Any advice re lightmeters?

[snowwalker]

I want to get a good lightmeter (my first) and want a good flexible model that will allow spot readings etc. Does anyone have any recommendations and/or advice? The main use will be for landscapes.

Thanks

 

[payasam]

All or most of your cameras have meters built in. Aimed slightly downwards to avoid being fooled by the sky, they should do. If exposure is so critical that you feel the need of a spot meter, you could always bracket.

 

[Ash]

grab a leningrad-8 or similar... use it instead of your built-in meters, and see if your exposures are better or worse (russian meters can be a little free-thinking when it comes to correct exposure). I'm sure you'll realise for landscapes and such your built in meters are fine

 

[ferider]

I just got a Quantum Calculight X for US 40, including spot attachment (10 degrees). Small, most sensitive meter out there (-7 EV)
and led display (you can see in the dark). I can only recommend it (and thanks for your recommendation, Peter).

Whatever meter you get, I recommend you make sure it can measure incident.

Roland.

 

[traveller]

Have a look at the Gossen Lunasix or a Lunasix F (you will need a battery adapter or Weincell's for the first). Both are a little bit heavy but you can get attachments for spot metering too.

 

[freeranger]

I just got a Quantum Calculight X for US 40, including spot attachment (10 degrees). Small, most sensitive meter out there (-7 EV)
and led display (you can see in the dark). I can only recommend it (and thanks for your recommendation, Peter).

Whatever meter you get, I recommend you make sure it can measure incident.

Roland.

Where did you get your calculight from? Listings in google seem to be very scarce.😕

 

[ferider]

the bay ....

 

[berci]

The Sekonic Incident

The Sekonic Incident

Yes,

Go for incident metering, I bught a sekonic meter with no spot capabilities and I am getting excellent result when shooting landscape with incident metering.

 

[snowwalker]

Thanks for the replies. I have been using the built-in meters to date but it has had mixed success with my Bronica and new Blad. Also hope to pick up an M3 soonish.

Cheers

Paul

 

[sjw617]

I use a Gossen Luna Pro.

 

[wclavey]

I have a Gossen Luna Pro SBC which has the advantage of using ubiquitous 9v battery and still takes all the Luna accessories - - I have the spot attachment that I occasionally use with it. I also carry a Vivitar 45 and a pack of 1.35V hearing aid batteries in my second camera bag, if I have 2 different formats & films going at once. Both have served me well for more than 20 years.

But the interesting thing is that I have only 1 camera with a meter (OM2) - - otherwise, they are all meterless. But I have been relying more and more on a handy tool others have described here before... it comes in various incarnations... mine is the Harris Memory Meter. It is simply a rotating paper scale that you set the ASA on and it shows the sunny-16 rule next to each of the 1-stop step exposure guidelines. Perhaps because I am shooting 90%+ B&W (with more inherent exposure latitude) but the meter only comes out in tricky situations or as a reference point at the start of a session.

And believe it or not, I feel like my overall exposure skill (and resulting exposure quality) have improved significantly over the past 2 years since I have begun to use the meter less. Of course, the content and composition are still as bad as ever...