Pentax Spotmeter III versus Spotmeter V

Hi,

I am looking to purchase an inexpensive 1 degree spotmeter, and the
Pentax Spotmeter V seems to be a good price/quality tradeoff. However,
I'm finding that the prices for the Pentax Spotmeter V are running
close to $200 ("inexpensive" being a relative concept). I am therefore
considering purchasing an older model, in particular the Pentax
Spotmeter III. Is there a significant difference between these two
models? For that matter, are there cheaper 1-degree spotmeter
alternatives that are reasonably accurate and have decent flare
control?

Thanks.

--Phil

Phil Glaser wrote:
Hi,

I am looking to purchase an inexpensive 1 degree spotmeter, and the
Pentax Spotmeter V seems to be a good price/quality tradeoff. However,
I'm finding that the prices for the Pentax Spotmeter V are running
close to $200 ("inexpensive" being a relative concept). I am therefore
considering purchasing an older model, in particular the Pentax
Spotmeter III. Is there a significant difference between these two
models? For that matter, are there cheaper 1-degree spotmeter
alternatives that are reasonably accurate and have decent flare
control?

The main difference is that the III uses a (now unobtainable)
mercury cell (a PX640 IIRC) and has two ranges (EV 2-10 and 10-19?).
The V has one range from 2-19 and uses easy to get PX76 cells.

That said, I have a Pentax III spotmeter, use the same PX640
for about 10 years now and will have no problem to convert
it to silveroxide cells (using the tried Schottky-diode way)
if and when the PX640 dies and my two spare cells are dead, too.

So, if you know where the hot end of a soldering iron is, read
http://www.rolleiclub.nl/batt-adapt-US.pdf and buy a cheap
Pentax Spotmeter III.

Martin