Minolta spotmeter f

**sczin** · 2-Oct-2007, 18:41

Minolta Spotmeter F users,

I thought my Minolta Spotmeter F takes its reading from the circle in you see looking through the viewfinder. Today I noticed that it reads light outside that circle. It appears to be picking up light that is about three time the diameter of that circle. Is this how it's supposed to operate?

Thanks,
Steve

**Kirk Keyes** · 3-Oct-2007, 11:19

I checked mine last night and going from white paper in light to black plastic in shadow, it sharply transitions from EV 12 to 5 as the circle moves across the boundry between the two materials.

What target are you using to test against? If you are using a bright light against a dark background, you may get behaviour like you report...

**sczin** · 3-Oct-2007, 12:07

Kirk,

Thanks for taking the time to check this!

> What target are you using to test against?
I was in the shade comparing my cap to an 18% gray card. The value began to change when the circle approached edge and not when it crossed over. I would have expected the change to occur when circle crossed over the edge of the card. I repeated this using the card against a bright sky to see the same thing happen. If the circle is 1%, do I now own a 3% spotmeter?

Steve

**Glenn Thoreson** · 3-Oct-2007, 20:21

Mine changes at the edge of the circle. I was curious about the transition point, and tested this years ago. Yours may need to be repaired. I don't think, however, that there would be any serious adverse effects the way it is. Have you noticed a problem with your photos?

**Shen45** · 3-Oct-2007, 23:22

Originally Posted by sczin

Minolta Spotmeter F users,

I thought my Minolta Spotmeter F takes its reading from the circle in you see looking through the viewfinder. Today I noticed that it reads light outside that circle. It appears to be picking up light that is about three time the diameter of that circle. Is this how it's supposed to operate?

Thanks,
Steve

Have you been getting reliable repeatable exposure results?