LIGHT METERS - What do you prefer?

[ARCHIVIST]

Many of our fine cameras do not have built-in meters. So the need for a hand held type is required. I was wondering what preference you may have with regard type/make and wether a direct or an incident reading is favoured? I use selenium meters, Weston Euromaster and Sekonic L398, and allow for their low light failings. We all can estimate an average exposure but the need for accuracy for specific work and colour requires a meter.

Peter

 

[ghost]

got fed up with old meters, finally bit the bullet: sekonic l308s and l558.

 

[FrankS]

Accessory shoe mounted CV Meter II (reflected), and older LunaSix3. (incident and reflected)

 

[BrianShaw]

got fed up with old meters, finally bit the bullet: sekonic l308s and l558.

Ha...me too! I retired my Weston IIIs but will keep my Luna Pro available as a back-up. I'm head-over-heels in love with my L-558R. It does more than I've ever been able to do before and does the rest much easier. Only drwback is the price and the size.

 

[colyn]

I use several meters but my overall favorite is the Weston Ranger 9.
A few others that I use are the Minolta Autometer Pro, GE PR-1, and Sekonic L-398.

 

[MCTuomey]

I have four at the minute:

a couple of Weston Master IV's (easiest to read)

a Sekonic Twinmate L-208 (easiest to carry)

and recently from a fellow RFFer a very nice Gossen Lunasix 3 (easiest to use)

Which one I carry depends on which pants or coat I'm wearing 😉

 

[dreilly]

I use a weston master IV that's just been to the QLM spa...I love it and I agree that it's the easiest to read of the weston line. The ranger is nice, but l a r g e.

 

[George Bonanno]

The only time I use a meter (Luna Pro - incident reading) is when I'm doing a formal portrait. Outdoors I use the sunny 16 rule. Indoor snaps are typically 1/30 @ f2.8 - f4... in homes, clubs and stage. If the light is very low I use 1/4 - 1/2 sec wide open. Personally, I'd rather get an image on film than miss the shot while messing around with a meter. Film speed... I could care less... it's all the same to me.

 

[back alley]

i had a couple of the luna pros but sold them when the zi became my go to camera.
i did keep the tiny gossen pilot, it's small, light and has a foot if i want to mount it on a camera.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Looking for a Luna Pro F or SBC, but I use a very old Sekonic. It works.

 

[flashover]

I have a VC model 1 shoe mount meter I bought recently. And I just bought a Tundra model model EF-1 exposure & Flash meter With LED readout. I wanted a handheld and it's a flash meter to boot. Just need to find a set of instructions. It appears to be the same unit as the the Capital EF-1.

 

[steve garza]

Sekonic 558 is nice. The spot meter is very handy.

 

[dedmonds]

I have been very pleased with the Sekonic L-308S.

 

[B_Algood]

Ditto on the Sekonic L-308S, small and works every time..

 

[Crasis]

Aww, no props for the Digisix?

Alright. Gossen Digisix. Small enough to lose in your pocket.

 

[dadsm3]

Sekonic L308s....

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

I use two meters. The first one is a Minolta IVf which does incident and/or flash readings. The second one is a Minolta IVf, just in case I lose the first one.

These are not small meters, but then I am not a small guy. When outside I normally take a reading in sunlight and one in open shade. I memorize these two readings and adjust my camera settings accordingly. I put the light meter away until I am in a different lighting situation.

Formal portrait sessions are quite different as I take many more readings.

Wayne

 

[sbug]

My Gossen Pilot finally died so I am on the fence between a Digisix and the Voigtlander VCII. The Digisix has more features (incident) and is less expensive but the VCII would be so convenitent on top of my camera. Decisions, decisions...

 

[ErnestoJL]

Luna Pro (Lunasix III) for the everyday meterless camera.
Gossen Sixtino (Pilot ) or Metrawatt Metraphot when I´m lazy (hot shoe mounted).
Yashica Electro 35, as everyday camera (weird kind of "meterless" camera), when I´m lazier then ever.

Ernesto

 

[Crasis]

My Gossen Pilot finally died so I am on the fence between a Digisix and the Voigtlander VCII. The Digisix has more features (incident) and is less expensive but the VCII would be so convenitent on top of my camera. Decisions, decisions...

Have you ever been in a circumstance where you'd rather not announce to the world that you're going to take a photo? Any circumstances where you would rather stealthily pull out your cell-phone-like meter and take a reading so as not to 'give away the game' as it were?

If so, and you can envision yourself doing this often, digisix. If not, VCII.

Seriously that simple. 🙂