Hello,

Just purchased used Pentax V spotmeter. Didn't get instruction book, but don't think I'll need that. Just 2 questions...

1. is the grey button marked with "B" for battery test? I assume that when pushed, the neddle shows battery ok if it falls within the black indicator in the viewfinder.

2. The little view finder light is so dim that one would have to be using the meter in a darkroom......is that some kind of cruel joke perpetrated by Pentax, or is the one I got out of whack? Not that it matters; if it's so dark I need that to read the dial, the spot meter isn't the tool for that lighting situation.

whoops, 3rd question (hey, I lied) On the bottom scale, marked "Linear Scale", a large arrow is marked 1:32. Now, I figure in normal use, I put the EV number indicated in the view finder directly under that large arrow, and read the exposures on the dial above. What are the numbers on either side of the arrow? It looks like a logrithmic scale.

Thanks, Doug

-- Douglas Gould (assistdelrey@earthlink.net), February 09, 2002

Answers

Doug... sounds like a manual could come in handy. Try www.craigcamera.com

-- Dave Richhart (pritprat@erinet.com), February 09, 2002.

You can download one from the Pentax site. Previously they didn't have the spotmeter manuals there, so I ordered one from them for $4. Got it in a couple of days.

http://www.pentax.com/docstore/index.cfm?show=6

If for some reason that doesn't work go here

http://www.pentax.com/service/request.cfm

and click on download owner's manuals.

DW

-- Dave Willis (willisd@medicine.wustl.edu), February 09, 2002.

Dave & Dave:

I love this place!! Dave #1 gives me a source for purchase of manual ($18.00 by the way), and Dave #2 gives me source for free download of same.

Is this a great country, or what?

Doug

-- Douglas Gould (assistdelrey@earthlink.net), February 09, 2002.

Correct on the B button.

As for the light, I believe this meter reads off the viewing screen so if the light were to be usefully bright it'd inflate the reading.

-- John Hicks (jhicks@bellsouth.net), February 09, 2002.

I have the same meter.

The light dimly illuminates E.V.'s 0 through 6, that side of the scale that reads dark areas. Above an E.V. of 6, it's bright enough not to need the light. Below an E.V. of 6, the finder is dark enough that a only a dim light is required. So, everything works fine!

The button marked "B" is for the battery.

I'd also be interested in knowing the purpose of the linear scale.

-- neil poulsen (neil.fg@att.net), February 10, 2002.