Pentax Digital Spotmeter reason for cost?

[CMoore]

No problem whatsoever.
Digital image capture, digital file manipulation and digital printing are the subjects that have their own sub-fora.
And things like "digital tripods" and "digital camera straps" are just silly.

10-4.....Thank You

 

[Deleted member 88956]

I have both Pentax spot meters and have used various other meters such as Luna Pros. What attracts me to the Pentax Digital Spot Meter is less moving parts -- in particular no needle to mess up.

Unlike some of us who see the needle moving and can use it to advantage. To do same on digital display takes some mental "toughness". Of course that is coming from one who uses Minolta Spot most of the time, so much for a needle moving . However, every time I do take the needle thingy out I do enjoy it more, just not the bulk and weight.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Except that they really aren't that expensive when compared to current meters with the same capability.

$300+ is always on the expensive side, especially when at least as good an alternative can be had for half that.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Perfect, Zone System is often a waste of time as not that many scenes actually require ZS to make the best of it, especially for someone who is good at evaluating tonal range of a scene before even picking up the meter. For times when exposure and development needs to be fine tuned for best possible outcome, or more importantly for as easy a printing time as possible, ZS is in and for that spot meter comes in really handy.

The point of this discussion was about high pricing of Pentax Digital Spot, but there are alternatives at far lower price point that afford same control over the process. Yours is a generally good way to cover most scenes more than adequately without getting too far into nit picking one value over another, or to put it another way: employing way too much form over function.Still, ZS can be used in any situation if one so chooses.

I have indeed over the years also come to the conclusion that much of the Zone System's benefit can be had with VC-papers with far less effort.However, a perfectly exposed and processed negative always gives a better starting point and VC papers offer an additional benefit in that case.

 

[Chan Tran]

$300+ is always on the expensive side, especially when at least as good an alternative can be had for half that.

Yup! the $300 isn't for new one but rather for an old unit. It's way too expensive for what it is.

 

[faberryman]

$300+ is always on the expensive side, especially when at least as good an alternative can be had for half that.

I paid $225 for mine a couple of years ago. I am not aware of any new 1 degree spot meter retailing for $150. If you don't want to pay the going rate for a Pentax digital spot meter, no one is forcing you to buy one. Quit whining.

 

[Chan Tran]

I paid $225 for mine a couple of years ago. I am not aware of any new 1 degree spot meter retailing for $150. If you don't want to pay the going rate for a Pentax digital spot meter, no one is forcing you to buy one. Quit whining.

But for your $225 is it new? If used a Minolta Spotmeter M would be less expensive.

 

[faberryman]

But for your $225 is it new? If used a Minolta Spotmeter M would be less expensive.

Then buy a Minolta spotmeter.

 

[Nokton48]

I have a 70s era Minolta Spot Meter in excellent condition. I always take out my Zone VI meter. That is my go to.
Use what you can find and afford and go on. Stop whining and go out and make some great photographs.

 

[eddie]

Light meters are tools. The best tools are the ones which you are comfortable using, and allow you to work more efficiently. Arguing over the (relatively) insignificant difference in cost makes no sense.

 

[Sirius Glass]

$300+ is always on the expensive side, especially when at least as good an alternative can be had for half that.

I have indeed over the years also come to the conclusion that much of the Zone System's benefit can be had with VC-papers with far less effort.However, a perfectly exposed and processed negative always gives a better starting point and VC papers offer an additional benefit in that case.

Yup! the $300 isn't for new one but rather for an old unit. It's way too expensive for what it is.

I have one and I immediately sent it to George Milton at Quality Light Metric. It works well and I love it. Much like a divorce, it is so expensive because it is worth it.

 

[CMoore]

I have one and I immediately sent it to George Milton at Quality Light Metric. It works well and I love it. Much like a divorce, it is so expensive because it is worth it.

BTW.......Do you have a website link for them.?
Thank You

 

[faberryman]

Richard Ritter also does Minolta and Pentax spot meter calibration and repair.

 

[Sirius Glass]

BTW.......Do you have a website link for them.?
Thank You

https://www.yelp.com/biz/quality-light-metric-hollywood
One can go into the FedEx, get the FedEx envelop from them, put on your name, address and telephone number. He comes by twice a day for pick up and deliveries. He calls in a day or two with an estimate and a completion date.

 

[Chan Tran]

Then buy a Minolta spotmeter.

I did back in the days. The Minolta is more expensive than the Pentax then but I liked the Minolta better. My newer spotmeter is the Minolta flashmeter VI.

 

[locutus]

for Zone System workers it's simply the most efficient.

Amusing you say that, ever tried the above mentioned Minolta VIF? You get a spot and ambient meter, can take multiple readings and then display them on a visual contrast scale. Its like zone system in a box.

 

[GLS]

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.
View attachment 215866
View attachment 215869

I have the L-758 myself, and a very easy method for Zone metering I have found is to spot meter an area of the scene you want to be zone V, log it into memory, meter the same area again and log it, then average the two (identical) readings. This stored average then allows you to move the spot around the scene with the read button held down and see interactively EV values for everything in the scene, in +/- stops compared to the zone V reading. Very simple.

 

[Vaughn]

That is what I like about the Pentax -- it does that by just pulling the trigger, and my memory can easily handle 3 to five numbers read off the landscape, then quickly come up with an exposure value to put on the dial. Pretty much all I need for landscape work. I'm willing to pay extra to leave off features/function I do not need and clutter up an instrament.