Favorite <compact> Light Meter

Favorite &lt;compact&gt; Light Meter

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An iphone. As Godfrey mentions it's not the smallest, but I have one with me anyway. The Lumu isn't really necessary for me since I don't really do any incident metering and having a WYSIWYG indication through the screen is really useful. But maybe I'll get one eventually.
 
I have a VC meter which mostly is on my wrist. Sewed a flash shoe to a wrist band. The meter slides in and stays out of the way until it is needed. Will post a photo if I can ever figure out how to do it.
 
Seemingly I ended up "go big or go home", so it stays at home mostly.

Fuji GW690III and a Minolta Autometer IIIF with 10º Spot attachment (and a ND +3EV incident dome) gotten from a fellow RFFer.

Not compact according to my vision. I don't know how a Sekonic 308 compares to it, but it was the most economic modern meter option.

Should force myself to go with it, as now I loaded up Provia.

But I think I might rely on sunny rule 16 + an app ("lightmeter" android) for those lazy metering situations on negative film.
 
Last week, for fun, I downloaded the free version of Pocket Light Meter for my iPhone 5.

Works well when one has a mobile signal, otherwise it freezes to a pink screen or digital mush and point blank refuses to work.

The problem, I think, is that the software is searching for a signal to display the free adverts, when it can’t find a signal it jams solid and is useless.
 
Though the Twinmate is small I found it a bit fiddly and one way or another the iso settings always moved around.
I carried a Sekonic L398A Studio Deluxe Mk III around on treks and found it was easy to handle and accurate, apart from having to put the disc in sometimes and also it's much bigger than the 208.

As for low light, can you still focus a camera accurately at EV4, I know I can't.
 
No matter what one's presuppositions might be, I'd urge trying one of the better iPhone apps. I've noticed these described here with what seems like a feeling of "they're good enough to use if I don't have my good meter with me". My guess is that you'll find one of these might be better, or at the very least, as accurate as the dedicated meter you are using now, no matter what that might be. Often more highly featured and with a greater range of capabilities as well.

People seem to use the Light Meter app a lot. I have that one, and the Luxi app as well, but neither one of these is as good as the myLightMeter Pro app I usually use. This provides incident (I use a Luxi diffuser for this) and reflected modes as well as calibration, spot metering for quick easy determination of the dynamic range of a scene, two different interfaces for ease of use in a variety of situations, plus a well written manual and much more, as well as great developer support if necessary. Link below, along with a link to the developer's more recent app which I have not yet tried.
I know it sounds like he's paying me, but just a satisfied customer.


https://itunes.apple.com/es/app/mylightmeter-pro/id583922375?l=en&mt=8

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/light-meter-wheel/id720707253?mt=8
 
Larry Cloetta said:
No matter what one's presuppositions might be, I'd urge trying one of the better iPhone apps. I've noticed these described here with what seems like a feeling of "they're good enough to use if I don't have my good meter with me". My guess is that you'll find one of these might be better, or at the very least, as accurate as the dedicated meter you are using now, no matter what that might be. Often more highly featured and with a greater range of capabilities as well.

People seem to use the Light Meter app a lot. I have that one, and the Luxi app as well, but neither one of these is as good as the myLightMeter Pro app I usually use. This provides incident (I use a Luxi diffuser for this) and reflected modes as well as calibration, spot metering for quick easy determination of the dynamic range of a scene, two different interfaces for ease of use in a variety of situations, plus a well written manual and much more, as well as great developer support if necessary. Link below, along with a link to the developer's more recent app which I have not yet tried.
I know it sounds like he's paying me, but just a satisfied customer.


https://itunes.apple.com/es/app/mylightmeter-pro/id583922375?l=en&mt=8

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/light-meter-wheel/id720707253?mt=8
Click to expand...

I'll soon change to an iPhone 6 and I'm seriously considering getting the Luxi ("for all") attachment; so then it will be both a spot reflective and incident meter. Everywhere and anytime.
While cheaper than a replacement dome, the thing shipped costs like a pack of Portra 120.

