Want to Buy WTB: Gossen 5-degree spot attachment for Lunastar

I saw one, new, on the big auction site recently for $25 with free shipping, but it disappeared fast, of course. But that's the sort of price range I'm looking for, with some flexibility.

Ulophot said:

I saw one, new, on the big auction site recently for $25 with free shipping, but it disappeared fast, of course. But that's the sort of price range I'm looking for, with some flexibility.

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I believe you're much better off with a real 1degree spot meter such as the digital Pentax.

Ralph (if I may),
Thank you for your reply. I just returned Way Beyond Monochrome to the library this morning, after several weeks of poring over it. A superbly designed and printed, and valuable, addition to the literature. Thank you very much for it!
My choice of the Gossen attachment is dictated by primarily finances, secondarily by intended use.. I had to put my cameras down professionally just over a decade ago to support the family properly with a desk job, and have only this year opened mind and heart again to the still somewhat distant possibility of having time and treasure (so to speak) to once again take up this particular passion of mine. I have been slowly getting equipment CLA'd and dusting off my memory with reading and exercises, but at this point cannot justify even $100 for a new meter I may not use for another year or longer.
It is also the case that I expect to concentrate on portraits when the happy day arrives, and for these the Gossen will narrow my metering field sufficiently. I will continue calculating my readings without the convenience of a zone dial.
The Gossen attachment will at least allow me make dry runs as time allows.
Best wishes to you!

Take a look here, about 3/4 of the way down the page....

Dead Link Removed

Fred Aspen said:

Take a look here, about 3/4 of the way down the page....

Dead Link Removed

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Thank you. I had seen this one but let it be because of the condition. As simple an item as it is, I suspect the optics are not clean and not reachable, or some such problem. I am holding out for something in better shape.
I appreciate your response.

Spot meters with a 5 degree angle of view are a little too broad for a lot of practical work, with overlap and imprecision the limitations. The precise, 1 degree spot/multispot meters are a definite tour de force, as well as the right tool for the job (especially portraiture where there is often overlapping tones and light). By way of mention, incident metering is an equally good tool for uncomplicated portraiture, while landscape use is commonly the preserve of spot meters. There are a couple of Gossens with selectable 1/5 degree spot angles, though you won't nail one for $100 -- more likely $1,000+, also Sekonics (even more disgustingly costly) and a heads-up for the perpetually evergreen Pentax spot meters that pop up on FleaBay every now and then.

Ulophot said:

Ralph (if I may),
Thank you for your reply. I just returned Way Beyond Monochrome to the library this morning, after several weeks of poring over it. A superbly designed and printed, and valuable, addition to the literature. Thank you very much for it!
My choice of the Gossen attachment is dictated by primarily finances, secondarily by intended use.. I had to put my cameras down professionally just over a decade ago to support the family properly with a desk job, and have only this year opened mind and heart again to the still somewhat distant possibility of having time and treasure (so to speak) to once again take up this particular passion of mine. I have been slowly getting equipment CLA'd and dusting off my memory with reading and exercises, but at this point cannot justify even $100 for a new meter I may not use for another year or longer.
It is also the case that I expect to concentrate on portraits when the happy day arrives, and for these the Gossen will narrow my metering field sufficiently. I will continue calculating my readings without the convenience of a zone dial.
The Gossen attachment will at least allow me make dry runs as time allows.
Best wishes to you!

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I understand.We all have our limitations.I hope you find what works for you quickly.The digital Pentax is the best and was AA's favorite but i is even used very expensive.Zone Dials work great and there is a DIY version in my book.all the best.

Poisson Du Jour said:

Spot meters with a 5 degree angle of view are a little too broad for a lot of practical work, with overlap and imprecision the limitations. The precise, 1 degree spot/multispot meters are a definite tour de force, as well as the right tool for the job (especially portraiture where there is often overlapping tones and light). By way of mention, incident metering is an equally good tool for uncomplicated portraiture, while landscape use is commonly the preserve of spot meters. There are a couple of Gossens with selectable 1/5 degree spot angles, though you won't nail one for $100 -- more likely $1,000+, also Sekonics (even more disgustingly costly) and a heads-up for the perpetually evergreen Pentax spot meters that pop up on FleaBay every now and then.

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Cher Poisson,
Thanks for your observations. I am financially constrained respecting this acquisition and unable to consider $100 or more for a Pentax "find" at present. Before switching to the Luna-Star as my strobe-driven studio and location architectural interior work grew, I used a Luna-Pro, occasionally with the 7/15-degree attachment. I expect the optics in this attachment to be similar to the 7/15 (though I have read that the 5 is superior), making testing and care necessary to avoid "bleed" in reading areas, as you noted. As for the reading circle for portraiture, I think the 5 degrees will not be too wide when my subject is so accessible.

As for using incident for portraits, yes, it's possible, of course, and I did so for years in much of my studio strobe work (as well as in balancing strobe and ambient on location, which the Luna-Star does nicely with it's dual readout. For Zone work, however, especially "complicated" subjects, when the frame includes, for instance, direct sunlight forming a design element on a nearby high-value surface while the subject, possibly in clothing of low value, is indirectly illuminated, direct readings and tailoring of placement and development may be substantially aided by reflected readings.

For a number of years, I did somewhat formulaic portraiture, with well-controlled light ratios and so forth. I am looking forward to clearing that from my mindset and returning to the challenges I enjoyed in 35mm before that chapter began. I hope to get my N pluses and minuses worked out for 35, 645, and 4x5 so that I can be freely open to more possibilities.

Again, thanks for your thoughtful response.