Pentax Spot Meter, used... which model ?

[Luddite Frank]

I'm looking for a second-hand Pentax spot meter...

Browsing at some of the used gear dealers on the web, I have found the Pentax Spot-V are pretty common, and occasionally a Pentax 1/21 Spotmeter, which usually are less expensive.

It also seems that the 1/21 is plagued with mercury-battery syndrome, requiring the obsolete 625 mercury cell, and an uncommon 9-volt cell. Are these even worth bothering with any more ?

Are there any issues with the Analog Spot-V that should cause me to avoid that ?

Thanks,

Luddite Frank

 

[NY_Dan]

stick with the digital one...

 

[shimokita]

Unfortunately I have not used the Spot-V or the 1/21, but I did use the Pentax 3/21 extensively in the 60s. That was a great meter according to my memory ;-).

I found this link while doing a little research...
http://www.jollinger.com/photo/meters/meters/pentax_321.html

Let us know what you end up with...
Casey

 

[Doug]

My Pentax Digital Spotmeter was new in 1982, has 1° and 3° areas, and takes the same 6v battery as the Spotmatic ES and Pentax 67 or 4 SR44
I have not used it myself, so cannot comment. My wife used it for theatre photography...

 

[xia_ke]

I don't have any experience with the Pentax spotmeters, but did use a Soligor Spot Sensor II for quite a while. It's a great meter that can be had for a song in comparison to the digital Pentax and it takes regular 9v batteries which you can get any virtually any store.

 

[ChrisN]

Currently have the digital spot, and use it with medium format and large format, and very rarely with 35mm. Excellent meter and deserves it's reputation.

Prior to acquiring that I had a Spot-V. I loved the precision and smooth travel of the analog meter. It also used available batteries. The only criticism I had was the bulk of it (compared with the later digital spot meter).

If you can't find a digital spot for an affordable price, you'll be pretty happy with the Spot-V. When you really need to get the exposure right in a scene with shadows, nothing beats a good spot meter.

 

[x-ray]

I've owned both and have been using the digital for several years. Both are good but I'd buy the digital over the analog. One drop and the analog is toast. Digital is much more rugged and also more responsive.

 

[Ronald M]

Sold the analog and bought the digital spot and it is much better. The only thing wrong is the "spot" is a little harder to see.

 

[Moto-Uno]

Can't remark on the digital units ,But, my Spotmatic V is a great tool and a worthy addition to the usual reflective,incident meters. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another. Peter

 

[Roger Hicks]

Frances has a digi-spot, I have analogue.

They're both good as long as you don't fall for the illusory extra precision of Zone VI.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Pioneer]

I use them both but am more partial to the analogue. The digital is handy when it is getting too dark to read the analogue scale. They are both good meters. I typically carry one or the other when I am going out to shoot landscape.