Print it! It's a great shot, Vaughn.
I learned photography using a Luna Pro, but find the Pentax Digital Spot to be spot-on. I also learned metering deep in the redwoods forests under various thickness of fog/cloud cover...I found no 'usual' reading. Shadows where I wanted detail might vary two or three stops just 50 yards up the trail. I am always amazed out in Death Valley where the light values/exposures would not change all day.
I am interested in, and use, the scene's brightness range as the guide to film development. Giving the film around twice the 'normal' development, modified based on the highlight readings . This is as close to the Zone System as I get. My negs are used in alt processes (pt/pd and carbon printing) and I have been doing it long enough to create negatives that best suit the way I print in these processes.
Below is an iPhone shot from where I had the 11x14 set up last Tuesday in Yosemite. The spot meter came in real handy. Taking readings off the trunk would have been difficult otherwise. (Trunk: darkest 7 to 8, in sun 11, rocks in sun 13 as was white water. -- holders exposed at 9). It took all the afternoon to scout, then haul the 11x14 up to this rock. Sure wish I had remembered to load film into the holders, though. I'll try again next year.
well, tbf landscape photography was also successfully accomplished prior to the advent of film: why are we using kodak's or ilford's products?
(and landscape depiction was successfully accomplished before photography. a set of pencils should be more than enough, let's close this website)
Print it! It's a great shot, Vaughn.
Not really an analogy is it? ZS is not needed to make well exposed photographs, on any medium.
Fact is, OP asked about spotmeters, photrio quickly decided he was adamant in using only zone system for each and every picture he'll be taking for the rest of his life and thus he needed to be saved from this.
Please see post #18 where OP specifically indicates he wants to explore the Zone System and the search for a spot meter seems to fit in that ambition. There's no need to save anyone from anything on this forum. If you feel any saving is necessary, please use the 'report' function and we'll look into the matter. This is evidently not a case where we'd have to intervene. At least not yet. We may have to if people put things on edge deliberately. So let's not, shall we? Thanks.
pointing out that landscape photography existed before zs and spot meters is silly, i was just pointing that out.
And i don't think i wrote somewhere zs is needed to expose correctly anything, have i?
Or that a spotmeter is absolutely needed.
Fact is, OP asked about spotmeters, photrio quickly decided he was adamant in using only zone system for each and every picture he'll be taking for the rest of his life and thus he needed to be saved from this.
I think you misunderstood my post, but no need to poke at it
why use tmax if aa was successfully using glass plates in his youth?
not sure if ILford still coats glass plates when taking LF and odd and ends formats orders.
Also suggest the Minolta mentioned above and there happens to be one for sale on this forum.
I like the Minolta as well, and prefer it over the Pentax. It has much richer functionality and i find it easier to use
I can understand that, especially if they're planning on adhering a zone dial with itThe only thing people like the Pentax because it has the dial.
I can understand that, especially if they're planning on adhering a zone dial with it
"I know both options are not the best for large format”: OK, WHY, exactly, do you not think either of those two meters are not satisfactory?I'm on the newer side of large format, I shoot a Horseman 45HF and I mainly meter with my Sekonic Studio-Deluxe (sometimes my phone when I forget my meter!). I know both options are not the best for large format but I have produced some results that I've been happy with, at least as the first attempts trying out 4x5. What are some good spotmeter options that are reliable?
I know of the classics like the Pentax V but the ones I've found are either out of my budget or the lenses have haze/fungus, so what else are people using and what are some options that I might not be aware of? Also where's some places that aren't ebay to look for spotmeters (unfortunately I live in a camera store desert, so no real local options to check).
Also what are some tips people have for spotmetering a scene? I've owned my 4x5 for about a year now so I'm still learning and I'm happy to hear any tips!
Thanks for the input and sorry for the common question.
That's why I am thinking that any spot meter can give the LV value. What if someone just make the dial and and make it in the way with the built in zone scale on it?
Well, Gossen did that on at least one of the Luna Pro models that had a spot attachment. But don’t all meters with a dial give “Zone V”… the LV index mark. Beyond that is rather basic addition and subtraction.
I highly recommend the Minolta Spot F. I've had mine since '92. Many for sale at eBay.
I have 3 hand held meters: Gossen LunaSix 3, Pentax spot and Minolta Autometer IIIF. Oddly, since it is the newest and has a digital readout, the Minolta reads about a stop higher than the other 2, or the in-camera meters in my Nikons. No idea why, and I don't know if it is calabratable.They're all pretty reliable unless you drop them, or runover them with your car.
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