Your opinion on Pentax Digital Spotmeter

Alexz · Dec 20, 2005

I was thinking about acquiring a hand-neld spot meter (just tired of lugging my heavy Canon system to serve as a meter), just came upon a local ad selling Pentax Digital Spotmeter (apparently modified to Zone system). According to the ad, it shall be in excellent condition, new battery, etc...
The asking price is about 220$. Do you think this is fair price given teh details above ? Is this a real thing for outdoors LF for your opinion ?

BTW, I don't shoot B&W, how useful is its Zone system modification for color work (mostly transparancies) ?

Thanks in advance, Alex

jgjbowen · Dec 20, 2005

Alex,

Make sure the meter has the "modified by Zone VI" sticker on it. Some folks just have the zone dial (available from Calumet for $3) attached and CLAIM it is modified by Zone VI.

These (actual modified meters) usually go for $400-$575 on Epay. Even if it isn't Zone VI modified, the $220 is a very good price.

Best,

John

eddie gunks · Dec 20, 2005

i have the "regular" model. it is great!!! i bought mine in myanmar for $80! i thiought they were tryingto cheat me! my meter broke and i was in dire need of a meter and ithe pentax was one of two available. great luck for me.

eddie

photobackpacker · Dec 20, 2005

The pentax spot is super. I own the Zone VI modified and would prefer the unmodified. Users who own both tell me the difference between the two is indistinguishable in the field except that the unmodified is about 1 stop more capable at the lowest light ranges. That is a very important difference to me.

The hipe about metering through filters is just hipe. I tried it for years and ended up with skinny shadow details. Went back to old fashioned filter factors!

ebay has a constant stream of these passing through each week. The 220 price is ballpark considering no shipping. I paid $190 + shipping.

Good Luck

photobum · Dec 20, 2005

I have the standard unmodified model. I have tested it with a lot of other standard and Zone VI models. I have never seen a change in reading. In any case it's the best meter you can buy. Get or make the stick-on zone thing and come over to the world of B&W.

Danpv · Dec 20, 2005

I use a Zone modified Pentax digital spot meter for shooting chromes and I highly recommend it. Bought a second one (unmodified) to have on hand as a backup.

Rlibersky · Dec 20, 2005

Only meter I have used, other then flash. I have the same one I bought in 1989. Never had a problem with it.

MurrayMinchin · Dec 20, 2005

Mines over 24 years old...no problems

Murray

david b · Dec 20, 2005

I currently own two of them and will never use anything else. They are the best.

I remember hearing that Pentax aren't making them anymore but I could be wrong.

No matter, it is a great meter.

Alexz · Dec 20, 2005

Thanks.
The seller mentioned the meter has zone system scale on top of it, so I guess it isn't the modified version but rather a regular with scale attached to it.
Still cannot make up my mind whether it worth 220$, I see people here picked such from 80$ to 190$, go figure..

david b · Dec 20, 2005

It is definitely worth $220. They are selling for $350+ on ebay.

Buy it, love it, and thank us later.

voceumana · Dec 20, 2005

When Zone VI modified the meter, they attached a zone dial. Having a zone dial doesn't mean it was modified, and it does not mean it was not modified.

On one side of the housing, it will have a sticker that states it was modified by Zone VI if it was modified.

In any case, I recommend the meter, modified or not. I've had mine for at least 20 years, and it works fine.

Charlie

blanco_y_negro · Dec 20, 2005

Pentax spotmeter

Alex,
There is some useful information here:
http://www.butzi.net/articles/zone VI worth it.htm

E. Zeybekoglu

Alexz · Dec 20, 2005

Yes, thanks, already figured this review.
Seems acquiring one for just over 200$ would be a wise decision...

