Topic: Spotmatic F question

[astrobeck]

Is it best to keep the metering switch in the down position when not metering to save battery power and only switch it up when metering....
Or.....

Can I just leave the switch on all the time?  I do have a lens cap that I use when not using the camera or actively making photos.

How do you use your Spotmatic in the field, I guess is my base question.
Thanks!
 

[Francois]

I don't have a spotmatic, but since it has a CDS cell keeping a cap on should prevent batteries from draining.
I wonder if it's the same switch that acts as a DOF preview on it?
I have a few M42 cameras on which it is, so focusing with the aperture stopped down would be a pain...

[AJShepherd]

Have got a Spotmatic F, and am unaware of any meter off switch, as the meter's only drawing power when the lens cap is off. There's the stop down switch on the side of the lens mount area which stops down the lens, but according to the manual I downloaded you only need that with extension tubes and some types of lenses, so I've never needed to use that.

[Francois]

I just read on it and it says that if the lens has an aperture linkage, there is no need to use the switch for other things than checking the depth of field.
But for other lenses, you have to use it to get a proper meter reading.

[chris667]

In either case, battery life is the same at a year or so.

Prefer the earlier ones though.

[johnha]

The F allowed open aperture metering with SMC-Takumar lenses (these lenses included an aperture simulator). As such, I seem to remember you can't switch the meter off with an SMC-Tak lens on it (i.e. SMC-Taks by-pass the switch). As mentioned, keeping a lens cap on should reduce battery drain (as will removing the lens and switching the meter off with the switch).

[Francois]

But with the cap on, battery drain should still be minimal since the only light coming in the camera is through the viewfinder whick is resting against the body when carried. So minimal impact there. The biggest drain should be when the camera is left on a shelf...