Lightmeter

[Califfoto]

Hi all,
As ridiculous as it may sound, I currently use the lightmeter of my 300D to take pictures with my 6X6 Yashica mat ... Both cameras are pretty cumbersome and I decided to buy a relatively small and affordable lightmeter.
I have been told that the size matters a lot.
I'm sure many of you use lightmeters and would appreciate if you could recommend one and tell me a little bit about the pros and cons.
Thanks in advance
Califfoto from www.califfoto.com

 

[flashover]

I have a pretty good one for sale in this tread sekonic studio deluxe II

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=280417#post280417

shameless self promotion

 

[Goodyear]

Gossen LunSix 3 (is it a LunaPro or something in the US?) which I like for it's low-light capability, and old-fashioned needle-and-dial way of working. Also, the tele attachment is much more useful than I expected it to be. Cons: just a bit big to be pocketable, and I haven't got round to getting the conversion from mercury cells, yet. Also, mine is an old grey one that I will have to get serviced by someone like QLM as Gossen won't touch them anymore.

Complemented by a Gossen Digisix, which I like because it is oh-so tiny, and while it's digital it still has a dial. Cons: less sensitive in low light, and all those flaming extra functions (the alarm goes off in my pocket at least every other day), although the thermometer is handy when I'm Polaroiding.

Have used a Sekonic L-358, which I sold to a member here. Is an excellent all-singing all-dancing (although you need an extra bit for spot-metering) flashmeter, but I never ued it because it was not hugr but bulky enough to annoy me.

I have found meters to be like camera bags - you think one should be enough, but it's not.

I still need to find a dinky flashmeter to replace the capability of the Sekonic. Gossen do make a flashmeter version of the Digisix, called the... wait for it... Digiflash!

 

[rool]

Sekonic L308 is what I use and I am very happy with it. Very small, reliable and simple. Incident, reflective and flash metering.
There is no spot meter but I found that it is not that difficult to compensate an average reflective reading when needed.

 

[T_om]

Hi all,
As ridiculous as it may sound, I currently use the lightmeter of my 300D to take pictures with my 6X6 Yashica mat ... Both cameras are pretty cumbersome and I decided to buy a relatively small and affordable lightmeter.
I have been told that the size matters a lot.
I'm sure many of you use lightmeters and would appreciate if you could recommend one and tell me a little bit about the pros and cons.
Thanks in advance
Califfoto from www.califfoto.com

Any recommendations would be virtually useless without knowing your budget.

Tom

 

[ZeissFan]

You could select anything from an old selenium Weston or Ikophot to a CdS meter from the 1960s to one of the modern digital meters. But Tom has a point: The amount you want to spend will dictate what is recommended.

 

[Dougg]

And does size matter? 🙂 Would you want to put it in the camera's accessory shoe, or in your pocket? How about incident reading capability, flash? Some meters read in EV numbers that you then transfer yourself to the calculator dial... is this ok? Analog or digital readout?

 

[Califfoto]

Thanks guys for all your useful advice. I was initially thinking of something below $100. However, as I go through different forums, I realize that $100-200 would be more realistic. As to the digital vs. analog readout, my guess is that digital would be more accurate (am I wrong?).
Thanks in advance

 

[remrf]

Thanks guys for all your useful advice. I was initially thinking of something below $100. However, as I go through different forums, I realize that $100-200 would be more realistic. As to the digital vs. analog readout, my guess is that digital would be more accurate (am I wrong?).
Thanks in advance

I don't know about digital being more accurate but it is certainly easier to read at a glance. You should be able to do very well in that price range. I bought my Luna Star F for $100.00 on ebay. Its a $400.00 meter if purchased new. Its not tiny but it will meter incident, reflected and flash . It can be set for filter correction or pushing/pulling asa up to 10 stops and can calculate multi pop flash. I can't think of anything else I would need. But Gossen also makes a unit called a ...Digi 6 I think that is tiny, will fit on a hot shoe and does about everything but flash metering. Also in that price range if you look around some.

 

[acall]

I have a Gossen DigiSix that I use with my YashicaMat, it works fine for what I use it for, almost exclusively landscape stuff in daylight. I agree with the other posts, what will work best for you will depend greatly on what types of photography you will be using it for.

Just my .02
Alan

 

[T_om]

Thanks guys for all your useful advice. I was initially thinking of something below $100. However, as I go through different forums, I realize that $100-200 would be more realistic. As to the digital vs. analog readout, my guess is that digital would be more accurate (am I wrong?).
Thanks in advance

Ah, perfect!

Your budget (just) gets you into the range of the most 'bang for the buck' meter available today. The Sekonic 358.

That meter has just about everything a pro could ask for in a relatively small package and a VERY reasonable price.

It is digital, backlit, easy to read, a flash meter as well as ambient, has a spot meter attachment available, has Pocket Wizard radio trigger built in (for an additional $50.00) and is just about the best meter I have ever used.

When I broke my old Minolta, this is the one I bough to replace it. A GREAT meter.

Tom

 

[T_om]

Ah, perfect!

Your budget (just) gets you into the range of the most 'bang for the buck' meter available today. The Sekonic 358.

That meter has just about everything a pro could ask for in a relatively small package and a VERY reasonable price.

It is digital, backlit, easy to read, a flash meter as well as ambient, has a spot meter attachment available, has Pocket Wizard radio trigger built in (for an additional $50.00) and is just about the best meter I have ever used.

When I broke my old Minolta, this is the one I bought to replace it. A GREAT meter.

 

[T_om]

Why did that message post twice?

A puzzle..

Tom

 

[jcline]

Anyone use the Voigtlander VC II? I'm rather curious as to peoples thoughts about it...