Tale of 2 Light Meters: Comparing the Reveni Labs to My Minolta F.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 พ.ค. 2022
- A friend of mine suggested that I give his new Reveni Labs spot meter a go, and compare it with my own Minolta F spot meter. I was always curious about this odd looking… dare I say, Steve Austin-ish digital eyepiece. So, I said why not? This is not a “how to” video. It is just me getting to know the meter, by using it alongside mine. I’ll show some comparison images, and tell you what I think of it at the end... This video went much longer than I anticipated. My apologies.
HP5 120 film was used for this comparison. It was developed in Xtol-R.
Several doughnuts were murdered in the making of this video...
(please note that doughnuts are a "sometimes" food!) - บันเทิง
Can you do a video on how to use the minolta with the zone system?
Thanks for the show!
The Maddman.
The Minolta Spot Meter F. Reads and gives the equivalent of a mid tone (18% grey) or zone V, if you want to place a tone in the scene on Zone III, (value III density on the neg) read that tone and under expose 2 stops. Once the film spead of the meter is set to the film speed used the two are intrinsically linked. ie the density of Zone III (value III on the neg) will always be identical even if the light level changes - the meter will proportionally compensate. All the densities on the negative or (Values) will be consistent. Once you have a Zone III placement you can find all the other zones by pointing the meter and reading the number of stops difference of each tone in the scene - no guess work needed. Once you understand this you can find where the Zones are in the scene on the negative by using an enlarging meter because the densities are propotional to the scene Zones (remember, they are intrinsically linked to the meter readings and Zone placement). The Negative by Ansel Adams explains all this better than I can but I'm giving a simplified version.
I've had that book since '92...The pages are so dog earred, and worn out! I've also had the Spot Meter F since '92 and it has been my main metre since. I've used the zone system exclusively. Once I've tested the film with whatever developer I'm using, drawing N curves (on paper and by hand, not with some computer software 😄), finding EI to give me .10, then I can pretty much place readings where ever I please... Usually I place important shadows on zone 3 (two stops less), then check to see where high values (with detail)fall, and can develop accordingly. The control is quite astounding. All the extra bells and whistles on the Reveni are a great way for the beginner to learn the zone system, but at the end of the day, not necessary.
Given what I would call his practice of using a 1/3 stop over-exposure of his film and development, the slightly light tones of the Minolta read exposures seems appropriate.What I would like to see as a follow-up here, or somewhere else, would be a carefully controlled test of the Reveni for (1) accuracy of alignment between viewed and read target, and (2) measured area of actual coverage, i.e., whether the coverage is 1, 3, 5, or some other degree of coverage. It is simply impossible that two competent spot meters can read the same area and give a two stop different. Here, there seems to have been 1.5 difference for most of the exposures. As a decades long user of Minolta Spot M and F meters, I'm familiar with their accuracy right out of the box, so I think the onus is on the Reveni to prove its merit.
Yes, I thought about doing another video from what I have learnt about it, but at the end of the day, I'd rather someone who uses the meter do it. If the Reveni was my only meter, then I'd definitely would. Cheers!
Merci 😂
De rein!
After using a Reveni Spot Meter for about 8 months now, I offer the following comments: 1) the area inside the larger circle has quite an influence on the reading (I always make sure there's nothing bright in or even near the edge of the larger circle), 2) I find it more comfortable to use and to read the internal screen with the meter held a few inches away from my eye, 3) the buttons become very intuitive to use after a while, and 4) avoid any sunlight entering through the viewing lens (it will ruin the internal screen.) Overall, I really like my Reveni Spot but I'm not giving up my Pentax Digital Spot...ever.
The Pentax Digital Spot is something one should take to their grave.
Great video Andy
The donuts looked fantastic and it looked like there was a very diverse variety to explore.
Oh right........the meters!!!
That was a great comparison of the two meters
As was mentioned in a previous comment the light surrounding the metered target has a huge influence on the reading and the evidence was overwhelming in every negative you showed.
Getting closer to the metered target to fill the frame, sort of speak, is not always possible and would certainty limit its use IMO.
To use the Reveni meter as my only meter would be a totally different mind set and a lot of "practice, practice, practice".
I won't give up on it. I will be trying the different metering modes available for sure.
Thanks again Andy
Ya, I like to be able to read areas from the camera position. Moving in closer to read the subject, introduces the parallax issue. But...I'm wondering now if I should give the meter another go, with this gained knowledge... I'll have to borrow it from that Stephen guy again. Maybe he'll accept doughnuts for payment...
@@analogueandy8x10 Mmmmm Donuts
@@analogueandy8x10 My wife and I sat down with a bowl of popcorn for this one 😄
Practice makes perfect perfect perfect!
I have a Reveni meter, I hate it. It is way too fidgety. The buttons are difficult to press when moving your finger around, it turns off, you start over again and again if the light changes. Very frustrating not to mention the button combinations required in zone system modes. It's ok to use in the simplest mode, just read the EV value and set it up with my Pentax meter from the EV value. But then why not just use the Pentax meter? Poor design in my experience with it. I kept it for comparison testing and back up to my Pentax spot meter.
I totally agree with you. That metre is not for me. I never knew if the doughnut was actually on the area I wanted to read... and it's not 1 degree, either. I'll stick with my Minolta Spot F... a metre that I've been using for over 30 years.
@@analogueandy8x10 there you go with those doughnuts again ;-)
@@steveh1273 I never say no to a good doughnut! Will be my downfall one day! 😁
Holy crap...10 minutes in and I had to punch out. This video should be 2 minutes max, not 35 minutes.
I agree it was quite long. Two minutes would be way to short, though. Thanks for hanging in as long as you did!