Inexpensive digital light meter?

[guy-montag]

Are there any particularly good light meters in the sub $100 range that any of you care to recommend? Especially ones with a digital readout (vs. the voltage meter moving needle type)?

I'll often use my Nikon D200 digital SLR as a light meter for my Mamiya C330 TLR, but while it works very well (I often tell people that it's my polaroid back heh), it's massive and a pain to lug around. 🙁

 

[kuzano]

Gossen Luna Pro Digital

Gossen Luna Pro Digital

I purchased one like new in the box from a professional photographer by watching Craigslist. Paid $60. Excellent meter. Light, accurate and thin enough for shirt pocket. It has a neck strap, so I put it around my neck and drop it in my shirt pocket.

I often see them on eBay for sub-100 but that's usually on a Sunday buy. Most often they go for a touch over $100. Reflected and Ambient. They also make an F model for flash... more money.

 

[John Lawrence]

Just another vote for the Sekonic L-208. Had one for years sold it, then last year got the latest version. However, it doesn't feel as "tough" as the original. Currently good value on the secondhand market.

 

[BSchall]

I've been using a Polaris for years now. Similar to the Gossen Luna Pro Digital but cheaper, at least new. I don't know what they go for used but they are just over $200 new. Does reflective, incident, and flash.

 

[hiromu]

Probably it is more than $100, but I use Gossen Digi Six, which is digital. Small enough and has many functions. But it does not have a switch, so it is always on...
Hiromu

 

[guy-montag]

I've been using a Polaris for years now. Similar to the Gossen Luna Pro Digital but cheaper, at least new. I don't know what they go for used but they are just over $200 new. Does reflective, incident, and flash.

Thanks for the recommendation! There's one on ebay now that looks nice, but what the final price will be is up for grabs heh.

 

[guy-montag]

Probably it is more than $100, but I use Gossen Digi Six, which is digital. Small enough and has many functions. But it does not have a switch, so it is always on...
Hiromu

That looks really handy, though it does seem unlikely that I'll find one for under $100 🙁

 

[mh2000]

why do you want a digital readout? a friend of mine (new to photography) bought the little gossen, then actually looked at my Sekonic L-208 and realized that the analog readout is much more flexible since you get to see the whole range of apertures and shutter speeds at the same time (returned the gossen). The Sekonic Twinmate-II is, great, cheaper and really cute... and looks much more appropriate with classic cameras (like your Mamiya).

 

[mh2000]

PS I don't really need meters for most of what I shoot... I just take the L-208 out with me because I *like* it so much 🙂

 

[guy-montag]

why do you want a digital readout? a friend of mine (new to photography) bought the little gossen, then actually looked at my Sekonic L-208 and realized that the analog readout is much more flexible since you get to see the whole range of apertures and shutter speeds at the same time (returned the gossen). The Sekonic Twinmate-II is, great, cheaper and really cute... and looks much more appropriate with classic cameras (like your Mamiya).

Size and recent manufacture upping the odds of accuracy when buying from people on ebay who almost never note if the meter is accurate or even know how to test it..

Honestly speaking though, I've never used an analog meter, and even when I was apprenticed to a fashion photographer I never really needed to pull out the meter because we didn't shoot any film, so I suppose my preference isn't a widely educated one heh.

 

[Shok]

I cheat. My sony mobile takes photos, then I check the aperture and speed it automatically selected without flash mode. (in the metadata of the snapshot)
Then I apply information that manually to camera. Works a treat.

I wonder if there's a program on mobile phone that'll use the camera automatically to light meter? It'd be tonnes cheaper!

 

[35mmdelux]

Sekonic Master $143. Among the very best.

 

[guy-montag]

Sekonic Master $143. Among the very best.

Ah, but I'm looking for one among the very affordable 😉

Accurate and sub $75 really, if such a combination is possible.

 

[guy-montag]

I cheat. My sony mobile takes photos, then I check the aperture and speed it automatically selected without flash mode. (in the metadata of the snapshot)
Then I apply information that manually to camera. Works a treat.

I wonder if there's a program on mobile phone that'll use the camera automatically to light meter? It'd be tonnes cheaper!

Drat, I checked my phone and sadly it doesn't show the camera settings in the meta data it provides 🙁

Oh crackberry, I finally found one thing you're no good at...

 

[Hopscotch]

I just got my Gossen Pilot. I decided not to buy the Pilot II and stick with the first model because it was made the same year as my Leica. I felt that was being special or something.

It's tiny, and works fantastically. sometimes I feel it underexposes a little, but enough to be pushed in a darkroom. It's great, and has a classic late 60's look to it. Matches my Leica well. Highly recommended. I got mine for 30 dollars on eBay. You dont ever have to worry about it's batteries dying, because you have none!

 

[mh2000]

Actually the Sekonic twin mate II meter is a very recent meter... it's about the same size as the Gossen, but cheaper and smaller:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/200224-REG/Sekonic_401_208_L_208_Twin_Mate_Meter.html

It looks a lot like an old Gossen Pilot which is why I think it looks good with classic cameras. Yup, my Pilot off ebay cannot be adjusted to work correctly 🙁

If you find the little Sekonic on ebay I'm sure it would be good since I think they've only been made for the last 10 years... and they take modern batteries.

DId I meantion that they come with the most darling little gray ulta-suede pouch? (They're really cute!) 😉

Size and recent manufacture upping the odds of accuracy when buying from people on ebay who almost never note if the meter is accurate or even know how to test it..

Honestly speaking though, I've never used an analog meter, and even when I was apprenticed to a fashion photographer I never really needed to pull out the meter because we didn't shoot any film, so I suppose my preference isn't a widely educated one heh.

 

[mh2000]

Oh, for ultra-cheap, my Leningrad-8 works well enough and cost like $8... I try to use it when shooting FSU gear.