Pentax Digital Spotmeter reason for cost?

mark · Jan 26, 2019

I've been trying to figure this out for a long time. I like my Sekonic L-718 a lot, have the 5 degree attachment, and no real reason to change, but being afflicted with GAS I find myself looking to stray from the monogamous relationship I have with my meter.

In walks the older yet still sexy Pentax Digital Spot Meter. Simple in form and does one thing but does it well, apparently. Which makes me wonder why something that is. lets face it, built on old technology is so expensive? I'm not complaining, just really curious.

This thing only displays EV and has dials, the user manipulates, to find proper exposure.

chriscrawfordphoto · Jan 26, 2019

Ansel Adams used one, so every large format landscape photographer thinks he needs one. They're not rare by any means, but the prices are kept artificially high by dealers because people are dumb enough to pay the prices they demand.

ic-racer · Jan 26, 2019

New Sekonic spot is $600. Pentax Digital Spot can be had at KEH for about 1/2 that with a warranty. The older Pentax meters can be had for much less than that.
Personally I don't own 'pistol shaped' objects. Too many trigger-happy gun people out there these days.

Sirius Glass · Jan 26, 2019

For years I used the Gossen Luna Six with the tele attachment for a 2.5 degrees spot meter to utilize the Zone System metering. I found after a week long class in Yosemite that I needed a 1 degree spot. In the class I used the Pentax Digital Spot Meter with the Zone Sticker and the results sold me. It uses the EVs for the Zone System, as I learned I could not use the EV reading directly on the Hasselblad, instead I had to take the exposure, set that on the Hasselblad and use the Hasselblad's EV to then adjust for the black & white contrast filters. Why? I was using the spot meter with ISO 400 film and the Hasselblad EV is designed to assume ISO 100, therefore I could not take the meter's EV directly. Instead I took the meter's resultant exposure [f/stop and shutter speed] and set that on the lens ==> the lens' EV could then be used.

I bought a used Pentax Digital Spot Meter and had it calibrated. The results that I have since gotten with the calibrated spot meter are will worth the cost. See even old farts can learn new tricks.

The cost is just supply and demand

Eric Rose · Jan 26, 2019

Bruce Barnbaum uses a Gossen Luna with the spot attachment and he doesn't seem to suffer from poor exposures. It's just what you get use to for the most part imho. I had one of the Pentax 1 degree meters and while it does what it's suppose to I found it to big and clunky (non digital version). Since I needed a good flash meter in addition to incident and spot that's why I bought the Sekonic 558. I can get EV readouts on it if I require it. These days most of my metering is incident. If things are a bit dicey I double check with the spot meter and then apply the HVFF (high velocity fudge factor) or in engineering terms HPFM (hocus pocus f'n magic). Sometimes a wet finger in the wind helps too.

Why is the Pentax 1 degree so desired? Cache, thats all. It's the same reason you see so many LF photographers sporting beards. AA did it, so they need to do it as well. There are other meters that do exactly the same thing as a Pentax 1 degree. I wouldn't spend extra for one.

GRHazelton · Jan 26, 2019

I have the original Pentax Spotmeter. Note that if the tiny "grain of wheat" lamp which illuminates the internal meter scale fails it can be extremely difficult to read a shadow area, and replacing it may be very difficult.

ic-racer · Jan 26, 2019

I also have a Sekonic L558, and with some simple math, it becomes a Zone meter. Simply subtract the Compensation Number in the viewfinder from 5 and it shows the zone. For example, when the indicator is 2.5 (like the picture) it is showing correct exposure for a Zone 2.5 patch.

Bill Burk · Jan 26, 2019

All the brand name camera gear with deserved reputation for being “almost perfect” is generally more expensive than other gear that might be pretty close in quality and function.

Alan9940 · Jan 26, 2019

I've owned a Zone VI modified Pentax Digital Spot meter for so long it's like an extension of my brain for B&W. With the Zone dial and simple EV readouts, exposure determination is a simple as it gets, IMO. I, also, own a Sekonic L-558. Why? Well...as backup, and when I do shoot the occasional transparency film it's so easy to average low/high value readings, scan the scene watching the EV difference from average, then make a pretty darn accurate determination of exposure.

Chan Tran · Jan 26, 2019

When I bought my Minolta Spotmeter M in the early 80's the Pentax Digital Spotmeter is about $70 less. Now the Pentax is significantly more than the Minolta in similar condition. I know there is inflation but rarely a meter can be sold used for more than it was new as in the case of the Pentax.

Nokton48 · Jan 26, 2019

I bought my Pentax Digital Zone VI new in the day, and it quickly paid for itself when I was shooting a lot of expensive 4x5 architectural chromes for architectural clients. Now I don't even think about it, it's as accurate a meter as I have ever needed. I can't recall many exposures that have been far off, over the years. Really. I have many many different meters but this is the one that goes out with me all the time, in the past and these days too. If it works right why change what works?

It's pretty battered and bruised but still working quite accurately. Money well spent. Still dead on. This one I will keep on using.

Eric Rose · Jan 26, 2019

No one disputes the accuracy of the Pentax 1 degree. The original question was why are they so expensive and sought after. The only answer is a type of fanboy mentality. In addition to that you are pretty assured someone you are out with can school you on it if your new to the zone system.

Pioneer · Jan 26, 2019

You can always buy something that MIGHT work. You can also buy something that works when you do extra calculations. Of course you could also end up with something that really doesn't work as well as it was supposed to.

Or, you can pay a little bit extra and buy something that DOES work. Somehow that makes sense to me and it obviously makes sense to a lot of others as well.

Reputation just might have a little bit to do with the fact that the Pentax meter is a little more costly. AA may have been part of the reason that this reputation was started but I have heard no one since argue that the reputation is not deserved.

