Using Pentax Digital Spot Meter for the Zone System

Sirius Glass · Feb 28, 2024

Vaughn said:
-- nah, I just like working with the EV readings, and after taking a few readings I can pretty much figure out my exposure EV and placement/fall of important areas before setting the exposure EV on the dial to select the corresponding f/stop and exposure combo I want to use. So having a visual aid of the Zones on the dial just cluttered it up for me. But I can see why others would like the sticker.

I have the Pentax Digital, with a non-digital Pentax Spot Meter V as my back-up. After years of using a Luna Pro and having to fix its needle occasionally due to rough use, I wanted a meter with less moving parts...and the digital readout is easy to see in low light situations. I have no need for a meter with memory or averaging (or metering flash), so I love the simplicity of the Pentax Digital.

Clarification: I meter the place with the darkest shadow detail I want and place that in the Zone of choice. That reading is transferred to the Hasselblad and from then on I use EV for all the settings and any filter factor adjustments.

John Wiegerink · Feb 28, 2024

Vaughn said:
-- nah, I just like working with the EV readings, and after taking a few readings I can pretty much figure out my exposure EV and placement/fall of important areas before setting the exposure EV on the dial to select the corresponding f/stop and exposure combo I want to use. So having a visual aid of the Zones on the dial just cluttered it up for me. But I can see why others would like the sticker.

I have the Pentax Digital, with a non-digital Pentax SpotMeter V as my back-up. After years of using a Luna Pro and having to fix its needle occasionally due to rough use, I wanted a meter with less moving parts...and the digital readout is easy to see in low light situations. I have no need for a meter with memory or averaging (or metering flash), so I love the simplicity of the Pentax Digital.

+1. I have a simple mind and for me I've found that sometimes less is more. Or maybe I should say I prefer the KISS approach.

Patrick Robert James · Feb 28, 2024

John Wiegerink said:
I might be wrong, but I don't think I'd ever use all the averaging spots that most of the meters have when shooting B&W. Two is enough for me, Highlight and Shadow. Maybe for color negative film I might?

I am an Occam's Razor kind of guy which is why I didn't much like spot meters before. Plus I much prefer dials to digital. I've always just defaulted to an incident meter when I am shooting 4x5, usually a Gossen Luna Pro SBC, and a healthy dose of "that is about right" adjustment. I prefer the Gossen over my Sekonic and Gossen digital meters (both are fantastic) because of the dial. The Pentax though is so easy to use I've been using that. I still keep things simple. Just get enough exposure and let PMK take care of the highlights. Not much of a Zonie. I don't calibrate film or do any plus or minus exposure. That technical stuff bores me to death. I'd rather watch paint dry.

Using Pentax Digital Spot Meter for the Zone System

Sirius Glass

John Wiegerink

Patrick Robert James

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency