ptpdprinter
Veteran
Although discontinued, the Sekonic L-758, which Chris recommends, is still available from Adorama for $439.
gnuyork
Well-known
I'll just chime in here...I use the Pentax digital spot (Zone VI modified) and yes I am an Ansel Adams wannabe (thanks for that, Chris). It's a great meter. I use it for more than just landscape with my 4x5. Lately I've been using with with a (gasp) Rolleiflex. Ansel must be turning in his grave.
I better not mention my Leica, because HCB, I surely am not - more of a Ralph Gibson flavor.
I don't recommend it to the OP only because he wanted a meter that could do both spot and incident and his budget is $400.
I better not mention my Leica, because HCB, I surely am not - more of a Ralph Gibson flavor.
I don't recommend it to the OP only because he wanted a meter that could do both spot and incident and his budget is $400.
airfrogusmc
Veteran
Another vote for the Pentax spot meter V. It was a great tool when I was in college learning the zone system and even if you are not using the zone system it is a great tool for finding out how deep your shadows are and how high your highlights are and then you can make an exposure then a processing decision based on that information. I wish I still had mine.
x-ray
Veteran
I'm not a landscape photographer but have been using a Pentax spot meter since before Christmas was born. I originally used it in commercial photo work but use it when I want to measure the contrast range and exposure accurately. There's no equal to the digital Pentax meter imo.
Spot meters require a much higher level of skill and knowledge than incident meters to use them properly. In unskilled hands they're worse than nothing at all.
As to the See nice meters, the spot function is just an ok compromise. They're usable but not as refined as the Pentax and subject to issues like flare in the optics in backlit subjects. Reading and calculating contrast ranges is more cumbersome than with the Pentax. You can get by with one in most cases but having owned and using it regularly I find the spot function falls well short of the pentax. The only thing that the Sekonic spot does that the Pentax doesn't is read flash.
I've found do all devices are usually a compramize. I think in time most people find spot meters aren't for them because they're more difficult to use and you really need to understand how they work in terms of reading values. Unless you really have a reason to use aspkt meter I'd just suggest a good incident meter and save yourself money and frustration and wasted film. A dedicated incident meter will be easier to use, cheaper and much smaller. You'll most likely get better exposures unless you're ready to really learn how to use a spot meter.
No Chris's, not every one is an Angel wannabe or a landscape photographer.
Spot meters require a much higher level of skill and knowledge than incident meters to use them properly. In unskilled hands they're worse than nothing at all.
As to the See nice meters, the spot function is just an ok compromise. They're usable but not as refined as the Pentax and subject to issues like flare in the optics in backlit subjects. Reading and calculating contrast ranges is more cumbersome than with the Pentax. You can get by with one in most cases but having owned and using it regularly I find the spot function falls well short of the pentax. The only thing that the Sekonic spot does that the Pentax doesn't is read flash.
I've found do all devices are usually a compramize. I think in time most people find spot meters aren't for them because they're more difficult to use and you really need to understand how they work in terms of reading values. Unless you really have a reason to use aspkt meter I'd just suggest a good incident meter and save yourself money and frustration and wasted film. A dedicated incident meter will be easier to use, cheaper and much smaller. You'll most likely get better exposures unless you're ready to really learn how to use a spot meter.
No Chris's, not every one is an Angel wannabe or a landscape photographer.