Response to Need help with used spot meter

You'll have to meter the spot in the face which reflects 18% gray in your estimation, called zone V. Don't let anybody suggest you that this is easy. You'll make mistakes with that when starting. Try slide-film first with this method of exposure and you'll see what I mean. The Minolta M has buttons S(hadow) A(verage) H(ighlight) above. I do not use them, because I do not like Minolta to determine for me how dark a shadow must be and how bright a highlight. The button M: push it to record your meterings in a subject field, to a maximum of three. The button M-Clr: clear this memory. The button ASA/Time: choosing between these two to change it with the arrow-keys. Once set the right ASA, you put it on Time (the screen will tell you what mode you're in). The button FNo./EV: choosing for a read-out at F-stops or EV-values. I always choose EV-values because you can read out the F-stops at the line above (if there's an EV-value of 6.8 and I take over the corresponding F-stop from the line given as 2, I know I underexpose 0.2 stops). At this line you'll also see the three meterings you recorded with the M-button. If you do not see them all, you'll have to push the arrow-keys up or down (e.i. change the exposure-time) to see all the three meterings. Good luck! I use the meter as follows: I read the darkest area, the lightest area and the area I want to fall in zone V. Then I can read out the brightness range, so I know how to develop; soft or hard and I can expose for the zone V-spot in the subject.

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