Again ! A Lightmeter Question !

[angeloks]

Hi,

I've been using my Leica IIf for a while without a lightmeter but I found that when I'm in low light situations I'm often off the track. I got myself a Sekonic L-398M to verify my guesses, but actually its sensitivity isn't high enough for my needs !

Now, I was considering the VC meter II for it fits nicely on my IIf. But, I want a meter that will give me readings like 6400iso, f1.2, 1/50 ! Is there anything out there that will allow me to do that ?

Thanks,
Julien

 

[f/stopblues]

The Sekonic L-308 (L-308S/L-308B) is a digital incident meter that reads up to iso8000 in 1/3 stop incriments. I love mine, personally! Surely many of the other digital models will do the same, but I like the 308 for its size and simplicity.

 

[jke]

Vote #2 for the L-308. Now called the L-308s. Battery lasts forever.

Admittedly you are using a screwmount Leica, so speed is not a big deal, but I never enjoyed using the fumbly dials of a VC and the brevity of its on/off cycle. Punch, read, go. That's the way the L308 works.

 

[freeranger]

my favourite is the Black Cat extended range meter. Film speed from .1 to 1.6 mil !!!!
Less than $20!!!

 

[Glenn2]

I replaced my dead meter recently and went with the Sekonic L 308S. It's very sensitive and has the big plus of using a single AA for power. The readout is digital but only does the standard number sequence... 1/ 30,60, 125....

Have compared it with a Minolta spotmeter F that I also use and they give identical readings. The 308 also works as a flash meter if you ever use flash.

Bought mine from Harry's Proshop in Canada...
http://harrysproshop.com/Sekonic_Meters/sekonic_meters.html

Glenn

 

[VictorM.]

What's a Black Cat meter? My Lunasix 3 reads to below ¼sec @ f/1.4 when set to 6400. The needle does do a slow creep in low light.

 

[rogue_designer]

The Gossen Digisix I use only technically reads up to 3200, but I've gotten very low light readings indeed, and its not hard to manually interpolate the readings a stop.

 

[freeranger]

What's a Black Cat meter? My Lunasix 3 reads to below ¼sec @ f/1.4 when set to 6400. The needle does do a slow creep in low light.

I've been using it for night photography with my Isolette. It really is excellent, and quick and easy after you get used to it.

http://jimdoty.com/Tips/Exposure_Guide/exposure_guide.html

 

[Tim Gray]

Hmm. I just got a 308s and I don't think it does what the original poster wants.

Mine seems to bottom out on ISO 100 at 1 sec f/1.0, which is at 1/15 s f/1.4 ISO 3200. Well, just barely misses his requirements, since that's equivalent to 1/45 s f/1.2 at ISO 6400. It'd be great to meter lower, but oh well. Now that I did that calculation, if I ever go to meter something at ISO 3200 and don't get a reading, I'll now to go down to 1/8 or 1/4 s and pray. haha.

 

[f/stopblues]

The readout is digital but only does the standard number sequence... 1/ 30,60, 125....

Actually, if you turn on the meter by holding the power and mode button, a screen will come up that allows you to pick full stop increments, 1/2 stop, or 1/3 stop. Changing this will allow you to access 1/50th and all those fun numbers.

 

[gdi]

I've been using it for night photography with my Isolette. It really is excellent, and quick and easy after you get used to it.

http://jimdoty.com/Tips/Exposure_Guide/exposure_guide.html

I have been using a Black Cat since the '80's. They are great.

I also have a couple of Quantum Calcu-Lights. They go as low as 1.2 @ 1/50 ISO 6400. They are digital and very small. I'll sell you one!