Hand held light meters.

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OK, I have two Minolta spot meters, one waiting in reserve for a failure on my main one. Then have a Minolta 1V flash meter, it is acting up. So looking at getting either an excellent condition used....

Sekonic L-398 STUDIO Deluxe

or a brand new .......

Sekonic L-398A Studio Deluxe III Meter

Now the used one is half the price of the new one. Should I go for the new one, or save and hit on the used one. If the new better then I I'll get it. I kind of Fancy having something old school, like me in my pocket.
Appreciate any help and or advice here.

Could not find a light meter section here, so I came on this one since I am a folder and Hasselblad user.

Cheers,
James.

PS It is just for black and white work.
 
The Studio Deluxe hasn't changed much in the last sixty years. The 398 was an improved version of the L-28c with a wider EV range. As long as the used one includes the High slide and a Lumigrid save yourself some money.
 
I can only say that this light meter is the closest thing to a Leica in non Leicadom - somehow the shape, tactile feel and weight make it an instant fave. The only downside really is a somewhat limited EV range in low light. Then you have to get used to fiddling with the grid and the dome. I really only use it for incident light. Mine is the latest model, and if I remember correctly I paid about 200 Eur for it. This will probably get saved anyway over a few years through lack of expense on batteries.
 
I don't have the Sekonic 398, but my son-in-law does, and he seems to really like it. I have a Sekonic L28c2 that I have had since about 1976. I still use it and it has served me well.
 
The L-398A uses a silicon cell in place of the selenium cell of the preceding Brockwood/Norwich/Sekonic meters, as nobody makes selenium cells any more. It is much younger than the earliest L-398 variations (which date back to the early seventies), but does not seem to be any better or worse than a well preserved selenium one.

If you want the same form factor in a sensitive electronic meter, Sekonic once made an attempt at a modern L-398, the L-448 (-7EV SBC, battery driven, motorized wheel, a bit bigger but also egg-shaped) - these are somewhat rare (it was introduced at a time when Minolta already included flash metering in less high priced pro meters), but when you can find one, they often are in the same price range as a used L-398.

I've had a L-398 since film school days, in spite of owning more modern and sophisticated meters - my cinematography prof always demanded that we cross check with a L-398 (or other pro selenium incident meter), as these are immune to battery issues and less prone to user error than modern meters.
 
Mine is a L398-M, who knows how old it is. I remember I bought this one new, the previous one used, as was the L28-C before that. In other words, I have been using these things for a long time. They were originally made for the motion picture industry.

If the used one comes with some type of warranty, even just a week to check it out, take your choice. I believe you can still download an instruction manual.
 
If you have an I-phone etc, a number of light meter apps are much more accurate than most expensive, dedicated meters.
 
BobBill said:
If you have an I-phone etc, a number of light meter apps are much more accurate than most expensive, dedicated meters.
Click to expand...

Not challenging your statement but curious: is there any data on this? I tried one iPhone meter and it seemed okay but not sure if it was either accurate or better than other meters.
 
1. SBC meter reads very quickly.
2. The form factor and how you actually use a meter are important. One handed operation is a must have for me. Having an incident cone that faces me so I can see the reading at the same time is important also. A flat meter, not too tiny, is right for me as I often carry it in an inside pocket of my jacket. If it's too small it's hard to fish out, and too fat and I would have to have a bag with me or have a bulging pocket in my trousers which I hate. The Gossen Digipro F has all the elements just right for me.
 
What are your metering needs? I found simple incident metering works for 95% of my shots. Rough, non-spot has covered the rest. No strobe support needed either.

For me, the L208 is great. It's small, I can see all speed/aperture setting combos at once, it doesn't drain a phone battery and is sufficiently accurate. It's also cheap enough - especially on the used market - that replacing one I lost wasn't a big deal.
 
If you have a Flash Meter IV, you have one of the finest meters ever made. I would give mine up only if you pried it out of my cold, dead hands.

If I were you, I would send your Flash Meter IV to Quality Light Metric and have them fix it. It'll cost you about $100. You'll have it back fast, too. It takes them only a day or two to repair and send back a meter.

7095 Hollywood Blvd
Ste 550
Hollywood, CA 90028
 
Send your Meters to Quality Light Metric in Hollywood. George does all the calibration and rebuilds for the Hollywood industry as well as NASA. I've sent him a Luna Pro, Weston Ranger 9, Weston Master V and 3Leica MR meters to be rebuilt and converted to modern batteries (excluding the Master V). The work was very fast and excellent at a great price. I'm sure he can recondition your meters. Contact George Melton.

I agree the Minolta IV are top notch. Ive had my IV since the came out and it's still working great. I have two of the Sekonics and they're great but not in the league with the minolta.
 
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