For Sale FS: Minolta Auto-Spot One Degree Spot Meter

[vdonovan]

This classic spot meter is a little dusty and dinged up, but it works fine and the readings agree with my recently calibrated Weston Master V. The exposure dial is motorized so you hear a very cool whirring noise when you take your readings.

The Minolta Auto-Spot requires one 9v and one AAA battery. It includes a leather case.

$115, includes shipping in the US and Paypal fee. Paypal only.

 

[kauffman v36]

any more info you can give on it? im in the market for a spot meter but i need it to let me input what i want and it output the rest. like is there a way for me to input something besides the ASA/ISO on it. for example, i want a given aperture and need it to tell me shutter speed, how would i input the Av i want.

 

[photobizzz]

Kauffman v36, to get that type you will need to buy a digital spot meter like what I have, a Minolta Spotmeter F, there are many models by different makers that will do what you want, expect to pay around $200 or so for one. I got lucky and picked mine up for $200 on eBay, but the Minolta Spotmeter F usually goes for more like $230-$275 from what I have seen...

 

[vdonovan]

Hi kaufmann, the Minolta Auto-Spot 1 is a classic, the first one-degree spot meter. It was introduced by Minolta in 1968, though I'm not sure what year mine was made. As such, it does not have the features of modern digital spot meters (as photobizzz points out above).

This meter displays a dial inside the finder that shows many aperture/shutter speed combinations for the object you are metering. Basically, you sight the object, focus on it, and then push the button. The dial then moves to the correct range of aperture/shutter speed combinations you can use for the given ASA. Then you pick your exposure.

For example, I just metered the wall of a house across the street. Looking at the dial in the Auto-Spot, I see that if I use f/32 (for depth of field), my shutter speed would be 1/15th. If I want to use f/5.6, the display in the Auto-Spot shows that my shutter speed would be 1/500th. [good zone-master that I am, my actual exposure would be to open up a stop more, since I would want the wall to fall into zone VI]

More about the Auto-Spot 1 here (scroll down to the bottom of the web page):
http://www.digicamhistory.com/1960s.html

 

[Adrian Twiss]

I have one of these meters and it has suddenly died. It is the non digital version. I can see where the 9 volt battery goes but cant find where the AAA battery goes. Before I consign it to bin I would like to change both batteries. Could you advise please?

PS Actually I have a Minolta Auto Spot II. Does this model have two batteries.? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[SalineLogic]

Where are they?

Hi kaufmann, the Minolta Auto-Spot 1 is a classic, the first one-degree spot meter. It was introduced by Minolta in 1968, though I'm not sure what year mine was made. As such, it does not have the features of modern digital spot meters (as photobizzz points out above).

This meter displays a dial inside the finder that shows many aperture/shutter speed combinations for the object you are metering. Basically, you sight the object, focus on it, and then push the button. The dial then moves to the correct range of aperture/shutter speed combinations you can use for the given ASA. Then you pick your exposure.

For example, I just metered the wall of a house across the street. Looking at the dial in the Auto-Spot, I see that if I use f/32 (for depth of field), my shutter speed would be 1/15th. If I want to use f/5.6, the display in the Auto-Spot shows that my shutter speed would be 1/500th. [good zone-master that I am, my actual exposure would be to open up a stop more, since I would want the wall to fall into zone VI]

More about the Auto-Spot 1 here (scroll down to the bottom of the web page):
http://www.digicamhistory.com/1960s.html

Hi there vdonovan,

I have a Minolta Auto Spot that I haven’t used in years…, and I forgot where the battery locations are! Could you help me?

SalineLogic