The Pentax Spotmeter V Zone modified is modified for b&w photography and commands more money than an unmodified Spotmeter V. If you shoot color you just need the unmodified version. I know that you could still buy batteries for the Pentax Spotmeter lV a year ago. I put batteries in one to check it out before I sold it on Ebay. I also know that you can't buy batteries for the ancient original Pentax Spotmeter.
If you are looking for a quality spot meter on a budget the Pentax Spotmeter V is the way to go. You can pick up a Spotmeter lV a little cheaper but I would seriously worry about future battery availability. Once in a great while you can find a Soligor spot meter on Ebay for a little bit cheaper than the Pentax. I have heard that they were quality meters but in the day the Pentax Spotmeter V was rated the best spot meter that you could buy!
If you don't fore see needing to take flash readings, the minolta spotmeter m, I believe would be a good way to go. I have this one and it's been great. It takes almost no time to figure it out (if you've got what it takes, mentally, to shoot LF it's no problem). It's cheaper than the "f" and I got mine as a BGN grade at KEH.com for just over $100.
Ok so I only shoot B+W right now. If I can't find a zone modified Pentax V, is the unmodified useable? What did they do that made it better for B+W?
I have been using the pocket light meter app and for the majority of the time it is fine, certainly better than guessing and with B&W will give you a usable neg
The Zone Vl modifications include replacing the light sensor, adding a filter pack to adjust the spectral sensitivity of the meter to match that of film, and adding baffling to reduce the sensitivity of the meter to flare. (I got this off the internet)
From what I have read the difference in the way the two meters read is only about 1/3 to 1/2 a stop. There is a lot of argument of whether the extra cost of the modifications are worth it.
during my first two years doing LF I metered with my 35mm Canon Rebel XS and had pretty good results using the zoom to meter smaller areas (probably getting about 10 degrees in the center at 80mm).
Last year I bought a used Sekonic 408 meter (5 degree spot, incident + flash) and I've been very happy with it, I paid about $120 for it. I use it with my LF and for flash.
Héctor Navarro Agraz
Are the Gossen Spot Meter II and the Sekonic L-758 the only spot meters that are still manufactured and available new? I use an L-508 that is still in fine condition. But I'm thinking about getting another meter with the ability to measure down to 1 EV. I'm just wondering if my choices in new spot meters are now limited to these two. I haven't been able to find any others outside of the used market.
I may end up going with a used Pentax Digital Spot Meter if my choices in new meters are limited to the two above.
Well, there's the Gossen Starlite 2, but it only goes down to EV2 in 1-degree spot mode (EV1 in 5-degree mode). Ain't cheap...$640 or so. You can put a pricey 1-degree spot attachment on an L-358.
A used spot meter is a much better deal, in my opinion.
And to answer another question, an unmodified Pentax Spot V will work fine with black and white. Mine is unmodified and I've used it for many years. Color sensitivity is an issue for those who are chasing minute variations and have the densitometers and so on to measure them. Even so, more people have used them as they came from Pentax than have used those modified by Zone VI, and their reputation as the standard of the industry emerged before the modifications were being made.
Rick "who bought all his meters used except for a Sekonic L-718, which does not have a 1-degree attachment" Denney
Maybe they're not. You can regularly find them on ebay in good condition for under $375 or so. Just be patient, and hang out for the best deals. You don't need the Zone VI mod; just get the standard.Originally Posted by sully75
Michael E. Gordon
http://www.michael-gordon.com
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