Small Spotmeter

[Kilgallb]

I need a small Spotmeter to use with my Leica and also to be less obvious when metering. Some people are convinced my Pentax is a video camera.

Any recommendations?

 

[MTGseattle]

Spot Meter — Reveni Labs

www.reveni-labs.com

Reflx Lab Light Meter Free-shipping

Metal shell made of aluminum and zinc No tools battery change: easy slide-out design Long battery range: up to 1-year standby time Powered by a button cell: say goodbye to battery faults or capacity loss EV compensation helps you cope with extreme lighting situations Specification: Material...

reflxlab.com

2 recent items that may be worth a look. I know the Reflx meter is not a spot meter, but it's fairly inexpensive and definitely discrete.

 

[Alan9940]

The Reveni Spot is the smallest spot meter I'm aware of and now that he has adequate power built-in it's even better than before. And, ya can't beat the price for a new spot meter.

 

[Lee Rust]

The Reveni uses both eyes just like the old Voigtländer Kontur viewfinders. Very interesting!

 

[Alan9940]

The Reveni uses both eyes just like the old Voigtländer Kontur viewfinders. Very interesting!

That's correct. I was a bit skeptical back when I supported its Kickstarter campaign, but it's quite easy to use. My only criticism of it is: 1) mine was powered by two tiny button cells which didn't last long at all (this issue was solved with the intro of an add-on for two AAA batteries) and 2) the "spot" ain't really a spot reading similar to the 1-degree measurement of, say, a Pentax Digital Spot meter. I think of the Reveni Spot meter as more of a heavily centered weighted meter which requires a little more care when metering.

 

[xkaes]

That's not a spot meter. It covers 30 degrees for Pete's sake. It's just a small, averaging, reflectance meter. If that's what you need, great, but it's not a spot meter unless it's 10 degrees or less.

 

[Chan Tran]

May be it's off topic but what is wrong if people think you're using a video camera?

 

[xkaes]

That's obvious -- it's because they will call you a "videographer" instead of a "photographer".

 

[Chan Tran]

That's obvious -- it's because they will call you a "videographer" instead of a "photographer".

With a spotmete whether it's small or large you still have to look thru a viewfinder and that would still makes people think you're using a video camera.

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

The Pentax Digital is the smallest true spotmeter I know of, though the Minolta Spotmeter F isn't much bigger. The Gossen Ultra Spot is HUGE!

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I need a small Spotmeter to use with my Leica and also to be less obvious when metering. Some people are convinced my Pentax is a video camera.

Any recommendations?

the Pentax digital spot is the smallest I can think of, but why do you need a spot meter for Leicawork?

 

[pentaxuser]

That's not a spot meter. It covers 30 degrees for Pete's sake. It's just a small, averaging, reflectance meter. If that's what you need, great, but it's not a spot meter unless it's 10 degrees or less.

If the above is a reference to the Reveni then does it really only go down to 30 degrees? I agree that 30 degrees is hardly a spot meter but in the videos I have seen the spot didn't see to be anything like that large

Maybe those who have one will comment?

pentaxuser

 

[ic-racer]

For sure the reveni is the smallest currently available spot meter.

With an angle of acceptance of 1.5 degrees I can’t imagine anyone complaining.

 

[Alan9940]

If the above is a reference to the Reveni then does it really only go down to 30 degrees? I agree that 30 degrees is hardly a spot meter but in the videos I have seen the spot didn't see to be anything like that large

Maybe those who have one will comment?

pentaxuser

According to Reveni Labs, it’s a ~1.5 degree spot. Based on my own Reveni spot, I’d say that number is a bit optimistic but he does have a MkII version now so, perhaps, the measuring angle has changed since I got mine.

On mine, there are two circles in the “viewfinder”; the inner one is the spot and the outer circle is the area of influence. In my use, I’ve found the “area of influence” to have more affect on the readings than I’d care for. That said, though, I’ve learned to measure slightly larger image areas which give me an accurate enough reading to properly expose my film.

To be fair, my Pentax Digital Spot exhibits the same influence over the readings around the “spot," albeit just much tighter in.

 

[xkaes]

That's not a spot meter. It covers 30 degrees for Pete's sake. It's just a small, averaging, reflectance meter. If that's what you need, great, but it's not a spot meter unless it's 10 degrees or less.

I was looking at the wrong spec sheet. My mistake. I'll add that there are some accessory spot meters that attach to certain hand-held meters that are smaller than the Pentax & Minolta spot meters. Not a lot smaller, though.

Minolta first Spot meter -- the View Meter 9 -- is pretty small:

http://www.subclub.org/minman/meters.htm

 

[pentaxuser]

Whew! I am glad we have cleared that up

Thanks all

pentaxuser

 

[Chan Tran]

I was looking at the wrong spec sheet. My mistake. I'll add that there are some accessory spot meters that attach to certain hand-held meters that are smaller than the Pentax & Minolta spot meters. Not a lot smaller, though.

Minolta first Spot meter -- the View Meter 9 -- is pretty small:

http://www.subclub.org/minman/meters.htm

The viewmeter 9 is a 9 degree spot meter. Surprisingly mine is quite accurate using alkaline battery instead of mercury.

 

[bags27]

the Pentax digital spot is the smallest I can think of, but why do you need a spot meter for Leicawork?

This.
Love discussions of spot meters (and love my digital soligor for the Blad) but would never schlep it along with my Leica. Cell phone metering is all I use now.

 

[Alan9940]

Don't know how much we can get out of this spot meter discussion, but...

The most precise and accurate (< 1/2 degree) spot meter that I'm aware of was the S.E.I. If you dig around on YouTube for Ansel Adams videos you'll find one where he's using this meter. Of course, you'd have to understand measuring in candles per sq foot!

 

[xkaes]

Cell phone metering is all I use now.

I've never explored that street, but I assume that there are spot-metering software that allow you to set the spot angle?????

 

[MattKing]

If you are happy with three degrees, the Sekonic L-438 is interesting.

 

[bags27]

I've never explored that street, but I assume that there are spot-metering software that allow you to set the spot angle?????

I was saying that for 35mm photography, I don't see the need for a spot meter. The phone meter is probably 40 degrees, but, whatever it is, I shoot my Leica (M4-P) by it, and feel fine with it. I may be fooling myself, but I think the spot meter does help me for medium format.

 

[Pieter12]

No such thing as a small spot meter.

 

[Kilgallb]

the Pentax digital spot is the smallest I can think of, but why do you need a spot meter for Leicawork?

Because that is how I meter everything.

 

[MattKing]

Can anyone remember the name of the small spot meter that was introduced several years ago and made in small quantities for a relatively short period of time that was essentially carved out of a piece of metal?