Originally posted by Cuthbert There's something you didn't consider in your test: the Spotmatic has a plain average lightmeter, while the ME is strongly centre patterned meter with a peculiar pattern
I accept this - I simply offer up the ME findings as additional data and because, out of the two other cameras I had immediately available, it is far more comparable in technology to the Spotmatic than the K-5 is.
In your opinion, should I repeat the test with the K-5 set to matrix metering?
The P3 and the P30T ought to have the same basic sensor and metering pattern as each other, unless someone can tell me they changed things radically between models, and I have the P3 loaded with 400ASA film plus a 200ASA cartridge (awaiting processing) that I can put into the P30T to tell the DX coding what to do. This will be a much more limited range test, true; but as these are the only two film speeds I can easily get hold of, it makes no practical difference what the results are at higher or lower sensitivities. I'm not exactly sure how the camera interprets things inside, but I still have a feeling it's closer to the Spotmatic than the K-5. Correct me if I'm wrong.
ETA: With the K-5 set as before, except matrix metering on, results are UNCHANGED from above.
Bizarrely enough, when I had an FA50/f1.4 on, set it to aperture priority to make sure the camera couldn't change that on me and ran the same test, it agreed with the Spotmatic. When I ran it in manual mode with f/2.0 set on the aperture ring, it agreed with the previous findings above. Using the f/2.0 55mm Takumar, it makes no difference whether I use Av or M mode.
Truly the ultimate arbiter will be to shoot a roll relying on the Spotmatic's metering, with the sensitivity set per the film box, and see what happens. I suspect, but cannot prove, that the Spotmatic is telling me what it wants best for film and the K-5 is telling me what it wants best for its sensor/processor, but I don't have the time to do a direct head-to-head shoot of exactly the same subjects and I will settle for being pleased (or displeased) with what the Spotmatic serves up. If everything's overexposed, I'll know what to do next time.