What device measures light from a very precise area near the center of the viewfinder?

Spot meters are specifically designed to measure light from a very precise area, typically a small circle that represents only a few degrees of the field of view. This allows photographers to gauge exposure accurately for specific subjects or elements in a scene without being influenced by surrounding lighting conditions.

When using a spot meter, the photographer can isolate a subject and ensure that it is properly exposed, making it an incredibly effective tool for challenging lighting situations. Spot meters are particularly useful in high-contrast environments, where it’s crucial to get the right reading for the subject of interest, rather than the entire scene.

The other types of meters serve different purposes; integrated meters take into account the entire scene for a general exposure reading, reflective meters measure light bouncing off subjects, and incident meters measure light falling on the subject without being influenced by reflectance. These meters are not designed to provide the precise, localized readings that spot meters do.