Using Pentax Digital Spot Meter for the Zone System

[Sirius Glass]

-- 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]

-- 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]

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.