What Light Meter to Use for starters

[Koby]

I'm startig at my photography journey and am wondering what is a good, not so expensive light meter to use?

[nightspirit]

The Sekonic meters are probably the best ones especially for digital. Their cheapest one is just under 200.00 I got an old Minolta autometer lll on ebay for 80.00. It works great, I have found that it's readings are about 1/2 stop lower than ideal. Also if I use it for flash metering you only have 1/60 and 1/250 shutter speeds to work with, so you have to adjust if you're shooting at anything different than those speeds. There are newer versions of the Minolta meters on ebay, but for what they usually go for, you might as well spend the extra and get a new Sekonic. If you don't intend to use it for flash photography, ambient light meters can be found for well under 100.00

[rshunk]

Definitly check eBay for older Minolta and Sekonic meters at a good price.

If you're looking for a brand new one for under $150 - try the LM-6 by JTL - I've had mine for about 5 years and never had a single problem with it.


Bob S.

[Rense]

I started my adventure with a digisix, went upwards to a variosix, but love my analog meters from sekonic and weston.

[00silvergt]

L308 for ~$200 maybe less used. BTW, if you are just starting out may I ask what you will need a lightmeter for? Are you using manual flashes? You know, otherwise you have a pretty good light meter on your camera.

[Austen]

I brought a Minolta IV F, as I wrote about here.

It was a pretty good model in its day, I got it from a second-hand store, it was in "as-new" condition for $50.

It didn't come with the manual, but, as they say, Google is your friend !!!

Hope this helps,


Austen.

[Koby]

Thanks for the replies.
00Silvergt, I think you are right but the problem is I need to figure out how to use it. I have been reading the manual forward and backwards and can't figure it out. I talked to a prof. photographer here and he figured I needed a light meter.

[00silvergt]

Originally Posted by Koby

Thanks for the replies.
00Silvergt, I think you are right but the problem is I need to figure out how to use it. I have been reading the manual forward and backwards and can't figure it out. I talked to a prof. photographer here and he figured I needed a light meter.

"It"? Use what? The manual for what?

[Koby]

The "it" is for the in-camera light meter. I guess i need to be better at explaining myself.
yesterday I set down with my camera again and after all I figured it out. Was I ever happy.

[00silvergt]

Originally Posted by Koby

The "it" is for the in-camera light meter. I guess i need to be better at explaining myself.
yesterday I set down with my camera again and after all I figured it out. Was I ever happy.

You know, probably don't need a handheld, until you get into manual flash. But buy some glass and other things first. Happy Shooting.

[euglan]

i use the sekonic L308s and is fine, very reliable and has never let me down, always consistent

[afterburn]

I have been interested about these things (lightmeters) as I have always thought you didn't need them with modern camera's.

How do you use them? Do you/can you also use them for, let's say landscape photography, or are they basically only useful for correctly measuring light on a subject?

[00silvergt]

Originally Posted by afterburn

I have been interested about these things (lightmeters) as I have always thought you didn't need them with modern camera's.

How do you use them? Do you/can you also use them for, let's say landscape photography, or are they basically only useful for correctly measuring light on a subject?

Light meters measure light like no onboard camera meter can. On board camera meters, measure Reflective light or the light reflected from your subject. The Light meter will measure Incident light, which is the light that falls on to your subject. Most light meters also can measure reflective light in case you want to measure light from distance like a mountain several miles away. Most of them also measure light from a flash so it eliminates the guess work from flashes without ETTL-II or ITTL support.

[jfrancho]

if you are just starting out may I ask what you will need a lightmeter for?

What a pertinent question. I see tons of suggestions made based on assumptions about the OP's goals.

Koby, what are you trying to do? A light meter may not even be necessary right now. Understanding exposure and basic camera operation may be the answer.

yesterday I set down with my camera again and after all I figured it out.

That I doubt. I still learn something new everytime I pick up the camera. The keys to getting the most out of this forum will be in the specifics of your questions. Example photos, camera model and lens, shooting mode, subject distance, and your vision of what you want to portray are all REQUIRED details to get the best answers that will advance your skills quickly.

[afterburn]

Originally Posted by 00silvergt

Light meters measure light like no onboard camera meter can. On board camera meters, measure Reflective light or the light reflected from your subject. The Light meter will measure Incident light, which is the light that falls on to your subject. Most light meters also can measure reflective light in case you want to measure light from distance like a mountain several miles away. Most of them also measure light from a flash so it eliminates the guess work from flashes without ETTL-II or ITTL support.

Maybe I should look into investing some money in a Sekonic or something, given that the meter info in the viewfinder of the 5D is completely invisible outside in the sun. How in the world am I supposed to manually setup my camera if I can't read the readings I am doing with the camera.

I love the camera, but this 'feature' is really annoying.

[00silvergt]

Originally Posted by afterburn

Maybe I should look into investing some money in a Sekonic or something, given that the meter info in the viewfinder of the 5D is completely invisible outside in the sun. How in the world am I supposed to manually setup my camera if I can't read the readings I am doing with the camera.

I love the camera, but this 'feature' is really annoying.

For starters you can look up the Sekonic L308.

[afterburn]

I did, seems like a nice, affordable solution.

Q: if you stand outside in the sun, get your lightmeter out and take a reading in ambient mode, set your camera and start shooting buildings etc, would you get correct exposures?

W