pentax spot meter (analogue)

[thomas_wong]

I just acquired the spot meter. I think it's the model V. There are two

readout scales in the finder; the L (for low light?, ranging from 1 to 10),

and the H (from 10 to 19). When I meter say areas under the sun, the needle

just swings to the end of the L scale. I checked the manual on the web, and

the model has one single readout scale in the finder. Am I missing

something? How could I make the needle work on the H scale?

 

Thomas Wong

[leicaglow]

Thomas, I don't think you have a Spotmeter V, I think yours is probably a III. At any rate, this many shows you how to use a High/Low model: http://www.butkus.org/chinon/pentax/spotmeter_iii/spotmeter_iii.htm

[thomas_wong]

Thanks Michael. I think mine is defective. With the lens cap off, the needle does not deflect on the High range scale (when pointing the spotmeter to a light source, for instance). If I press the L button, then the needles swings to the extreme end of the Low range scale. When pointing to dark areas, and pressing the L button, the meter does work, and the reading seems accurate. What do you think I could do?

Thomas

[thomas_wong]

How silly of me! Upon reading the manual (thanks Michael for the link), I realize that the high range and the low range have separate batteries. And when I unscrewed the cap for the 1.3V battery compartment for the high range, there was no battery inside! Now please advise on the best alternative to the mercury battery.

 

Thomas

[ronald_moravec1]

Now you know why it was for sale. Richard Ritter at Lg4mat.net can work on these.

 

He may calibrate it for 1.5volt silver oxide. I don`t know

[ed_yuen]

Hello:

 

Try this site for more info:

 

http://www.aohc.it/batte.htm

 

They provide a possible replacement for those mercury batteries and supplier. Have a look at the site and see if you want to give it a try.

 

Best of luck.

 

Ed