I have used both varieties of Pentax spot meters. I like the simplicity of the Digital Spot and suggest it.
I have used both varieties of Pentax spot meters. I like the simplicity of the Digital Spot and suggest it.
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Pentax or Minolta Spotmeter F are both fine - provided the meter has been cared for as these things are old. That’s the wild card. Otherwise a current 1 degree like a Sekonic.
The Pentax is quite common in Zone System circles (AA had one and that’s likely what started the tradition).
My meter is a Minolta Spotmeter F. I bought it new in the early-mid 90s and it has always served me well. Dead easy to use.
There’s fairly comprehensive test data for both the Pentax (ZVI modified/unmodified) and the Minolta, as well as background on standards in Richard Henry’s book for those interested, but the bottom line is they’re both good enough. Not worth quibbling over.
For something new, and equivalent in price to some of the decades-old used stuff, have a look at the Reveni Labs spot meter.
https://www.reveni-labs.com/spotmeter
I have one and enjoy using it, but... 1) it eats the little button cell batteries for lunch making the AAA battery accessory mandatory, IMO, and 2) it's not really a spot meter in the true sense of the word, rather I think of it as a center-weighted spot. Definitely not even close to 1 degree.
And it’s not particularly useful for those of us who lack binocular vision when using such devices.
Rick “sticking with his best Spot V for as long as it works” Denney
AA's original spotmeter was apparently an SEI. It was eventually auctioned off for the astronomical collectible sum of thirty dollars. Pentax spot meters pretty much dominated a variety of related trades, with the Zone System crowd being just a modest part of it. Movie and television studios valued them. I didn't find the Minolta Spotmeter F push-button operation as convenient; but it's otherwise a fine instrument which reads identically to the Pentax.
You can use many digital cameras as a spot meter as well. It will also display the histogram and blinkies where you're clipping.
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