Shopping for a Spot Meter

Danner · Feb 15, 2021

Looking to add a spot meter for 6x7 Zone System shooting purposes. Looking for advice on which units (Pentax, Minolta, Soligor, etc.) to purchase. Flash is not important. This will most likely be an ebay deal.

Thank you for your thoughts.

- Dan

Robert Canis · Feb 15, 2021

I use an old Soligor. Very accurate. The disadvantage, however, is that in bright sunlight the reading is extremely difficult to read. Having used it (frustratingly on occasion) for the last 6 months I am now looking at purchasing a Sekonic.

Alan9940 · Feb 15, 2021

Lots of choices available. I currently use a Pentax Digital and Sekonic L-558; prefer the Pentax. You may want to check out the Kickstarter campaign for the new Reveni Spot meter. This is a brand new meter and a reasonable price point, but you'd have to wait.

Ariston · Feb 15, 2021

I like my Soligor a lot, but I had to calibrate it, and it wasn’t easy. Also it is big. I really like the needle display, but it is not convenient in low light.

jeffreyg · Feb 15, 2021

Pentax Digiral as well. There is a Zone scale you can probably find online and print and attach. I have two and they have been serving me well for many years.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

http://www.sculptureandphotography.com/

eddie · Feb 15, 2021

I've been using my Pentax digital for over 40 years. Easy to use, and reliable.

Lachlan Young · Feb 15, 2021

Another vote for the Pentax Digital spot meter here. But what really matters is that whatever meter you buy should offer the ability to index highlights/ shadows to the IRE (Institute of Radio Engineers) scale - it'll do everything people think zone-system stickers do, but better.

shutterfinger · Feb 15, 2021

Gossen Ultra Spot or Ultra Spot II IF you can find one.

Danner · Feb 15, 2021

Thank you for all the replies. Off to shop for one...

Sirius Glass · Feb 15, 2021

I was not happy with the Gossen Luna Pro SBC spot meter attachment because it was too wide. I am happy the Pentax Digital Spot Meter. When I got it I sent it out to be calibrated and added a Zone System sticker. Others claim that the Minolta Spot Meter is better, but I have no experience with them. Either the Pentax Digital or the Minolta will keep you happy, but regardless of which on you get, get all your light meters calibrated so they read the same.

shutterfinger · Feb 15, 2021

The Ultra Spot and Ultra Spot II are true 1° spot meter. The Luna Pro F has a 30° standard angle of view and the spot attachment is 15°/7.5°. The SBC is likely the same.

choiliefan · Feb 16, 2021

I've been using a Minolta F model for years and like it.
Had been looking to get any spot meter at the time and lucked into this one at a pawn shop while passing through a small CA town.
It's lightweight, uses one AA-battery, has an adjustable diopter and averaging function. It works and it's cheap.

AgX · Feb 16, 2021

shutterfinger said:
The Ultra Spot and Ultra Spot II are true 1° spot meter. The Luna Pro F has a 30° standard angle of view and the spot attachment is 15°/7.5°. The SBC is likely the same.

You mix up attachments.
The TELE attachment got 15°/7.5°

The Profi-SPOT attachment got 1°, 5°, 10°
But it is on the lower side of sensitivity amongst spotmeters, in case this is an issue.
Its advantage then is that it got (by two of its three primary meters) that great nulling scale!

Renato Tonelli · Feb 16, 2021

Lachlan Young said:
Another vote for the Pentax Digital spot meter here. But what really matters is that whatever meter you buy should offer the ability to index highlights/ shadows to the IRE (Institute of Radio Engineers) scale - it'll do everything people think zone-system stickers do, but better.

Not many people know this. The bulkier Pentax V also has the IRE scale and you may, of course, attach a Zone scale.

Danner · Feb 16, 2021

Thank you for all your inputs, I have acquired a Pentax Digital Spot meter from another forum member.
Cheers.

