Question on Pentax SpotMeter V use.

[malkav]

Hi all,
I've got a dumb question. Is the Pentax SpotMeter V used like other meters, or is it more of a special use meter?

TIA
Ed

[kiev4a]

I think it is as the name implies--a very sensitive meter that can read a very small spot at considerable distance.

[malkav]

Well, what I was wondering was if I could use it with my cameras like a regular light meter, abet a very accurate one?

[malkav]

Thank you for the response.

It's just to much of a hassle trying to figure out how to use the thing so I'll just pull the batteries out, and put it away.

I was jazzed when I found it, but it seems the feeling has now passed.

I thought I could use it with a couple of my older cameras that have iffy(Fujica ST605N), or no meters(Argus C3s), but it seems I was mistaken.

Oh well, at least it didn't cost me anything but a couple of gallons of gas, and a little bit of my time.

[nikonbob]

I don't know if you have the manual for it but here is a link to one www.butkus.org/chinon/pentax/pentax_spotmeter_v/pentax_spotmeter_v.htm . I have a Soligor spot meter and just meter something close to 18% grey in the scene. It is close enough for print film.

Bob

[olroy2044]

Hi Ed--I think you will find the Spotmeter most helpful when you are shooting scenes that have extremes in contrast, such as high backlighting, heavy shadows, etc. In situations where you would normally walk up to the subject and take a very close-up meter reading with the on-board camera meter, or averaging hand meter, you can use the spotmeter to great advantage. That is the advantage of Ron's Mamiyas with the dual metering functions. I found them extremely useful shooting aircraft which tend to have very bright highlights of glare off highly polished metal surfaces that will defeat an averaging meter. With the spot meter, you can meter tightly enough to eliminate the bias caused by those hotspots. Decide which areas of your scene are the most important, and read those. If I remember correctly(which would be a miracle for this tired old brain ;D) the acceptance angle on that rig is somewhere around 1 degree, which also makes it useful for long lens shots. Download the manual from Butkus.org, as Bob suggested, and play with it. I think you will find it very useful. If not, send it to me, and I will make sure it doesn't get bored! LOL LOL LOL ;D ;D Roy