Somewhere in the web there is a post by a cinematographer or DP that compared a couple of sekonics to the iphone. It was quite within tight tolerances.
 
Over the years I've owned a number of meters by Gossen, Seconic, Weston and others. Presently I have:
Two Gossen Pilots (my most used meters. They are simple, accurate as needed, rugged, easy to use and small.)
Two Weston Master III (my most used until recently when my eyesight degraded to the point I have difficulty reading the small numbers even with glasses in all but the brightest light)
A Weston Ranger 9 (an old favorite that still carries on after many years. I originally purchased it in the early 70's to use as a meter for my view cameras. Weight was not an issue though it weighs a ton)
Two Vivitar 24 hot shoe mounted meters (nice, small and fairly accurate camera mounted meters that unfortunately broke fairly often. A great idea poorly executed.)
A Minolta IVF that is a really nice meter but with a limited and somewhat outdated interface. It works as needed but it's not as user friendly as one would like.)
Somewhere I have a Sekonic L6 meter that I haven't seen for a few years and I loaned my Gossen Super Pilot to a friend who lost it (a meter that I was fond of and used a lot over a 15 year period.). I also used an app on my iPhone for a while until the phone died.
Of all those meters, the Gossen Pilots are most suited to my analog photography today.
 
John E Earley said:
Over the years I've owned a number of meters by Gossen, Seconic, Weston and others. Presently I have:
Two Gossen Pilots (my most used meters. They are simple, accurate as needed, rugged, easy to use and small.)
...
Of all those meters, the Gossen Pilots are most suited to my analog photography today.
Click to expand...

How does the Gossen Pilot perform in low light condition, says indoor shooting?
I found some good deals on ebay but just want to confirm before purchasing.
Thanks.
 
kiemchacsu said:
How does the Gossen Pilot perform in low light condition, says indoor shooting?
I found some good deals on ebay but just want to confirm before purchasing.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

It is a selenium meter, so it starts at a modest EV 5 or 6. The same goes for every selenium meter. Even the large round cell pro meters from Weston or Sekonic only reach down to EV 4, which any cheap CdS meter will do (the most sensitive silicone ones reach to -6). Selenium meters are limited to handheld photography with ISO 400 film, anything more low light calls for a battery powered meter with silicone cell.
 
sevo said:
It is a selenium meter, so it starts at a modest EV 5 or 6. The same goes for every selenium meter. Even the large round cell pro meters from Weston or Sekonic only reach down to EV 4, which any cheap CdS meter will do (the most sensitive silicone ones reach to -6). Selenium meters are limited to handheld photography with ISO 400 film, anything more low light calls for a battery powered meter with silicone cell.
Click to expand...

Thanks for quick response, then I would skip these ancient meters and go for more modern one.
 
My Sekonic got stolen. It was ok, but it felt a bit fragile.

I am now looking for a new lightmeter to buy, robust and no fancy useless feature. Do you have suggestions?
 
I really like the little *Vivitar 24 CdS* meter.
It can be used handheld or shoe-mounted.
It uses a common 44/76/357 1.5V button cell.
It has a fairly narrow angle of view.
It's often a bargain on eBay.

Posting this reminded me what a handy little meter this is,
so I just bought another Vivitar 24 CdS for my Canon P.
Price was under $22 on eBay for one like new in box... :cool:

Chris
 
In the past, Gossen digisix then CV meter II,
now just in house meter M5, M6 or 'Lux' for film app on iphone
 
I use the self powered Sekonic Studio Deluxe. Bought used after experiencing a mid weekend battery drain on my otherwise reliable and precise L-758D.
 
I've learned a bit since my 1st posting in this thread way back in 12-07. Wasn't the meter that was off. just was the user. :D Still have & use the GE DW-68 for metering my B&W photos at times. I enjoy carrying & using the old meter & get good results out of it. Got if off ebay years ago with some darkroom supplies.
 
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