Spotmeter question

I don't know if this is the correct place to ask this but here goes. I have a pentax spotmeter V (analog) which i use corrently with my LF gear. I am just wondering if there's any advantage of getting the newer digital version or a newer meter like the gossen ultra spotII or sekonic L508. I've tried searching online for this but have turned up lemons till now. I have to add that i use my digital camera as a glorified polaroid to check exposure anyway. But i'd like to rely on the meter more and the digi less in the future

This has been discussed here before with a lot of helpful input. Suggest searching the archive to see the varying opinions.

Being comfortable with a tool is important. You probably can spend more money and get the same results that are available with your present meter.

Your digi camera use is the equivalent of training wheels on a bicycle...at some point they need to come off if one is going to learn how to ride. At least that is my opinion on the matter.

Good luck to you.

I have the Pentax digital spotmeter, it's useful and accurate but I find the design rather bizarre. When you take a reading, you get an EV reading from a huge digital display in the finder which you then have to transfer manually to a dial in very small figures which is printed in red and also recessed to make it even harder to read in poor light. I am sure a more modern meter would be more user-friendly.

Regards,

David

stompyq said:

I don't know if this is the correct place to ask this but here goes. I have a pentax spotmeter V (analog) which i use corrently with my LF gear. I am just wondering if there's any advantage of getting the newer digital version or a newer meter like the gossen ultra spotII or sekonic L508. I've tried searching online for this but have turned up lemons till now. I have to add that i use my digital camera as a glorified polaroid to check exposure anyway. But i'd like to rely on the meter more and the digi less in the future

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I have one of these too. My wife has a Pentax Digital. We both prefer our own meters. We also have a Gossen Spotmaster II (used mainly for flash) and an SEI Photometer with LED modification.

Really, I'd be amazed to see any great advantage in changing away from a meter you're happy with.

Cheers

Roger (www.rogerandfrances.com)

I have and use both a Pentx V and a Pentax Digital spot meters. I like the digital a lot more. When you are metering a shadow area it is way easier to see the reading. I know the V has a backlight, but it is another button to push. Pushing an extra button isn't so bad, it is just that you do not use the backlight often enough to make using it intuitive. Both meters are very precise and I love them. I think I read in BTZS that they preferred the analog meter because they could determine more intermediate stops than with the digital meter. The Pentax Digital spot meter meters in 1/3 stop increments. Do any of you REALLY set your apertures to 1/6 stops? Looking through my Pentax V I can barely determine 1/3 stops let alone 1/6.