Least annoying replacement for a Sekonic L-358?

[Dante_Stella]

I apparently lost my Sekonic L-358 meter in a scuffle with one of my own children. No one ever wants to leave the playground, I guess.

Seeing as a used L-358 and a new L-478 are not much different in price, could anyone tell me whether the touch screen on the L-478 is annoying the same way that using iPhone light meters is? And is it more resistant to accidentally getting into "averaging" mode or more graceful with ISO 2 than the older model? How is the battery life with AAAs? The CR-123As in the L-358 go on forever.

Obviously, an L-478 won't go into sleep mode every five seconds, but is it as fast to use in practice as the L-358's thumb wheel? One-handed operation is pretty nice on the L-358, and I suspect that's why it commands so much money on the used market.

Any other good current meters (Sekonic, Gossen or otherwise) that could replace it? I guess I could always get by with a Luna-Pro S, but just as I am a little past the point of wanting to invest in more film equipment, I am way past the point of long and expensive calibration of older CdS meters.

Thanks,
Dante

 

[Nokton48]

How about another L358? Looks like they can be had for $100-$150 range

 

[Graham Line]

I am still using a Sekonic L-308B, which is probably not current production. Light weight, ssmall size, runs for a long time on a single AA battery. Easy to use with one hand, has incident, reflected, and flash modes.

None of which answers your 358/478 questions.

 

[Godfrey]

I've been debating the same thing, on and off, for a while now. I've wanted an L-358 for some time, update to my L-328, but the L-478 is intriguing.

I think the only way I'm going to be able to resolve it is to order an L-478 and try it out since no one seems to stock them anywhere around here at this point. Hand-held meters don't fly off the shelves...

G

 

[MCTuomey]

I'm the wrong one to ask. I like the L-358 so much I ended up with two ...

 

[Dante_Stella]

How about another L358? Looks like they can be had for $100-$150 range

It's $125 to calibrate these (because I had it recalibrated just a few months ago - grr...), and without a way to test whether it is working without potentially losing the film work, it's dicey to go for the Ebay special.

D

 

[MCTuomey]

Where'd you send it, Dante?

 

[Dante_Stella]

Where'd you send it, Dante?

Sekonic. They have the magic thingie that auto calibrates these.

Dante

 

[MCTuomey]

Thanks Dante.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

I use an app on my smartphone. I tested it to hand held and the meters in my camera and found in "dead on" accurate.

 

[Dante_Stella]

I found another L-358 in almost unused condition. Not cheap, but you know what they say about old habits...

Dante

 

[Dante_Stella]

And yesterday, the "lost" one turned up in the bottom of a bag it normally does not inhabit. Thanks to my little princess, no doubt. 🙂

Dante

 

[johannielscom]

Guess you went "the Mike Way", you ended up with two! 😀

Happy shooting!