Low light meter?

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ulrich.von.lich

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Hi,

Does anyone have experience using a light meter that can mesure below EV(-2) ?

The Sekonic L308 I have stops at EV0. And it seems even the Sekonic 758 can't detect anything below EV(-2). But after some brief research on the internet, a light meter called Luna Pro SBC can do down to EV(-8) ? What's up with today's technology?

Any feedback is welcomed. Thank you.

Best Regards
 
Quick test with Profisix SBC: -4 EV @100 = 15 sec @ f/1. That's with the meter nulled. At -3 on the scale (barest twitch off 0) that's -7.

It's quite hard to read the meter even at EV-4.

Cheers,

R.
 
hi, i was thumbing through Perfect Exposure (by fellow rffer Roger Hicks), the book suggests removing the diffuser, taking a reading, and multiplying the results by 5.

I use 1/30s, f1.5 and 1600 ~ 3200 iso film for most night indoor scenes.

raytoei
 
raytoei@gmail.com said:
hi, i was thumbing through Perfect Exposure (by fellow rffer Roger Hicks), the book suggests removing the diffuser, taking a reading, and multiplying the results by 5.

I use 1/30s, f1.5 and 1600 ~ 3200 iso film for most night indoor scenes.

raytoei
Click to expand...

... point the bare cell directly at the light source from the same distance as the subject/source distance. It's rough and ready -- a flat-plate incident light reading, in effect -- but it's better than nothing.

I was going to suggest this last night too but I was too tired -- 90 km drive home after visiting an old friend.

Cheers,

R.
 
The Profisix (Luna Pro SBC) is the widest range photographic light meter I own, but with the external Booster II probe, the Minolta Flashmeter IV will reach down just as far (-2 on the base device plus five stops extension on the Booster).

Beyond -7EV you'll probably need non-photographic gear.
 
By far the most sensitive and accurate meter for low light I've ever used was a Quantum Calcu-Light XP. Out of production now and expensive as hell when they do surface (in my experience), but a simple, great meter. I reeeeeeeeeally wish I hadn't given mine to a friend years ago who subsequently got out of photography.
 
David R Munson said:
By far the most sensitive and accurate meter for low light I've ever used was a Quantum Calcu-Light XP. Out of production now and expensive as hell when they do surface
Click to expand...

Right - that one is as sensitive as the Profisix, and while it is nowhere near as neat in finish and handling nor as versatile, it is only a quarter of its size. The used price is a bit irrational though, it often is no cheaper than pro Gossens, Minoltas and Sekonics which were five times its price back in its time. It was a rather simple affordable meter at the lower end of the professional range, marketed towards wedding and passport studio photographers (which back then were near the bottom end of the photographic wage scale) - in Germany I've only ever seen its flash-capable successor bundled with portable flash kits. But in terms of pocket scale low light capability there is nothing quite like it.
 
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sevo said:
Right - that one is as sensitive as the Profisix, and while it is nowhere near as neat in finish and handling nor as versatile, it is only a quarter of its size. The used price is a bit irrational though, it often is no cheaper than pro Gossens, Minoltas and Sekonics which were five times its price back in its time. It was a rather simple affordable meter at the lower end of the professional range, marketed towards wedding and passport studio photographers (which back then were near the bottom end of the photographic wage scale) - in Germany I've only ever seen its flash-capable successor bundled with portable flash kits. But in terms of pocket scale low light capability there is nothing quite like it.
Click to expand...

Nor, as far as I am aware, is it as readily reparable as the old high-end meters. When it was new, I wasn't very impressed by it. Good specification; rough finish.

Cheers,

R.
 
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