Luckless · Jan 26, 2019

How many other light meters offered the 1 degree spot meter and as durable looking of a package as the Pentax model?

How many of those get talked about on a regular basis such that someone reading photography forums, who doesn't own one, is likely to recognize the name?

At this point I'm very well aware of what the pentax 1 degree spot meter is and what it does, but I honestly am drawing a complete blank on the branding of the spot meter I actually do own. (Purchased from a store while I was ordering some other stuff, because it was a good price and the description seemed to suggest it would be a solid stand in for the out of stock pentax offering...)

Sirius Glass · Jan 26, 2019

Eric Rose said:
Bruce Barnbaum uses a Gossen Luna with the spot attachment and he doesn't seem to suffer from poor exposures. It's just what you get use to for the most part imho. I had one of the Pentax 1 degree meters and while it does what it's suppose to I found it to big and clunky (non digital version). Since I needed a good flash meter in addition to incident and spot that's why I bought the Sekonic 558. I can get EV readouts on it if I require it. These days most of my metering is incident. If things are a bit dicey I double check with the spot meter and then apply the HVFF (high velocity fudge factor) or in engineering terms HPFM (hocus pocus f'n magic). Sometimes a wet finger in the wind helps too.

Why is the Pentax 1 degree so desired? Cache, thats all. It's the same reason you see so many LF photographers sporting beards. AA did it, so they need to do it as well. There are other meters that do exactly the same thing as a Pentax 1 degree. I wouldn't spend extra for one.

I also have a Sekonic L-308 [EV, incident, reflective, flash] and a Hasselblad 45 degree PME [prism], but at times I need a 1 degree spot meter with the Zone System capability. I bought it for $300US in like new condition [appears to never used] and sent it off to be calibrated for $88US. It is easy to use and accurate. It does the job that I need it to do while the 2.5 degree view of the Gossen was hard to see well and just to large a field of view.

Chan Tran · Jan 26, 2019

As I said in my earlier post, I picked the Minolta and paid more for it but now the Pentax is worth more. The only thing I can explain is that it's a cult like the Pentax K1000. I wouldn't want one.

eddie · Jan 26, 2019

I bought mine used in 1980, from a pro in NY who used it once. He was a studio product catalogue guy, but needed it for something he was doing outdoors. He was a friend of a friend, so he sold it to me for about $200 or $250 ( can’t remember the exact price). It’s never needed service, and never let me down over close to 40 years. It’s actually been one of my best photo purchases, amortized over the time I’ve owned it.

wyofilm · Jan 26, 2019

I bought a used Pentax V spotmeter with the zone card on the outside ring. The set up is so intuitive that it is a joy to use. The pistol grip is handy in use, but it makes for a bulky accessory to pack. I did not know Ansel Adams used a like meter when I purchased it. I expect he had all sorts of meters available him, and yet he chose this one (or one like it). Seems to a sterling recommendation.

Nokton48 · Jan 26, 2019

Fanboy Schmanboy.
Maybe it costs more cause it's the best for the money?
I also was not aware AA liked it but I'm not surprised.
He liked the Sinar Norma too That is not why I have that whole system.

Andrew O'Neill · Jan 27, 2019

chriscrawfordphoto said:
Ansel Adams used one, so every large format landscape photographer thinks he needs one. They're not rare by any means, but the prices are kept artificially high by dealers because people are dumb enough to pay the prices they demand.

Really?? I've never wanted one. Been quite happy with my Minolta 1 degree spot metre since I got into LF in '92.

Sirius Glass · Jan 27, 2019

Andrew O'Neill said:
Really?? I've never wanted one. Been quite happy with my Minolta 1 degree spot metre since I got into LF in '92.

If it floats your boat, great, but that does not make any other similar product bad.

Nokton48 · Jan 27, 2019

Right, whatever floats yer boat. I sold all my Leicas, and Canon RFs, and lenses and went back to my roots with Minolta SRT. That's not really relative to this discussion, but I do like their meters. Here is my collection.

My Minolta Light Meters by Nokton48, on Flickr

However, when I am going out with a specific objective in mind, I always pack my digital Zone VI Pentax. It just gets it done right every time. Particularly when the light is difficult or fleeting. All of these meters are working OK and are useable.

Eric Rose · Jan 27, 2019

I don't think anyone said the Pentax meter was a bad meter. It's a great meter. Just not worth the inflated price imho. However the rules of supply and demand rule.

Nokton48 · Jan 27, 2019

I paid for mine new many years ago and it was extremely expensive back then, I do remember. Probably more than they are going for used now. It was also the best tool for the very important jobs I was doing at the time.

Worth every penny to me, everybody has their own opinions.

I also think deals are around if you know where to look and are not in a hurry.

jim10219 · Jan 27, 2019

ic-racer said:
New Sekonic spot is $600. Pentax Digital Spot can be had at KEH for about 1/2 that with a warranty. The older Pentax meters can be had for much less than that.
Personally I don't own 'pistol shaped' objects. Too many trigger-happy gun people out there these days.

I use a Soligar digital spot meter. I've owned two and found them both to be just as accurate as the Pentax, a fraction of the cost, and the fact that they run on easy to find 9v batteries makes them an excellent alternative if you want a 1 degree spot meter without paying for the name or reputation.

And I actually keep mine in a leather gun holster on my hip. I've found it's great for keeping tourists from crowding you at busy locations and security/police/park rangers don't ever seem to mind. They tend to be very familiar with being around guns and know it's not a gun (what pistol would have a barrel that wide and short? A blunderbuss? ) I think as long as you're not trespassing on someone's land or metering an active crime scene, it shouldn't be any more dangerous than a tripod.

Pentax Digital Spotmeter reason for cost?

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