Low light meter recommendations...

[schmoozit]

Please!

I am googling, ebaying, manufacturer-site-spying... but it's proving a bit hard to find what good low-light meters are out there.

As always, I'm on a budget, so cheap is king. I don't have to have anything fancy, though I'd prefer a digital readout. Of course, for low-light the most important thing is to actually be able to read the thing, so whatever...

Any thoughts???

Thanks!

 

[Todd.Hanz]

Most of the Luna Pro models read extremely low light, the older ones are analog and you can get them for under 100 bucks on the auction site. I have a Luna Pro F and can vouch for it's accuracy. Good luck!

Todd

 

[schmoozit]

Thanks, Todd. I was just trying to find some specs on the Gossen LPs and the likes. It's a pain to find the specs on anything without downloading a bunch of PDFs. Aaaarrrgh!

So, what is the metering range of your Luna Pro?

 

[Skinny McGee]

I just picked up a Gossen digiflash it is the digisix but will flash meter it is tiny easy to use .. i love it I did not realize how small it was from all the pictures but it is small.

 

[Nikon Bob]

Schmoozit

Have you looked here http://www.gossen-photo.de/english/foto_produkte.html .

Bob

 

[furcafe]

I have the Digiflash & Digisix & love their small size & great accuracy. However, if you're shooting in *really* dark conditions, you should know that they're not quite as sensitive as the (much) bigger Lunapro's, etc. If you're doing super lowlight shooting, another drawback (that applies to any analog readout meter like the Lunapro's, too) is that they have an LCD readout w/no backlighting.

I just picked up a Gossen digiflash it is the digisix but will flash meter it is tiny easy to use .. i love it I did not realize how small it was from all the pictures but it is small.

 

[schmoozit]

Have you looked here http://www.gossen-photo.de/english/foto_produkte.html .

Yes, I was just looking there a few minutes ago. The problem is, I can't afford any of the current meters that are listed there. I'm looking at older models that aren't listed.

 

[dexdog]

I believe that the Gossen Luna Pro, Digisix and Lunastar all measure to -2.5 EV. I have both a Luna Star and a Digisix, and both work pretty well on exposures of up to 5 minutes. I have not tried any exposures longer than this, though.

 

[furcafe]

I don't have the tech info handy, but I remember my Luna Pro F (the kind that takes a 9 volt battery) being able to read down to -3 or 4 EV. But you're right, @ those levels were talking about some serious darkness.

I believe that the Gossen Luna Pro, Digisix and Lunastar all measure to -2.5 EV. I have both a Luna Star and a Digisix, and both work pretty well on exposures of up to 5 minutes. I have not tried any exposures longer than this, though.

 

[schmoozit]

dexdog,

Yeah, that's the info that I cannot find, at least for the older meters. The digisix apparently goes to EV 0, but I'm not sure about the others just yet.

 

[Skinny McGee]

I payed $199 for the digi flash with 2 batteries brand new

 

[dexdog]

furcafe, I think that you are right about the Luna Pro F; it is rated to -4 EV.

dexdog

 

[dexdog]

Schmoozit, you are correct, the Digisix only goes to EV 0, not -2.5 as I stated. I just checked the Gossen website and looked at the .pdf

 

[schmoozit]

Thanks everyone. I'm eyeing the Luna-Pro SBCs. They are indeed able to read -4 EV, which is pretty impressive. I cannot believe how much time it took me to find all the info; incredible!

I appreciate you all, however. You really helped keep me looking in the right direction.

Now, with any luck, whatever I buy will actually work and be calibrated!

Cheers, all.

 

[Nikon Bob]

Have you looked here http://www.gossen-photo.de/english/foto_produkte.html .

Yes, I was just looking there a few minutes ago. The problem is, I can't afford any of the current meters that are listed there. I'm looking at older models that aren't listed.

Try under the Collectors heading http://www.gossen-photo.de/english/foto_sammler.html . Just remember the same models had different names in Europe than the USA.

Bob

 

[dexdog]

this site has downloads available for lots of old stuff.

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/luna-pro_f/luna_pro_f-3.htm

The Luna Pro F is given as having exposure values of -8 EV to 24 EV. Impressive!

 

[schmoozit]

Try under the Collectors heading http://www.gossen-photo.de/english/foto_sammler.html . Just remember the same models had different names in Europe than the USA.


Yeah! I thought it shoulda been there, but I missed it. I did just happen to notice from a KEH catalog that there are different model names. Oh, yippee! I looove when they do that... not!

Thanks a lot, Bob.

 

[schmoozit]

this site has downloads available for lots of old stuff.

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/luna-pro_f/luna_pro_f-3.htm

The Luna Pro F is given as having exposure values of -8 EV to 24 EV. Impressive!

I just came from that site. Very handy.

I think that -8 to 24 is something a bit different, though I don't understand it. There is probably a place where it says that the metering range is -6 to whatever, but that is for ISO 25. Going two stops up to ISO 100, which is what meters nowadays usually base their range on, would bring that to a range of -4. At least, that's the only thing that makes sense to me...

 

[dexdog]

The different names in europe vs. usa can be confusing with gossen products. The Lunapro is apparently called Lunasix in Europe, and possibly canada. Other versions of old gossen meters display this factor too. At least the Digisix seems to have the same name wherever it is marketed in the world.

 

[peter_n]

The low light king (I think) is the Calcu-Light XP made by Quantum. It reads down to -7EV at 100ASA. I have this meter and it is incredible - a digital readout that you then dial for the exposure. About $60 on eBay.