Off Topic- Light meter for SWC: Gossen Sixtomat Digital or Sekonic L-308s

[jaifo]

I need a hand meter to use with my Hasselblad SWC.
Mostly used for travel and hand held architecture photography, i use it as a wide substitute of my m6+35cron.
Till today, i used to carry both cameras and use the m6 meter, but sometimes i want to carry my SWC alone...
Must have incident/reflected functions and be convinient to carry. Also, as i intend to use it indoors (cathedrals...), is the battery non-dependant Sekonic L-398A Studio Deluxe III useless?
Thank's for your help!

 

[mfogiel]

jaifo,
carrying an m6 (maybe with a 50mm lens) together with the swc actually makes a lot of sense, because at times it pays to set your distance with precision. As far as the light meter is concerned, the important thing is that it works! I use Lunasix3 or Polaris, but it could be anything else really, as long as you can take the incident reading - a must have feature in my opinion. The lowest type of light in which I find myself to shoot has an EV of 3 or 4 , so check if your battery-less meter can handle that.

 

[waileong]

That's like asking if you should have a Timex or a Casio. These are electronic gadgets. Frankly, as long as a light meters works, the brand isn't very important. Use and forget.

 

[Vincenzo Maielli]

The Sekonic L398A is the modern version, that employ the Amorphous Silicon cell: this cell replaced the selenium cell of my discontinued Sekonic L 398 M De Luxe. Both are great instruments but in low light conditions (as the interior of the old cathedral) would be not too reliable. In this case, i use a Gossen Starlite model (as option there is the very similar Sekonic L-558). If you don't request the spotmetering function, there are the Sekonic L 328 F or Minolta Autometer IV F. If you don't request the flash reading capability, you can choose, as used bargain, the very reliable Gossen Profisix.
If you want a little hand held meter, there are the Sekonic L-208 or the Gossen Digisix, but the build quality is less good than Starlite or Profisix and other mentioned meters.
Ciao.
Vincenzo



Ciao.
Vincenzo

 

[dazedgonebye]

In recent times, I've taken to spot meters for certain shots. Basically, any shots that involve the big camera and/or a tripod. The only sense this really makes is that I'm carrying a bunch of crap anyway, so I might as well carry the big meter.

 

[jbf]

I had a sekonic L-308BII, which was stolen about four months ago. Worked like a charm until it was stolen. Having only used the sekonic before I can only recommend it.

However personally I got tired of having to carry a hand heldheld meter. But, since it got stolen anyway I had no choice but to sell my M3 and buy a metered body. Oh well. hah.

 

[Kim Coxon]

I have the Gossen Sixtomat Digital and find it a fantastic meter. Light, easy to carry, easy to use and accurate.

Kim