Fully manual spot meters

[Adam Kavalunas]

I'm fairly new at LF photography, and I'm getting ready to purchase a spot meter. Coming from
the 35mm world, I want to get a spot meter that i can operate in full manual mode. That is, I want to be able to set my aperature and set my shutter speed(and ISO of course), then depress the meter button and get a reading on an analog type scale -2 -1 0 +1 +2 (such as the ones on 35mm screen), with an indication of exposure. That way i can keep my aperature/shutter speed combination, and meter around my entire scene, seeing where each area falls on the tonal scale. That being said, which spot meters offer such a metering mode that resembles this type of "35mm manual" mode. Thanks all.

Adam

[Christopher Keth]

I don't know of any meters that do that. All of the meters that I have used do one of two things: require you to set a shutter speed and it will read out iris stops or vice versa, read out in EVs.

I doubt you'll find one that works like you want.

[Frank Petronio]

Yeah, just carry your favorite DSLR with you and use that as your meter.

The Leicaflex SL has a dandy spot meter actually!

Most people here, myself included, will point you towards really manual meters, like the Pentax Digital Spot or the Metered Light mini-spot meter, both of which are excellent and much-loved by LF photographers.

[Oren Grad]

Adam, the available models display their readings in a variety of ways, and you may find one that you prefer. I don't think you'll find a separate meter that mimics the null-centered analog bar scale you'll find in most current SLRs. But if you know enough about metering to understand how to use that bar scale, you shouldn't have any trouble learning how to use any of the separate meters to do the sort of measurement you want.

[Ed K.]

Adam,

Indeed, many people will suggest the venerable classics such as the Pentax. I've gone digi-wonder with the Sekonic 558R, and since have not looked back, so here are a few thoughts from personal experience with it. Your mileage and preferences may vary, however I'll be devil's advocate for the magic bullet wiz bang device.

The Sekonic 558R has spot and incident in one digital meter. It has a digital simulation of an analog scale, complete with stops and bars. It allows memorization of 9 readings, which show up as tick marks on the "analog" scale, so that you can neatly see the range of measurements. It also allows you to take a standard reading and then display the delta ( change ) between the standard and each new reading. Added to that is an averaging function as well if you need it. If you somehow like the 558R, adding a lens hood to it really helps accuracy because it keeps stray light from entering spot readings. The 558 shows readings in the viewfinder while taking spot readings too, which makes it handy for looking around a scene and measuring brightness differences. Other meters can at least remember some readings, I think the discontinued Minolta Spotmeter F can remember 3 readings and keep those marked on its scale.

The general accuracy and utility of the more modern meters can be pretty nice. In the case of the 558, it can even do more nifty things such as accumulate multi-pop flash exposures, track two different ISO readings, and have presets for compensation. So indeed, the digital 558R. The 558R is less expensive than the Cine model, and it fits in about the same space as other spot meters, perhaps slightly less pistol-like.

I love not having to carry two meters around, and I also enjoy having the same calibration on my incident meter as my spot meter.

While the 558R will show delta EV ( as you described, no? ) , it also ends up computing that as f stops for you by marking them on the scale. It's very easy to switch modes from Tv to Av while keeping the same reading too, so it is handy to not need to do f stop math. The Sekonic has a baffling array of features, however it has a good PDF booklet and basic operation does not require a manual to figure out. It becomes intuitive fast enough. The battery lasts a long time, although it is not an easy one to find in the field.

Classic meter users, forgive me. A good used Pentax is not that easy to find!

[Mark Woods]

Minolta Spotmeter F. It's fabulous. Get the f/stop you want. Hit the "A" (average") button. Then read anything you want and it will display it in + or - stops to the .10 of a stop. Love it. Used it for about 15 years. I have 2 of them in case one pukes (happend once and they both puked together). All the disclaimers, I don't even own stock in Minolta or own one of their digital cameras either.

Enjoy,
MW

[darr]

I second the 558R . I use the meter for calibrating multiple pops while shooting macros in the studio and I find it to be very precise. When I shoot out in the Everglades and find the need to bracket, I do so via aperture set and shutter speed change and this meter lets me do that so easily. I cannot say anything bad about the meter except it was expensive ($550-$600) at the time of purchase. I think the price may have came down by now. Also, there is a model that does not have the "R" which designates the Pocket Wizard transformer/receiver chip is NOT installed which I would recommend looking into if you are not intending on using the feature. You can always upgrade the meter for it later. This meter does it all and better than my Pentax Digital Spot which is now my backup for ambient shooting.

[Alan Davenport]

If you really want/need/justgottahave a 1 degree spot, ignore this. Otherwise, a Gossen Luna-Pro F with the 7.5 degree attachment will do perfectly.

I do exactly what you describe; I take a reading and set that exposure on the meter, then I hold the metering button down and scan the scene. The needle's scale is calibrated +/- 3 stops, and I can check the highlights and shadows and see where they fall relative to the exposure I've set.

[Matthew Cordery]

Pocket Spotmeter by Meteredlight

[Dan Jolicoeur]

I am with Alan on the Gossen Luna-Pro F with the 7.5 degree attachment. It is inexpensive, you will get excatley what you are asking for. I would be lost without mine. It helps to have a manual until you get use to using it. I think you can find them for around $100 +/-.

[steve simmons]

If you are new to large format may I suggest sopme reading

User's Guide to the View Camera by Jim Stone

Large Format Nature Photography by Jack Dykinga

Using the View Camera that i wrote

any all may be avail from your library or Amazon.com

Also, there are several articles in the Free Articles section of the View Camera magazine web site

www.viewcamera.com

steve simmons

[Leonard Evens]

You can of course go about it any way you find helpful. But I think you should first learn more about how large format photography is done, mainly by doing some, but also by reading. Steve simmons's recommendations are good sources.

I think you may find that your ideas about how to use a meter will change. Many large format photographers use the Zone System or some variation of it, which is why spotmeters are so commonly used. I also have a DSLR, and I use its auto exposure systems together with the histogram display. But I still find it easier to get the proper exposure with my spotmeter and my large format equipment, using the Zone system.

[robc]

I'll second the minolta spotmeter F. It will give you everything you ask for. The problem is that they stopped making it and they are as rare as rocking horse pooh on the second hand market.

[Emrehan Zeybekoglu]

Adam,

If you don't mind the bulkiness, Gossen Luna Pro can be used with the Multibeam attachment, which provides 1, 5 and 10 degree measurements. It works very well, and every once in a while you can find a clean one on a well-known auction site for a a modest sum.

Good luck..