, it represents something absolutely unique.
Over the last few weeks I’ve been testing the meter, seeing how it functions in comparison to my MP, and generally running it through the paces for real-world work. And while there are always better cameras with more modern metering functions, I love having my older M bodies as part of my everyday carry kit.
So where does the KEKS M-Meter stand?
First, let’s talk about the physical aspects such as fit and finish. The exterior is a combination of aluminum (or brass if you buy the black-paint version) and plastic that matches the silver finish of my M3. The meter couples easily with the dial, and seems sturdy enough to weather everyday abuse. The 1.3″ OLED screen sits in a beveled frame, providing a level of protection against scratches or impacts. One issue that early Leica Meters had was that the metal bottom would scratch the camera’s top plate. Some users would protect their cameras with tape, while others just lived with the imperfections. The bottom of the M-Meter is made of plastic and, after several weeks of use, has left no visible mark. It couldn’t hurt to put some tape on the bottom of the meter, but I don’t know that it’s strictly necessary.
As to the interface, it’s an exceedingly simple setup: two buttons for adjusting the ISO, while a third button on the rear accomplishes the actual measurements. You can make micro adjustments via the menu function, allowing for full, half, or one-third aperture-stop measurements. When you press the measurement button, it will give you an f-stop based on your shutter speed.
The 240 mAh battery is capable of full charging in an hour and, as mentioned, charges via USB-C and is said to hold a ten-hour (constant use) life. At least one Reddit thread has talked about the battery losing steam when left untouched for extended periods of time—this is a complaint I’ve had trouble replicating. Right now I’m on day four following a full charge and I’m still at around ⅔ power. Barring any issues, the battery is supposed to last two to three weeks untouched before needing to be recharged. To their credit, KEKS has stated that they’re working on a new PCB to solve this issue, and have been active on social media directly answering questions or complaints. The meter itself comes with a 24-month warranty.
So what’s it like using this out in the field? The process isn’t unlike the original Leica Meter: point in the direction of your subject, press the rear measurement button, and adjust either your shutter speed or aperture based on your readings. It’s not as fast as shooting with, say, a Nikon F6—but if you wanted to be shooting on an F6, you’d be shooting on an F6. That’s not to suggest it’s slow, either—just a bit more manual than some shooters might be used to. The M-Meter measures from ISO 6 through 3200; if you plan on shooting with a faster film speed you may have to do some calculations in your head. Really though, it’s a simple, intuitive process—far easier than the original Leica Meter. Double-clicking the measurement button allows for continuous reading. I imagine that’s slightly harder on the batteries, but it makes things easier when shooting in changing lighting conditions.
I carried this through several projects across three states. It was the first time in quite a while using the M3 since picking up the MP. While the MP is an easier camera to shoot with (readings are internal to the viewfinder), it’s only so by degrees. The M-Meter functioned smoothly and took very little effort to integrate into my workflow. The battery easily lasted through several shoots before needing to be recharged, and I never spent more than a half second getting a reading. During protests, renaissance fairs, and just walking around Washington, D.C., I found it an easy-to-use bit of kit that enhanced the shooting experience rather than detracted from it. Prior to this, whenever shooting the M3 I would rely on a handheld meter, a metering app, or another camera to get my readings—or god help me, sometimes I just winged it. The M-Meter allowed me to reliably get my exposure right with a minimum of fuss.
So, let’s get to the last and most important question: why? Why does this thing matter to you?
The KEKS M-Meter scratches an itch I didn’t know needed scratching. It gives every M body up to the M4-P a level of reliable functionality that was sorely needed. Put more succinctly: it’s another tool in your box to go out there and get your shots. Are there other options? Sure, absolutely: TTArtisan, Voigtländer, and a bunch of others all make shoe-mounted meters that do similar work—but KEKS is the only one to really recreate something designed specifically for your Leica. Think about that for a moment: there’s a company out there making a useful accessory for a camera that hasn’t been made in almost six decades. That’s a niche product if I’ve ever heard one, but man, if it isn’t a nice option.
What I Liked
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Easy to install, easy to program, easy to use
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Relatively affordable at $120–$140
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Designed specifically to fit Leica M1, M2, M3, M4, M4-2, M4-P, M-A, M-D, M-D2 bodies
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Available in three color options: chrome, black, and black chrome
What I Didn’t Like
- Reports of battery issues
Specs
- Color: Chrome / Black Chrome / Black Paint
- Materials: Aluminum / Brass (Black Paint)
- Battery: 240 mAh / 10 hours battery life / Full charge in 1 hour
- Charging port: USB-C
- Display: 1.3-inch OLED display
- Metering: 30 average metering (approximately 50 mm lens view)
- Metering mode: Single / Continuous
- Exposure mode: Shutter priority
- Exposure compensation range: –3 to +3 (1/3)
- Aperture steps: full, half, one-third
- Aperture value: f/1.0–f/128
- ISO steps: full, half, one-third
- ISO value: 6–3200
- EV range: 1–20