Film cameras
Minolta Spotmeter F User manual
User manual for Minolta Spotmeter F. 98 pages in French. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
98 pagesFrench7.4 MB PDF
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Document details
- Brand
- Minolta
- Model / document
- Minolta Spotmeter F
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- French
- Pages
- 98
- File size
- 7.4 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 3 · Read text
MINOLTASPOTMETERF
Minolta's Spotmeter F is designed specifically for professionalsand advanced amateurs and
enablesprecise 1" spot measurementsof both ambient and flash light. A full rangeof exposure
information is shown in digital and analog form on external and viewfinder displays.
Besides enabling accurate readings of mid-tone areas, the Spotmeter F can automatically
calculate the correct exposure for highlight and shadow areas, as well calculate the average
exposure from two readings.To monitor contrast and lighting conditions, the relative bright-
nessof various parts of the scenecan be quickly checked while looking through the viewfinder.
The Spotmeter F uses advanced micro-electronic circuitry to assure the highest possible
accuracy and reliability. And its low power consumption permits a single,inexpensiveAA-size
penlight battery to provide thousands of readings.
To obtain the best results and to get maximum use from your Minolta Spotmeter F, please
read this manual thoroughly.
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TABLEOF CONTENTS
PREPARATION OPERATION
NAMESOF PARTS 2 GENERALINFORMNTIOru 20
INSTALLINGTHE BATTERY 6 Mid-tone readings 2 1
ADJUSTINGTHE EYEPIECE 8 Ambient light measurements 22
DISPLAYS F lash measurements 24
E x t e r n ad li g i t adl i s p l a y . . . . . . 1 0 EXPOSURE CALCULATION MODES . . 26
Analogdisplay Using the memory function 28
Viewfinderdisplay 12 Highlightreadings 30
Over-rangeand under-rahgewarnings 13 Shadow readings 32
S E T T I N GT H E F I L M S P E E D 1 4 Average readings 34
SETTINGTHE SHUTTERSPEED 16 M O N I T O RI N G T H E L I G H T I N G
SELECTINGFNo./EVDISPLAYMODE. 18 C O ND I T I O N S
Checkingdifferencesin brightness . . . 36
Taking brightness-differencereading. . 37
Determ ing contrast ratios 39
Luminance measurements 40
C I N E M E A S U R E M E N T S . . . 42
CALIBRATION 43
CARE AND STORAGE 44
TECHNICAL DETAILS . . 45
,ibul1ij",eiry*,:-.-!' . -l*,lrView original page 4Page 6 · Read text
Eyepiece Power switch
Use to switch off the meter to prevent
battery drain from accidental readings.Even
when switched off , the meter retains the
film-speed and shutter-speed settings, along
with any memorized/calculated exposure
readi ngs.
Shadow key
To bias exposure for a dark shadow area,
measurethe dark area,then pressshadow key.
The meter will automatically calculate
exposure setting to correctly reproduce
shadow areasof scene.
Averaging key
To calculate the average exposure of a
scene, measure and memorize readings for
both bright and dark areas,then pressaverag-
ing key. The meter will automatically calcu-
Battery cover late a median exposurepoint.
Strap eyelet
Tripod socketView original page 6Page 7 · Read text
Highlight key .1 ISO/TIME key
To bias exposurefor bright, highlight areas, Press to display or select film-speed set-
measure the bright area, then press high- tings from ISO 12 to 6400 or shutter-speed
light key. The meter will automaticallycalcu- settings from 1/8000 sec. to 30 min. (plus
late exposure setting to correctly reproduce 1l5O sec. cine setting) in ambient mode
highlight areasof scene. and 1/1000 sec.to 1 sec.in flash mode.
Lens Recall key
Fixed focus for readings from about 1.3 Press to recall memorized exposure read-
metersto infinity. , ingsto the digital display.
External display Metering mode switch
Refer to page 10. Set to "AMBI" mode for ambient light
Measuringbutton readings. Set to "FLASH" mode for flash
Pressto make an exposure reading. ln am- readings. Memorized and displayed readings
bient mode, meter will make continuous read- are clearedwhen the switch is moved to either ' s e t t i n g .ings when button is held in. In flash mode,
pressing button triggers flash unit that has Increase and decrease keys
been connectedto meter's sync terminal. When "TlME" is displayed, the shutter
Memory clear key speed is changed by one stop each time a key
Pressto clear any memorized readings. is pressed. When "lSO" is displayed, these
FNo./EV key keys are used to change the film-speed setting
Press to select either f-number (FNo.) in 1/3-stop increments. Settings change
or exposurevalue (EV) digital display. continuously when a key is held down.
