Is Zone VI modification necessary for 35mm.

baachitraka · Jan 12, 2012

I may acquire a Pentax spot sooner or later and wondering whether the Zone VI modification is necessary for 35mm.

L Gebhardt · Jan 12, 2012

I have no issues with the unmodified meter for 4x5, 35mm or any format in between. I wouldn't spend the money to get a meter Zone VI modified.

BrianShaw · Jan 12, 2012

ditto

BradS · Jan 12, 2012

I wouldn't spend the money on a spot meter...especially not for a 35mm camera. Doesn't the camera have a built in meter?

baachitraka · Jan 12, 2012

Yeah, a CW one. I just wonder how easy to use CW meter during low light.

My primary interest are, photographing city scapes(esp., monuments) during night when lit only by artifical light. I have some plans to travel to India this year and may be shooting some temples and monuments....

BradS · Jan 12, 2012

baachitraka said:
Yeah, a CW one. I just wonder how easy to use CW meter during low light.

I am uncertain what is meant by "CW" in this context......center weighted?

It seems to me that a center weighted meter, if used properly would be a very good compromise in night photography.

baachitraka · Jan 12, 2012

Sorry for not writing clearly. Yeah, CW=Center-Weight.

Another problem with OM meter is, it is almost impossible to see the meter needle during night. I do not know how others are managing it.

John Koehrer · Jan 12, 2012

You need to realize also that a dark area with a bright light(s) in it will give you an erroneous reading, underexposing dark areas.

Bill Burk · Jan 12, 2012

I believe my use of center-weighted metering caused me to produce some lesser quality images over the years and delayed my understanding of exposure.

I would say a spotmeter is useful even with 35mm. If you are familiar with Zone System vocabulary, then it helps to have Zone System markings on your meter. It is easy to find the sticker design to print out yourself.

I don't think the meter has to be real Zone VI modified, but I believe it would be interesting to have one and use it with Tri-X.

The value of Zone VI modification has been disputed based on a few points::my opinion on those points...

-Testing done using Macbeth Color Chart:: Doesn't effectively demonsrate summer foliage
-Newer sensors::Quite possibly less infrared sensitivity
-Better design with newer meters::Quite possible
-Film less sensitive to infrared::Quite possible, TMY-2 tolerates development by infrared inspection.
-Ultraviolet not corrected with Zone VI modification::So use a UV filter

chriscrawfordphoto · Jan 12, 2012

I agree with Bill. I use a spotmeter for EVERYTHING, except color transparency and digital (I use an incident meter for those). Centerweight meters are less than worthless, they are basically the same as guessing, especially for lowlight work where you don't have the kind of 'average' scenes that centerweight meters are designed for.

There's a webpage by Paul Butzi who tested the modified vs unmodified pentax meters and found the unmodified one had less flare, while there was virtually no spectral response difference between them. Save your money and get the unmodified one. You're gonna get shafted anyway because people on ebay have driven up the price of all the pentax meters. I'd get a Minolta Flash meter VI or Spotmeter F; they're better meters and cheaper used. I LOVE my Flashmeter VI. Has incident and spot together. Sekonic makes several such meters too that are less costly than the Pentax, and really are better meters.

Malibucompany · Jan 12, 2012

I have a Pentax Digital that I had Zone Vi modified. Well worth it. Dont have to use filter factors anymore. I meter through the filter works fine. WHere could you have a meter modified that way now? Thought that was long gone

baachitraka · Jan 13, 2012

@Malibucompany: I saw someone is offering in e-bay for EUR 250. I do not know whether this price is okay or not.

RalphLambrecht · Jan 13, 2012

baachitraka said:
I may acquire a Pentax spot sooner or later and wondering whether the Zone VI modification is necessary for 35mm.

no1.

baachitraka · Jan 13, 2012

@RalphLambrecht: I do not understand what you meant by no1.

RalphLambrecht · Jan 13, 2012

BradS said:
I wouldn't spend the money on a spot meter...especially not for a 35mm camera. Doesn't the camera have a built in meter?

food for thought:

RalphLambrecht · Jan 13, 2012

baachitraka said:
@RalphLambrecht: I do not understand what you meant by no1.

noneedfor the z one vi modifivations

Roger Cole · Jan 13, 2012

If I have time to use a tripod, whether with my 35mm, medium format or 4x5, I almost always use my spotmeter or, in the case of the Yashica MF, the 7.5 degree attachment to my Luna Pro and that only because I HAVE it in the case with the Yashicamat and don't have my spotmeter.

Opinions differ on the Zone VI mod. I don't have one and haven't used one. It may be worthwhile, I have no position on that yet, but it certainly is not necessary.

jeffreyg · Jan 13, 2012

I have two zone VI modified Pentax spot meters that I purchased that way a number of years ago. Whither or not you want the modification Ralph's zone diagram printed and attached to the meter is a terrific time saver and makes metering easier. My meters came with a similar piece attached.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

Is Zone VI modification necessary for 35mm.

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