looking for a handheld incident meter

[jonasv]

Hi,

I was hoping I could get some advice as to what to look for. I currently use a Gossen Sixtar which can do both reflective and incident and it's served me well - especially seeing I paid $5 for it. Now, I do have a few complaints about it - it's not as accurate as I'd want it to be (and I'm not even talking about 1/3rd stops here) and it takes too much time to get a reading (the meter s l o w l y creeps to where it should be).

So, I'm looking for a handheld incident meter. Ideal requirements would be...

-small, should fit in a pocket
-not too pricey, I'm hoping to find something on the cheap
-accurate, for now I'll use it for b&w but I want to be able to use it with slides as well when I have to
-fast, I want (nearly) instant readings
-lowlight capability

It does not have to be digital, if there are non-digital meter that are a) fast (not like my current creeping needle) and b) easy and quick to read. Digital would of course be nice if it's not too pricey. I don't need flash metering, spotmetering, or even reflective metering (although I suppose that last one will be included in most if not all). If it can do spotmetering, that would be okay, but I don't want to pay extra for that - so I'm really looking for a basic incident meter.

I don't know if my ideal lightmeter exists, but I'd like to hear some recommendations about the nearest options anyway - perhaps some pros & cons and personal experience as well.

Thanks a lot in advance. I appreciate it.

 

[Skinny McGee]

digisix or digiflash... It is a little pricy but I have found it to be awesome.. I got the digiflash because I had intentions of getting a studio rig (which my wife got me for christmas). These things are tiny and very easy. I counld not believe how small they really are..

I also understand that the VC11 is nice product also... but there again pricy...

 

[Finder]

Gossen Luna Pro SBC

 

[Nick R.]

Sekonic 308 or Polaris. Not cheap new so look for a used one. About the size of a palm pilot and flat which makes it easy to stick in a pants pocket. Large numbers are easy to read and they do flash metering. IMO, too small is as bad as too big, so I'd stay away from the little guys that fit on top of a camera.

 

[jonasv]

Thanks for the suggestions! RFF user franceluxembourg pm'd me, and we came to an agreement - I'm trading a Yashica GS and a Minister-II (I was going to sell both) for his Polaris flash meter. The Polaris seems to do everything I wanted, and a bit more!

Cheers!

Jonas

 

[Ken Ford]

I've been very happy with my Digiflash these last few years, and would buy one again.

 

[Nick R.]

Congrats on getting the Polaris. They're not that common but I have one and it's a great meter. I use it constantly even though I also have a Sekonic 358.

 

[oftheherd]

Looks like jvx has what he wants. For anyone else reading this post, rather than the Luna Pro SBC (which I have and really like), I would suggest the Luna Pro (which I also have) as being closer to what he was looking for. It is smaller, which I like, so I often reach for it for that reason, over the SBC. It is also cheaper and just as accurate. It doesn't do spot metering that I know of, but inexpensive 7/15 degree attachments get closer and will often provide the info needed over a 1 degree spot meter. It originally used a mercury battery, but modern replacements seem to work OK.

 

[ErnestoJL]

I give my vote to the Luna Pro. I´ve been using it from the past 20+ years and is reliable, easy to read and set, and gives both reflected and incident light measurements, together with very long exposure times reliably. Being a bit old, it shouldn´t be too expensive. Actually is my reference instrument and is used to picture taking and to calibrate other meters.

Ernesto

 

[Laurence]

I have the "oldie but goodie" General Electric DW-68, produced about 1950 or so. The selenium still is working just fine, and I like the heavy build of the unit. I have used it with my Yashica Mat 124 and have just always had wonderful luck with it for accurate exposure. For its time, it has the feature of both incident and reflective metering. Sometimes, if the light is "iffy" I'll take both readings and average them. Works like a charm.

It will be my meter of choice for my upcoming Bessa L body, for those long exposures, as it is quite accurate to 30 second exposures. I hope the selenium cell lasts for more years.

And besides, the ASA goes down to 1.6...go figure!

 

[FreddyF]

How about one of these tiny Sekonic meters?

http://www.sekonic.com/Products/L-208.html

 

[SRMC]

I'm happy with my Digisix. My only regret is that I didn't pay a little extra to get the Digiflash. Mine has not let me down, is VERY pocketable, and is easy to use. I wish that they hadn't included the non-meter functions, but I think my Digisix was money well-spent and if I had to do it over I'd get either the Digisix or Digiflash depending upon how much money I had available.

SRMC

 

[Warren T.]

I use the tiny Sekonic L-208 with my FSU cameras, and I've been very happy with it.

--Warren

 

[Byuphoto]

I got a polaris, in a trade, and it has become my favorite meter. very intuitive, accurate and fits easily in a pants pocket

 

[Gordon Coale]

A Weston V, or IV, with an invercone is a great incident meter. Supposedly one of the best.

 

[rool]

The sekonic L308 is very small, accurate and easy to use. I use it for street shooting all the time.