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Eyepiece Strap eyelet Built-in eyepieceis adjustablefrom -2.5 to Attach neckstrap.asshownhere. +1.2 diopters. Memory key Press to enter exposure reading into memory.'Up to two readingscan be stored, and will remain displayedon the analogscale. Display illumination button Press to illuminate viewfinder display for viewing digital readout in low light. Sync terminal Measuring-level adiustment screw To take flash readings;insert flash's sync Use to re-calibratethe meter reading cord into sync terminal. Terminal is threaded match that of another meter. to secureoptional Sync Cord ll. Battery cover Meter is powered by one AA-size penlight battery. Tripod socket Standard 114-20 thread rnatches most tripod-mountin g screws.View original page 8
Page 9 · Read text
INSTALLINGTHE BATTERY
The Spotmeter F is powered by a single 3. Insert the battery, positioning it as marked
AA-size battery. A 1.S-volt alkaline- insidethe battery chamber.
manganeseor carbon-zinc battery or 1.2-volt 4. Replacethe cover and slide it back into its
nickel-cadmium battery can be used. To originalposition.
installthe battery:
1 . Check that the power sw itch is set to, , O F F " .
2. Remove the battery cover by pressing it
down and sliding it to the left.
www.orphancameras.comView original page 9Page 11 · Read text
ADJUSTINGTHE EYEPIECE
NOTE
o lf the battery is not installedproperly, the
meter will not operate.
o To prevent accidental measuring, switch
off the meter when you are f inished using it.
o lf the meter will not be used for two
weeks or more, the battery should be
removed.
T h e S p o t m e t e r F h a s a f i x e d - f o c u s
objective lens that provides correct focus from
1.3 metersto infinity.
To compensate for individual eyesight
variations, the meter's eyepiece is adjustable
through a range of -2.5 to +1.2 diopters. To
make this adjustment, look through the
eyepiece and turn the eyepiece guard to the
right or left until the 1o spot circle appearsin
sharp focus.
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NOTE
o Light entering the eyepiece may cause
incorrect readings. When taking a reading
without looking through the eyepiece,cover it
with your hand or other opaque object.
Optional close-up lens
An optional close-up lens is availablefor
the Spotmeter F. This lens attaches to the
front, of the meter and permits measurements
of subjectsfrom 0.6 to 1.4 meters.View original page 12Page 13 · Read text
DISPLAYS
Externaldisplay
o
o
QCalculation modesi' OFNo./EV display mode indi- @Film/shutter speed indica-
g- shadow catlons ttgns
[ - average ttg" - sgconds
g - highlisht @Analog scale;', "1y1" - minutes
El mark appearswith S, A, | - Analog-Scalepointers
and H calculation-modeindi-
cators. Indicatesthat the cal- dicators
culated reading will be used "1.4to 45 - F-number scale
as the standard for monitor-
ing the brightness of other
areasof the scene.
B Ftastrmode indicator
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Viewfinderdisplay
In addition to the iTreter'sexternal display, The viewfinder display can be illuminated
there is also a digital display in the viewfinder for easierreading in low light by pressingthe
that lets you to monitor the exposure infor- display illumination button located on the
mation while taking a reading.The f-number, meter's grip.
EV number, and brightnessdifferencesare dis-
played with tenth-stop accuracy.The measur-
ing spot def ines the meter's 1o angle of
acceptance.
1 2
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Over-rangeand under-rangewarnings
In f-number mode, the meter's digital
f-number display range is from f /0.7 to f/90e.
When the letter "E" and a triangular pointer { 1,.42 2.8 t+,5,6 I ,1,| 16 2?.32 45on the analog scale appear, the reading is
outsideof this range.lf this occurs in ambient- FNo rrMElight mode, you can change the shutter-speed Ltr E ilsetting to obtain a readout without having to
take another measurement. ln f lash mode,
you will need to take a new reading.
When the reading is over or under the
t'E"meter's measurement range, the letter
appears without a triangular pointer. In this
case,take another reading of a different area.
1 3View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
SETTINGTHE FILM SPEED
1. Pressthe ISO/TIMEkey to displaythe ISO 2. Press the increase key to set higher film
film-speedsetting.lf the batteryhasjust been speeds; press the decrease key to set lower
installed,"100" (lSO 100)will be displayed. film speeds.The setting changesby 1/3 stop
each time either key is pressed and con-
tinuously when a key is held down. Any film
speed from ISO 12 to ISO 6400 can be set.
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N E
. The third and fourth digits of . tXe ISO
display can only show zeros.ThutE'120 "
and "12O0"aredisplayedfor the ISO 125 and
ISO 1250 settings,respectively.The meter is
correctlycalibratedfor the actualsettings.
