Just got a new Sekonic L398A meter!

[Hjortsberg]

Thanks to a forum member's encouragement, I bought a new Sekonic L-398A
meter. It's fun as heck to use. My question is this: Does anyone have any experience using the additional backslides. I'm not referring to the "High Slide" that comes with the meter, I'm talking about the set of 11 slides that can be bought additionally.

Thanks everyone. Especially to Chriscrawfordphoto who has taken the time to answer my many questions!

 

[michaelwj]

I had to look them up, but now I know what that aperture scale is for!

They seem to be designed for flash, where you would work at a fixed shutter speed/ISO setting. I can't imagine using them in the field - but think they would be very useful in a studio.

I'm interested to hear what others thoughts are (especially those who have and use them - unlike me)

 

[calebarchie]

No personal experience, but they are designed more for the cinematography side, where they need to maintain a select shutter speed (the slide) and have quick reading of the appropriate aperture (directly where the needle points there are aperture values to be used)

 

[Ranchu]

Direct reading is very slick. You know what shutter speed you have, so you just look at the needle to see the aperture. You don't have to fool around with the dial! No slide is 1/60th at 400 asa or the equivalent. I've never used the additional slides since my meters are older, but it works great when the slide's out.

http://www.johndesq.com/pinhole/equivalents.htm

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I actually have a set of the slides for these things! Years ago, someone gave me one of the meters, but it didn't work and cost too much at the time to fix, so I tossed it. Kept the slide set though. There are a bunch of slides in a leather wallet, and an instruction sheet that you have to look up your film speed and the shutter speed you want on the chart, then pick the slide the chart indicates (the slides are just numbered). I think they'd be cumbersome to use outside a studio.

 

[sevo]

The 398, being selenium, can't be used as a flash meter - the slides were most popular among cinematographers.

 

[sebastel]

the 398A, being a silicon based meter, as far as i know still doesn't offer flash metering.

 

[sevo]

the 398A, being a silicon based meter, as far as i know still doesn't offer flash metering.

It uses a Silicon solar cell - while employing different chemistry, this is still the same principle. No flash metering there - it can't be done in a meter using a photo cell for a sensor.

 

[oftheherd]

I actually have a set of the slides for these things! Years ago, someone gave me one of the meters, but it didn't work and cost too much at the time to fix, so I tossed it. Kept the slide set though. There are a bunch of slides in a leather wallet, and an instruction sheet that you have to look up your film speed and the shutter speed you want on the chart, then pick the slide the chart indicates (the slides are just numbered). I think they'd be cumbersome to use outside a studio.

Yours must be old Chris. I have the L 28c2 with the set of slides, that I bought new in 1976. I keep them in my bag with the 9x12 and Mamiya Six. I haven't used them in a while, but as I recall, they give a shutter speed or aperture on the slide. I'll have to look at them again.

I have used them years ago, but more to experiment that out of any perceived need. Using the scale on the meter worked quite well for me at all times. I saw no reason to use other than the high slide, or remove it for low light.