Favorite <compact> Light Meter

Favorite &lt;compact&gt; Light Meter

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Interesting thread since I needed something small and easily pocketable to carry with my folders. I just purchased both a CV Meter II and a Digisix off that evil site. It will be interesting to see how they compare and meter against one another.

Ken
 
I have the Leica MC meter on my MP4P, but when the battery gets low, the meter needle jumps around quite a bit. I have a Weston Master V that I had refurbished for about $70 a few years back because it was that or throw it out. Wonderful compact selenium cell meter but limited in its EV range.
I also have an old Gossen Luna Lux that is the size of a compact camera that performs wonderfully and simply with it's null readout (three LED's and when the center one lights you are spot on). It has a great sensitivity eange but as I said quite large.

To make a long story short, I am going to get either a Gossen Digisix or Digiflash even with the limited battery life because they are super small
and the reliability of Gossen products really impresses me. I think it is interesting, however, that the more expensive Digiflash has a more limited sensitivity range than the Digisix, according to the published specs. If my Luna Lux were only smaller, I'd be very happy.

As for the Sekonic L 208, I would be concerned about the breakage factor since match needle types while very accurate are prone to damage.
 
I noticed that there are many positive comments about the sekonic l-208 but perhaps a major gripe is the low light performance. I'm thinking of getting a compact light meter and I think the lowest light situations I would be in a bar for gigs would the sekonic be able to handle that type of lighting situation?
 
I use the Gossen Digisix light meter. Works very well. I either carry it around my wrist or in the accessory shoe on camera.
 
ernstk said:
Am I the only person who uses a Leicameter? I use the MR model and I think it's great.

It's small, accurate, has 2 sensitivity settings and best of all, it's coupled to the shutter speed dial which makes it very quick to use.

Also, I can take semi spot readings by using the 90mm framelines which equals the meter's field of view.

Ernst
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+1 ... Especially now with a Wein cell in it to give proper 1.35v battery power.
 
Green_Blue said:
I noticed that there are many positive comments about the sekonic l-208 but perhaps a major gripe is the low light performance. I'm thinking of getting a compact light meter and I think the lowest light situations I would be in a bar for gigs would the sekonic be able to handle that type of lighting situation?
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These are the easiest shot to meter. Just go widest and slowest.
For me, these are 1.4 or 2 at 1/60
 
I voted Minolta 'cause that's what I had then. Now I have and love the L-308s by Sekonic. I'd never want a meter that wouldn't measure incident light, and now I wouldn't have one that didn't measure flash.
 
Vics said:
I voted Minolta 'cause that's what I had then. Now I have and love the L-308s by Sekonic. I'd never want a meter that wouldn't measure incident light, and now I wouldn't have one that didn't measure flash.
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I have a Sekonic L-308 also. I like many things about it. I'm finding that I get better results measuring incident light instead of reflected. Also, I haven't had much trouble using it in low light situations. For example, dark restaurants are not a problem. I get very little movement out of the needle, but that's all it takes. I would not call it compact, however.
 
Well, I only own one,
An Old Vivitar CDS Shoe mount, smaller than the Pilot w/shoe, and VC-I or II, takes modern battery, 386 I think.

Edit:
My age is showing... already posted in 2009.... Opps :bang: :p :eek: :eek: :confused:
 
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I have a Sekonic L-358 but truthfully I use the light meter app on my iPhone more than anything else. It's close enough for me and I always have my phone on me (which for some reason reminds me of the "do you wear a watch" thread of a couple months back).
 
bmasonoh said:
I have a Sekonic L-358 but truthfully I use the light meter app on my iPhone more than anything else. It's close enough for me and I always have my phone on me (which for some reason reminds me of the "do you wear a watch" thread of a couple months back).
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+1 for the iPhone light meter app.
 
Krosya said:
I'd say that this Sekonic is smaller than the Twin-Mate:
smallmeters.jpg
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The CV is definitely smaller. I have both meters and the CV is tiny
 
I like the Gossen Digisix. Very small and light. I keep loosing track of it leaving it in pockets of shirts. My wife put a shirt in the wash with the Gossen in the pocket and it went through a wash and spin cycle and she found it in the bottom of the washer not working. I took out the battery tray and laid it on a table outside in the shade. There was a slight breeze and with our low humidity it was dry in about 4-5 hours. I put the same battery back in it and it worked perfectly. I checked it against a couple of other meters and it was spot on. Still working 6 months later. Jim
 
Another vote for the Gossen Digisix. I like the size and possibilty for spot and incident metering (and the fast switch between the two), and it was affortable. Where I work the thermometer and alarm watch are actually useful. One of the buys I do not regret at all.
 
I picked up a Gossen Luna Pro Digital locally for $20 and it's become my favourite meter. It's not really small (about the size of a smart phone), but it's slim and flat so fits perfectly in my back pocket. Incident and reflected measurement, lots of options/modes, simple to use and takes a single AA battery which lasts for ages!
 
My digisix became ill and I sent it back to Manfrotto (distributor in US) and they replaced it, with no questions. I still like how it displays EV with dial and it's small size. My favorite is still the Luna SBC, but it is too brick-like for walking about.

.
 
I left my Digisix in a sweater pocket that got put through a wash cycle; realized before it went into the dryer. Battery was corroded, but after letting it dry for a couple days I put a new battery in and it's been giving accurate reads for the two months since the incident...
 
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