RZ PRO II using a spot meter.

Richjsn1 · Feb 17, 2008

This is more of a thought than anything. Presently I am using a Nikon F100 as a spot meter when taking landscapes with my RZ PRO II. It’s a bit to carry but it works well. The urge to pick up a used Pentax Digital Spot Meter and not using my Nikon has plagued me. The $300 or so it would take is about the same price of a used Lens 65mm Mamaya. Would it be worth the money to purchase the spot meter or just used my Nikon.

What’s the experience of the group with the RZ PRO II and spot meters?

Opinions welcome.

JBrunner · Feb 17, 2008

The spot meter behaves as a spot meter, regardless of the camera system you are using. Once you get used to one, it his hard to imagine using any other meter system, because it is such a versatile tool. It takes some getting use to, in that you have to remember the exposure it indicates for a given area is for middle grey. That's not different in principle from an incident meter, or the averaging, or center weighted meter of your Nikon, but you are measuring a very small area, so typically you need to measure at least the high, mid, and low, and decide where you want things to fall. The advantage of this is that you you have good information to use to place your exposures to favor exactly what you choose. Plus you can use it with any camera, now or in the future, including your Nikon, and it fits in a pack or on your belt. A dedicated spot meter will generally make you more thoughtful regarding your exposures, and helps immensely in promoting a greater understanding of tonal relationships. I would recommend one.

Nick Zentena · Feb 17, 2008

No different then using a spot meter with any other camera. Not sure why you'd see a difference?

Uhner · Feb 17, 2008

I’ve been down a similar road – carrying around a RB 67 and using a Nikon F4 as a spotmeter. Well, I concluded that this practice was a bit silly, so I traded both cameras for a 4x5” and a real spotmeter. Although I’m happy with this choice – I must confess that I oftentimes bring a 135 camera with me when using the 4x5.

I think that a spotmeter is a good investment, but it is quite possible that you will end up carrying the RZ, the F100 and the meter. But then again that is a pretty good kit.

Jeffrey A. Steinberg · Feb 17, 2008

Get a Sekonic. I have the (think its called that) 558. You can use it as an incidence meter or a spot meter. This is good for portraits and for field photos as long as the light falling on the incidence meter is the same as your subject. The 558 even shows the value in the window you look through to get the spot meter. They used to have one that "zoomed" from 4 degree spot to 1 degree spot. The newer one is just 1 degree which is fine by me.

They have a less expensive 3XX series. Works well to. I put it in my pocket when I take my RZ into the field also.

Richjsn1 · Feb 17, 2008

Its an issue of finance. The pentax is $300 the sekonic is $500...give or take

Jeffrey A. Steinberg · Feb 17, 2008

Richjsn1 said:
Its an issue of finance. The pentax is $300 the sekonic is $500...give or take

See if KEH has a used one. www.keh.com. I will check, I may have a second one and can sell it for a good price. Let me check. Can't guarantee that I have it but I will check.

John Koehrer · Feb 17, 2008

The used Pentax is $300 a New Sekonic is $500.
Either will work for you.
Using the F100 as a spot meter is OK as long as you're aware that the "spot" covered will change if you use different fl lenses. It will still be X % of 43 degrees w/a 50mm or X% of 25 deg with a 100mm lens through the finder whereas the spotmeter is consistent in it's field of view.

panastasia · Feb 17, 2008

Some might find this a backwards move: I used a modified Pentax Digital Spot Meter for years with my non-electronic, battery-less/meter-less RB and tiny view camera. Now I use a battery-less incident reading selenium meter. I get the same accurately exposed negatives almost all the time because I realized, at some point in time, that I can accurately guess at the exposure/contrast range by eye, knowing the mean exposure. I always bracket when I'm not sure - I think I just like hearing the sound of the camera working allot. One more reason: when the meter battery quit at the wrong moment a few times (no warning), I was left with guessing anyway.

I still use the spot meter for critical work when the lighting isn't straight forward.

keithwms · Feb 17, 2008

A metering prism with average/spot capability, on a bellows focusing camera, is a very useful implement.

jamie · Feb 17, 2008

I have a Pentax Digital Spot meter that I got for $50 (the guy I bought it from more or less pushed it on me and I had no idea what a bargain it was ). It's nice to use if you can take your time and set up the shot. However, when I just want to do some candid shots in uncomplicated lighting situations I prefer to use my small DigiFlash incident meter. It's very handy and quick to use.

RZ PRO II using a spot meter.

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