I have recently purchased an older Pentax honeywell 1/21 spot meter. In taking a reading it seems to reference the lower scale 3-9 on the meter. By using this I get accurate readings. There is a upper scale through the viewfinder reads 10-21 and corresponds to the dial on the handle but I cannot find anything on the meter that will switch the meter to this scale. There is the trigger reading "L", a grey button reading "B" - I assume this is the battery check. There is a small set screw above the battery with an arrow pointing in both directions. That is it. Anyone have any answers.

Why does this meter have both a 9V and smaller battery?

-- Mark Miksis (mark.miksis@ehdd.com), January 14, 2002

Answers

Mark... you can probably get a manual for the meter at www.craigcamera.com

-- Dave Richhart (pritprat@erinet.com), January 14, 2002.

I have this very meter. Mine is also for sell -- so send that one back and buy mine WITH the manual! The L is for low light and provides a reading on the 3-9 scale (don't press this outdoors as it will peg the needle causing potential damage). B is for battery check -- the needle should reach the black horizontal line in the viewfinder. I believe one battery controls the L scale (9v?) and the other for the High scale. The white button on the side illuminates the viewfinder. I believe the set screw is for calibrating.

-- Richard Stum (info@kinesisgear.com), January 14, 2002.

Mark, I have the same meter.

The high scale does not need a switch to turn on. You simply aim the meter at the target, if the target's EV is higher than EV 10, you should see the reading in the 10-16 scale.

Hope this helps. Wenbiao

-- Wenbiao Liang (wenbiao.liang@hyprotech.com), January 15, 2002.

I, too, have the Pentax 1/21 spotmeter. The 9v supplies power to the 3-10 lower range while the single, 1.35v KX640 (a fat mercury cell) powers the 10-18 upper range (no switch, always on) as well as low- level viewfinder illumination activated by the white button on the side of the handle. The 1/21 provides a closer view of the subject than the Pentax Spotmeter V (which has one continuous scale active only when the trigger button is engaged.) I like both these meters. I would like to know about alternative power sources for the kx640 mercury cell. Also, what is the effect of alternative batteries on the operation of the meter. Thanks. karl payne.

-- karl payne (paynekarl@worldnet.att.net), January 21, 2002.