An unexpected result when using exposure spot metering on my camera.

[William W]

Although a number of advanced SLRs offer spot-metering capability, the metering angle is directly related to the focal length of the camera lens in use. Every time the lens is changed, the effective spot-meter angle changes. With a normal lens in use, the spot-metering angle may be 15 degrees or more. A handheld 1-degree spot meter, on the other hand, allows the most selective measurement of distant subjects and small areas in complex scenes.

HAHAHAHA! ... that reeks of advertising hype rather than being a data based conclusion.

As I alluded, using a zoom lens on my DSLR allows for a very nice RANGE 'selections'.

Sekonic do make good meters though, so Chuck would give them some leniency.

WW

[xpatUSA]

Sekonic said: With a normal lens in use, the spot-metering angle may be 15 degrees or more. A handheld 1-degree spot meter, on the other hand, allows the most selective measurement of distant subjects and small areas in complex scenes.

HAHAHAHA! ... that reeks of advertising hype rather than being a data based conclusion.

WW

... especially if I plunk my afore-mentioned 70-300mm plus 2X teleconverter on my DSLR camera and get down to a 1/3 degree spot angle.

[Manfred M]

... especially if I plunk my afore-mentioned 70-300mm plus 2X teleconverter on my DSLR camera and get down to a 1/3 degree spot angle.

At that focal length I need a really steady tripod to have a chance of hitting a spot that small accurately.

[xpatUSA]

At that focal length I need a really steady tripod to have a chance of hitting a spot that small accurately.

On the other hand, shooting the approx. 1/2 degree moon would certainly be possible.

https://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/math30.html

Pardon me for mentioning a popular "spot".

[William W]

... especially if I plunk my afore-mentioned 70-300mm plus 2X teleconverter on my DSLR camera and get down to a 1/3 degree spot angle.

20' (20 minutes) . . . and you're the numbers man, sheesh. . . better: 0° 20’ 0’’

[xpatUSA]

20' (20 minutes) . . . and you're the numbers man, sheesh. . . better: 0° 20’ 0’’

Pardon my unfamiliarity with degrees, Bill. Us engineers are more comfortable with radian measure.