. IN THE ISO-DISPLAYMODE,MEASURE-
MENTS CANNOT BE TAKEN; only, .the
increase,decrease,and ISO/TIME t<eys4friitt
operate.
o The meter can only be set for ISO film
3. After setting the film speed, press the speeds.To find the equivalentISO ratingfor
ISO/TIMEkey to return to the time-display DIN-ratedfilms, consultthe conversiontable
mode. located on the back of the battery-chamber
cover.
1 5View original page 18Page 19 · Read text
SETTINGTHE SHUTTERSPEED
After setting thd film speed, press the To change the shutter speed, press the
ISO/TIME key to put the meter in time- increase or decrease key until the desired
display mode. The display will show the most speed is displayed. Each time either key is
recently set shutter speed. lf the battery has pressed,the display will change by one full
just been installed, "60" (1/60 sec.) will be stop. The speed changescontinuously when
displayed. either key is held down.
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In flash metering.mode,the shutterspeed
can be set from 1/1000+o 1 seco.nd-When
switchingfrom ambientto flash m68b, if the
shutteris setto speedsshorterthan 1/1000or
longerthan 1 sec.,the speedwill be resetas
follows:
A M B I E N TM O D E 4 F LASH MOpF
1/2OOOto 1/8000 sec. + 1/1000sec.
30 min. to 2 sec. + 1 sec.
+ 1/60 sec. 'mode, 1/50 sec. In ambient metering the shutter
speed can be set from 1/8000 sec. to 30 NOTE
minutes,plus 1/50 sec. (which comes after the . The third and fourth digit of the shutter-
30 min. when pressingthe decreasekey) for speed display can show only zeros. Thus,
taking cine readingsat 24 fps. "12O" is displayed for the 1 1125 sec. setting.
lf the displayed shutter-speed f igure is The meter is correctly calibrated for the
followed by a small letter "s", this denotes a actual setting.
speed in full seconds; a small "m" denoted
speedsin minutes. lf there is no letter designa-
tion, the shutter speed is the reciprocal in
secondsof the number displayed (e.9., "30"
represents1/30 sec.).View original page 20Page 21 · Read text
SELECTINGFNo.lEVDISPLAYMODE
The Spotmeter F has two display/measure- In f-number mode, a digital aperture figure
ment modes, f-number (FNo.) and exposure will appear next to the "FNo." indication in
value (EV). Pressthe FNo./EV key to display the display panel. Next to this figure is a small
the desired mode on the external LCD display one-place decimal display that shows the
panel. necessary exposure decrease in 1/10 stops.
You can alternate between these two For example, if the aperturedisplay is f/8.00,
modes when "TlME" is displayed and the lens should be set at exactly t18. lf the dis-
"AMBI" mode is selected.When "FLASH" play shows f/8.05, then the exposure should
mode is set the f-number mode will be se- be decreased by 5/10 ("1/21 stop. The lens
lected automatically. aperture should be set halfway between f/8
and f/11.
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When taking ambient-lightreadings,chang- The EV displaymode is usefulfor checking
ing the ISO or shutter-speed setting will contrast ratios (p. 39), luminance(p.40), and
changethe f-number displayed. other lighting conditions. In this mode, the
display readout will be in EV steps,and only
changesin the ISO setting will affect the EV
d isplay.View original page 22Page 23 · Read text
GENERALINFORMATION
To realize the full potential of--your Spotmeter F, some basic information about it and
spotmeters in general should be understood. -"l
A spotmeter is basically a reflected-light meter, much like the built-in metffof a camera.
The advantageof a spotmeter is its ability to measurean extremely smalland precisearea of a
scenewithout reflected light from other areasinfluencingthe reading.This permits metering of
the most important areasof a scene.
Like all reflected-lightmeters, the Spotmeter F is calibrated to give a reading that falls on
the mid-point of the film's characteristiccurve, and will be reproducedas a mid-tone (r,trddium)
density on the film. In other words, the meter gives a reading that will result in "normal',
exposure for an "average" subject. An averagesubject is generally defined as one that reflects
about 18o/oof the light that strikes it.
;
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20 www.orphancameras.com
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Mid-tone readings
The simplest and quickest meg5uring
method for using the Spotmeter F isto take a
reading of a mid-tone area in the most im-
portant part of the scene and ignore darker
and lighter areas.Using this method, you are
most concerned with a single area and only
one reading is needed. Best results will,pe
obtained when the point being meas#'ed
correspondsvery closely to a mid-tone value.
2 1View original page 24From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
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