Favorite <compact> Light Meter

[Ken Smith]

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

 

[Jim Evidon]

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.

 

[Green_Blue]

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?

 

[RanceEric]

I use the Gossen Digisix light meter. Works very well. I either carry it around my wrist or in the accessory shoe on camera.

 

[hendriphile]

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

+1 ... Especially now with a Wein cell in it to give proper 1.35v battery power.

 

[tj01]

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?

These are the easiest shot to meter. Just go widest and slowest.
For me, these are 1.4 or 2 at 1/60

 

[Vics]

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.

 

[crawdiddy]

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.

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.

 

[DNG]

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: 😛 😱 😱 😕

 

[bmasonoh]

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).

 

[mel]

Which light meter app, Bruce?

 

[cinemakyle]

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).

Same here. Here's a link.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pocket-light-meter/id381698089?mt=8

 

[Harry Caul]

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).

+1 for the iPhone light meter app.

 

[stompyq]

I'd say that this Sekonic is smaller than the Twin-Mate:

The CV is definitely smaller. I have both meters and the CV is tiny

 

[barnwulf]

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

 

[malthusiantrap]

For those using the iphone light meter app, consider covering the iphone camera with some paper as outlined in this page:
http://www.camerasandfilm.com/archives/471

I use paper from a hole punch on mine.

 

[Peter_S]

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.

 

[djcphoto]

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!

 

[bigeye]

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.

.

 

[kokoshawnuff]

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...