Want to Buy WTB: Minolta Spotmeter F

[logan2z]

Looking to pick up a Minolta Spotmeter F in excellent condition. Complete with case would be nice but not essential. Payment via PayPal greatly preferred and CONUS deal only, please.

Please PM me if you have one you are willing to let go.

 

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[chriscrawfordphoto]

Be careful. I tried to buy a Spotmeter F last year and after buying and returning six of them that were out of calibration, I gave up. The problem is that NO ONE will service the Spotmeter F anymore; they're an old meter with no parts available. Every one I saw was non-linear, meaning it was off by a different amount at different light levels, meaning that you cannot compensate for the inaccuracy the way you could if it was uniformly off by the same amount at all light levels. That's usually a sign that the metering cell is going bad. Back when Quality Light Metric was still in business, they had a good supply of parts for Minolta meters, but they had gone out of business before I began my search for a Spotmeter F.

 

[logan2z]

Be careful. I tried to buy a Spotmeter F last year and after buying and returning six of them that were out of calibration, I gave up. The problem is that NO ONE will service the Spotmeter F anymore; they're an old meter with no parts available. Every one I saw was non-linear, meaning it was off by a different amount at different light levels, meaning that you cannot compensate for the inaccuracy the way you could if it was uniformly off by the same amount at all light levels. That's usually a sign that the metering cell is going bad. Back when Quality Light Metric was still in business, they had a good supply of parts for Minolta meters, but they had gone out of business before I began my search for a Spotmeter F.

That's unfortunate to hear.

I recently bought a Pentax Spotmeter V and it was DOA. Well, it worked every 10 or so pushes of the metering button so I returned it. I guess maybe there's 'no going back again' with these meters and a more modern meter would be a better choice. I have a Sekonic 308 that I use for incident/reflective metering so I thought I could pick up a dedicated spot meter rather than buying another all-in-one meter for the current Sekonic asking prices of ~$600. There's also the Reveni Labs spot meter but frankly it looks kind of - how can I put this delicately - not ready for prime time.

Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience with the Minolta. I'll either give another Pentax a shot or just suck it up and buy something new.

 

[Chan Tran]

I had 2 spotmeter M and they are very accurate. I sold one and gave one away because the lens has some fungus.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I've been using the same spot metre F since 1992. It's performed flawlessly.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Spot F is an extremely reliable meter. Like everything it can be abused and eventually useless but it is NOT an old meter by film equipment standards.

 

[logan2z]

I have a Minolta Spotmeter F that works flawlessly. I purchased it used from KEH a couple years ago. It is my backup for my Pentax Digital Spotmeter. Sorry to hear about problems with purchases. Try KEH because they have a service department and can address any issues before and after a product sale.

I did look at KEH before posting my WTB but they didn't have a Spot Meter F. I'll keep my eye out.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

There is a ton of these on ebay, not sure if you're looking for some super deal or just to get the right item. $200 is a good price these days, $150 would be close to a steal. Buying from Japan has not been an issue for me and that is majority of these offers come from. I'd get one if I didn't have 2 already.

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

I have a Minolta Spotmeter F that works flawlessly. I purchased it used from KEH a couple years ago. It is my backup for my Pentax Digital Spotmeter. Sorry to hear about problems with purchases. Try KEH because they have a service department and can address any issues before and after a product sale.

KEH is one of the places that sold me a defective meter.

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

Spot F is an extremely reliable meter. Like everything it can be abused and eventually useless but it is NOT an old meter by film equipment standards.

Minolta stopped making them nearly 20 years ago. Unfortunately, they are old and they are NOT repairable.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Minolta stopped making them nearly 20 years ago. Unfortunately, they are old and they are NOT repairable.

Looks like you have had some bad experience with it. Yes, it's age is long in the tooth by now, but so are most meters that still work like the day they were made. I've had mine since early 90's, never an issue and they've been stored for extended periods in rather unaccommodating conditions. It's all about getting one that looks good, clean inside, optics clear, battery compartment with no signs of leaks, works as intended and good to go for many years to come. Given it's size, weight and reliable readings, this is still one of the best spots ever made.

 

[logan2z]

There is a ton of these on ebay, not sure if you're looking for some super deal or just to get the right item. $200 is a good price these days, $150 would be close to a steal. Buying from Japan has not been an issue for me and that is majority of these offers come from. I'd get one if I didn't have 2 already.

I'm not specifically looking for a super deal, but I tend to avoid overseas sellers - maybe not justifiably.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

With

I'm not specifically looking for a super deal, but I tend to avoid overseas sellers - maybe not justifiably.

japan you need to be a bit careful, but with that applied I always felt safe to buy.

1. check all pics carefully, look for any signs of fungus/discoloration/scratches on optics, for some reason there appears to be a LOT of optics out of Japan with these kind of defects (with exterior looking super nice). Strangely they are typically in the description, yet item is titled Mint ++++ you can also find really odd damages to some gear in same general super fine description, but again, these are typically stated in the description, which you need to read line for line, leave no word out until sure you left none behind

2. ask questions, if there is no response, don't buy, normally they do reply quite quickly (with time difference lag of course)

3. use only EMS / Japan Post for shipment, force that into the deal or no deal, taking any courier can mean serious customs processing charges, even though there would be no actual charges from US Customs, by post it goes through USPS in the end, in my experience it never caused any issues / nor delays once on US side, it was quite a few years ago, but have read not long ago still being the case

 

[logan2z]

I just picked up a Pentax Spotmeter V from KEH. Supposedly in EX condition, hopefully accurate.

Thanks to everyone for their input, I'm no longer looking for the Minolta.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

If it works it’s a great meter, just a monster by comparison. But hopefully you ordered one of newer generation that does NOT use combination 9v and mercury button cell batteries.

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

If it works it’s a great meter, just a monster by comparison. But hopefully you ordered one of newer generation that does NOT use combination 9v and mercury button cell batteries.

The Spotmeter V is the newer generation. The ones that used Mercury batteries were not called Spotmeter V. They were the 1/21 Spotmeter, the Spotmeter II, and the Spotmeter III. There was no Spotmeter IV for some reason.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

The Spotmeter V is the newer generation. The ones that used Mercury batteries were not called Spotmeter V. They were the 1/21 Spotmeter, the Spotmeter II, and the Spotmeter III. There was no Spotmeter IV for some reason.

That is correct. I did not tell fully experience. Once I bought one with V badge, it was older style and likely a put-together version (at least managed to return it ).

All those meters had almost same exterior with exception of leatherette Color and top badge that either has a V or not. But easy to tell a V from rest as it has bottom cover that is not hinged. Unfortunately many of these for sale are titled as a V and given basically identical looks one may not notice what is actually offered.