Andrew O'Neill · Feb 16, 2021

I've been using a Minolta digital spot F for 30 years. Has never let me down. I appreciate it's ability to take difference readings, which makes zone placement/fall easy. I also have a Minolta IV, with 5 degree spot metre attachment.

tom williams · Apr 2, 2021

Does anyone have experience with a Minolta Spotmeter M? Would you reccommend it as a reliable meter for an amateur? Drawbacks? Thanks

jimjm · Apr 3, 2021

tom williams said:
Does anyone have experience with a Minolta Spotmeter M? Would you reccommend it as a reliable meter for an amateur? Drawbacks? Thanks

I've had a Spotmeter M for over 10 years and I've had no complaints about it. Using it mostly for LF shooting, the outer display is easy to see and it also has a readout in the finder. Built-in illumination button for the display as well.
It does everything I need it to do and has been completely reliable and accurate. Uses one small 6v battery which has lasted at least 5 years. I also had a Soligor Spot meter for awhile, but sold it as the Minolta was quicker to use.

tom williams · Apr 3, 2021

Jim, I noticed the Spotmeter M has a provision to calibrate in the field+- 1EV ... have you noticed any drift that required use of that feature?

Kodachromeguy · Apr 3, 2021

shutterfinger said:
The Ultra Spot and Ultra Spot II are true 1° spot meter. The Luna Pro F has a 30° standard angle of view and the spot attachment is 15°/7.5°. The SBC is likely the same.

You are referring to the variable angle attachment for the Luna Pro and/or Luna Pro SBC. Gossen made a true spot attachment for the SBC model. it is rare and a big bulky device.

Chan Tran · Apr 3, 2021

I would say the Minolta Spotmeter M or Spotmeter F (which can measure flash) is the best choice for the money.

ic-racer · Apr 3, 2021

There are only a few new spot meters but I presume you are asking about meters no longer in production. One thing to consider is ease of calibration. I'm using a Sekonic 588. I think it is easier to use for film than the latest model (which is designed for digital exposure, though can be used for Negative film too). Models like the Sekonic 588 can be easily calibrated electronically through the user interface, without any additional software, or without opening the device.

Usually you can find this out by downloading the PDF user manual for the meter you are evaluating.

AgX · Apr 3, 2021

Kodachromeguy said:
You are referring to the variable angle attachment for the Luna Pro and/or Luna Pro SBC. Gossen made a true spot attachment for the SBC model. it is rare and a big bulky device.

"Tele" attachment vs. "Profi-Spot" attachment.

These two are typically mixed up here, by calling the 1st one "Spot".
The 1st one is attached mechanically, the 2nd one electrically so to say.
Though the 2nd one has a variable angle too.

jimjm · Apr 3, 2021

tom williams said:
Jim, I noticed the Spotmeter M has a provision to calibrate in the field+- 1EV ... have you noticed any drift that required use of that feature?

Haven't had the need to adjust it yet. I periodically check the Minolta against other hand-held and in-camera meters that I use more often and know to be accurate.

tokam · Apr 3, 2021

Here you go. The difference between the Gossen Tele attachment and the Profi Spot attachment.

The Lunasix-F on the left is the version that can also do flash metering and is wearing the 15/7.5 degree Tele attachment. This requires no electrical contact with the meter. The Lunasix-F meter cannot use any Gossen attachment that requires electrical connections via the 3 sockets at the top of the meter which look like 3.5mm stereo jacks.

The Profisix, (Luna Pro SBC), on the right is wearing the Profispot attachment which has adjustable angle of acceptance of 1, 5 or 10 degrees. This meter can also use the Tele attachment on the left. The Profispot attachment has what look like 3 x 3.5mm prongs underneath it which connect into the top of the meter.

These two meters with their attachments differ by about 1/3 stop which is probably not too bad considering their differing acceptance angles. I did quite a bit of testing using 7.5 degrees on the Tele and either 5 or 10 degrees on the Profispot. Both meters are very sensitive with regards to aiming the at the scene to be metered. You have to be very careful when metering.

One thing which drives me nuts with both these meters is the tiny ISO/ASA scale for setting film speed. The graduations are very fine and it is not easy to set the film speed exactly. (And I have just gotten a new pair of reading glasses). Ah well, what's 1/3 stop between friends, (or meters), when you're shooting black and white or colour neg.

Shopping for a Spot Meter

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