darcy_cote Posted December 27, 2004 Share Posted December 27, 2004 What one degree spotmeter do you recommend? I am looking for one in the used market. I will be using it for landscapes only. 4x5 and panoramics not that that matters. Do I would assume it doesn't need all the bells and whistles. Kindest regards, Darcy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryan_mcintosh Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 I like the Pentax spot meter. You can find the for cheep on Ebay, and if you do the Zone System, you can have it converted or buy one made for the zone system. There are plenty 1 degree spot meter out there, just check ebay and make sure if you buy it used that you can try it out first to make sure it reads right. www.ryanmcintosh.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thirteenthumbs Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 I have a Sekonic Digi Spot, L488, that I replaced with a Gossen Ultra Spot. The Digi has a true 1 degree and a 30 degree adverage selectable reading. Readout on the side panel and in the view finder in ev or time/f stop. Also reads flash via its PC socket to trip the flash. Works great. The Ultra is a very nice meter with a lot of bells and whistles. Care has to be used when packing it the camera case as its soft side belt pouch allows buttons to be pushed which turns the meter on or runs the battery down. The Digi has a soft sided belt pouch also but has a slide type on/off switch. Both take 9V batteries. I purchased the Digi at Keeble & Shuchat www.kspphoto.com a few years ago for $175, they bring $100-$150 on ebay now. Some say the Sekonic is calibrated for 12% gray but it reads .1ev of the Gossen or my F4 in spot mode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_koo Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 Darcy- I've used the Zone VI-modified digital Pentax for the past five years or so and it has worked perfectly. I haven't done a direct comparison to a standard Pentax meter and so I can't say how much of a difference the mods make, but I can say that the metering area is extremely precise, the actual metering has been bang on, and the zone system dial label is convenient. Regards, Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles_feigenbaum___dallas_ Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 http://www.keh.com/shop/product.cfm?bid=GM&cid=70&sid=newused&crid=9525938 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huw_finney Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 Go for 1/2 degree, SEI photometer with my LED lamp replacement (huws.org.uk, follow SEI links) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_skeoch2 Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 I use the minolta and love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedharris Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 As with most threads like this, give it till he end of the day today and you will have every spot meter on the market recommended. If yu look through past threads here and in the large format forum you will find many on meters and I believe you will find that the overwhelming favorite is the Pentax Digital Spotmeter. It has absolutely no bells whistles and that is why it is so popular. It is small, has a bright viewfinder and easy to read FV info in the viewfinder. You hold the trigger down, sweep the secene and look at the various readings then do some simple mental calculating and shoot. I have used the Pentax V, the Pentax Digial, Minolta, Gossen Ultraspot, Bewi and Sekonic 778 spotmeters. I love the info and functions of the Gossent but it is way too large for me. All of the others work fine but IMO the Pentax digial leads the pack because of its size and simplicity. I have been using my current Pentax digital for over 10 years without problems. I also have and use a Sekonic 778 which has been recently discontinued. I almost like it better than the Pentax because of its bells and whistles. It can be used for flash, it can measure either 1 or 3 degrees, has memory functions and gies you some very useful readouts for Zone calculations. The only reason it is my secondary as opposed to primary meter is size. BTW, the Sekonic and the Pentax are within 1/3 stop of each other so I can use them both with no problem. Go for the Pentax, you will not be disappointed. You can expect to pay between 200-300 for a used Pentax Digital and about the same for most of the others listed above, except for the Bewi which is an odd duck that has not been manufactured for at least a decade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryan_mcintosh Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 I agree with what the last guy said. Give the thread a few days, and people will say every single spot meter on the market and you will be very confused. So far, it seems most people recommend the Pentax meter...so that is what I would highly recommend. You can find one for a good price on Ebay, or buy it new for a few hundred dollars. Www.RyanMcIntosh.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedharris Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 Actually the street price for the Pentax Digital Spot new is around $450 and it has not been terribly available for the past six months. There were rumors of its being discontinued but that does NOT seem to be the case. B&H, however, no longer carry it or at least no longer list it on their website. Badger has them in stock and MidWest has, or had a few nice used ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darcy_cote Posted December 28, 2004 Author Share Posted December 28, 2004 I do have a 10 degree attachment and a Minolta flashmeter iv but correct me if I am wrong, I would be wasting my time with this and should buy a spotmeter. Right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_briggs2 Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 Darcy, try your 10 deg attachment for the photography that you do. If you find that you want to meter areas that are smaller than the 10 degrees, then you will find a 1 deg spotmeter useful. You can test the accuracy of the metering region of your meter by metering a light bulb in a dark room -- the meter readings should fall rapidly as the bulb is moved outside of the region that the meter claims to measure. In the photography I do, metering would be more difficult with a 10 degree meter than with a 1 deg spotmeter. I have used the analog and digital Pentax meters. I recommend the digital because it is smaller and less likely to break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandeha Lynch Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 I'd say you do need a 1 degree, but if you want it for ambient only then that's simpler and cheaper anyway. I have a Minolta Flashmeter F, and it works great. But I don't like it - it looks and feels like a toy pistol, and while not paranoid I'd hate to think some cop might mistake what I'm pointing with ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darcy_cote Posted December 28, 2004 Author Share Posted December 28, 2004 I guess all I can say Sandra is.... don't spotmeter a cop! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darcy_cote Posted December 28, 2004 Author Share Posted December 28, 2004 Sorry I meant Sandeha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob fowler Posted December 28, 2004 Share Posted December 28, 2004 I'm probably going to be a lone voice on this choice, but I'm rather fond of the Gossen Ultra-Pro with the Multibeam 1/5/10? attachment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_beckmann Posted December 29, 2004 Share Posted December 29, 2004 I recommend the Gossen Spot Master. There is also a Spot Master 2, but afaik all it has in addition to the Spot Master is the 6400 ASA film speed setting. This is a reliable and precise meter and it has flash capability also. Perhaps you can "spot" one in the used market for reasonable money... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstream Posted December 29, 2004 Share Posted December 29, 2004 The Pentax is still a good meter. I use and old (20+years) Soligor digital spotmeter (great set up for z system). I believe I saw that it was still being made for Adorama or somebody like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witold_grabiec Posted December 29, 2004 Share Posted December 29, 2004 There is nothing wrong with the Pentax (an excellent meter indeed), yet Minolta F (or M) will set you back a lot less, will give you simplicity along with some sophistication you may find quite useful at times, and is more compact and substantially lighter than the Pentax. The latter being (to me anyways) a key virtue to consider for a long day of landscaping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishop_vc Posted December 30, 2004 Share Posted December 30, 2004 Count me another Minolta Spotmeter F fan. Has some neat features. Regards, Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darcy_cote Posted February 16, 2005 Author Share Posted February 16, 2005 I just have to finish off this thread although it is old. I called my local photo shop and they had a used minolta spotmeter m on consignment. I payed only $80 US for it ($100 Can). It works perfectly;excellent little meter. Wow awesome deal and I didn't have to bid on Epay. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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