Charles Webb · Dec 20, 2005

Funny thing, a person can spend a life time looking for a particular item, that sells for X amount, he/she hears a tale that someone got theirs for less
money, so immediately the going price seems like a rip off! I can remember when Colt single actions pistols were everywhere and the going rate was $80.00 bucks or so, well I was too smart for that! I wasn't about to buy a used gun for that price. Well I showed em, I held out, now the same gun will sell pretty close to $2000.00, and folks just can't seem to find enough of them. Pentax made a bunch of those meters but the supply will run out one of these days. I wouldn't hesiatate one second buying one for $200.00 if that was the meter I wanted. I have used both the modified and the one direct from a dealer, there isn't a nickles worth of difference between them!
If you know and understand what a light meter actually does, you can learn to live totally without one as we did before they were invented. A spot meter is just another tool, if understood it is wonderful, but first you have to know how it works and why.

Charlie...................

Frank Petronio · Dec 20, 2005

One caution. Picker used to sell only the sticker to cheapskates like me who stuck the $5 sticker onto their unmodified meters. I love my 22-year old unmodified meter and $220 is a decent price for one.

They are great for color work so that you know what highlights will burn out and which shadows will sink in, while you place the flesh tone or the middle values where you want them.

Alexz · Dec 20, 2005

Charlie, I'm not sure I got your point of sarcasm, did I say I want the meter but don't know why and what for ? You can be sure, exp. metering and meter's usage isn't something I'm not able to grasp and in fact spot metering in conjunction with zone theory was the thing I particularily devoted a necessary time to learn a while ago with the help of the great book on Spot metering.
The issue was that this is my first time I realized the necessity for a dedicated meter (and spot meter in particular) after diving into LF world and I have no opportunities to buy and return different meters until settling with the one that will suit me most, this is why I'm just trying to get reassured spending my hard-earned 200$ or so wisely leaving just as little probability to be dissapointed as possible. And for that the great help of APUG community is invaluable.

harleygsb · Dec 20, 2005

I have the regular model and it is excellent. Very easy and quick and very accurate.

Charles Webb · Dec 20, 2005

Alexz,
There was absoultely no sarcasm intended in my post, I am sorry you misread my intentions. But to put things into proper perspective I would estimate that 85 or higher percent of people using a "light meter" believes
that that is what it does. Read light! The simple thought that a bit of human
interpretation is necessary for the device to work is generally not understood.
Sorry, Charlie...............

Oren Grad · Dec 20, 2005

david b said:
I remember hearing that Pentax aren't making them anymore but I could be wrong.

The Digital Spotmeter is still listed as a current item by both Pentax USA and Pentax Japan. The Spotmeter V is out of production, though.

pentaxuser · Dec 20, 2005

I have just worked this out in pounds sterling at about £130. I entertained the idea of getting a spot meter so until very recently used to keep an eye open for secondhand ones and certainly I have never seen a Pentax at these prices in the U.K in the photography magazines. By U.K. standards this seems great value provided it is in OK condition.

Alexz · Dec 21, 2005

Well, guys and girls, took the plunge and bought this meter for roughly 225$.
It turned to be a real Zone IV modified one ! Just for a mere of 225$ !
So far seems to work just fine, albeit have yet figured and downloaded its manual (hopefully will locate one online available for download).
So far most of the things seems to be quite intuitive, just need a good "photogenic" weather to go out ...:

Alex

JosBurke · Dec 21, 2005

You'll be well served by the Pentax Digital Spot--modified or not--I have two--both unmodified and my primary with the handy little zone sticker--can't beat it!! I never use my backup as my primary has never let me down. I also have a Sekonic L-508 but the Pentax Digital is still my number one meter!!
joseph burke

Alexz · Dec 22, 2005

Thanks, I hope.
I'm curious, what is the advantage of this Zone VI modification except of supposed IR cut-off and better flare resistance ? What is it real life benefit over an unmodified version with Zone sticker ?
Also, since I don't shoot B&W, its usage will be mainly for transparancies (i.e. color work). Does the modification bring any real benefit in this instance over the non-modified version ?

Your opinion on Pentax Digital Spotmeter

Alexz

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Rlibersky

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Alexz

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