One-handed light meter? Digisix?

[ruby.monkey]

Thanks for the many quick replies. Regarding the "null reading" design, is it a matter of lining up one needle with another? If so, I guess there would be two versions of that, one (call it A) in which the light-metering needle's position can be frozen after making the light measurement, and then the second needle lined up with it at your leisure, and one (B) in which you have to line up the needles while the light is actually being measured. I'm not having any luck finding the Super Pilot SBC manual online. Is it an A or B kind of thing?

The L-208 is type A. One has about 15s before it resets. I have no idea about the Super Pilot.

 

[mathomas]

Wouldn't a modern matrix light meter be fun to have in a Bessa? Well, we can dream! Meanwhile, I'm finding the meters in my Bessa Rs to be just odd enough that I want to carry a handheld meter, one that I can run one-handed like I did my old Gossen Luna Pro.

One handed, as in:

1) Hold the meter in whatever (sometimes odd) position that an incident measurement requires, where the needle or numeric readout may not be visible.
2) Press a button to record the measurement.
3) Bring the meter back into comfortable reading position.
4) Rotate the exposure dial as needed to match the measurement.
5) Read and choose aperture and shutter speed.

I'm leaning toward the Gossen Digisix. Like the Luna Pro, it gives you an EV value that you transfer to a dial to get your exposure reading. It has two advantages that I value highly -- being relatively light and reasonably small and using modern batteries. It also has well documented quirks -- user interface, battery life, build quality -- that I think have been well addressed in other forum threads. In this one, I really want to focus on the actual operation of a meter, as described above.

Price needs to be under $150, better would be under $100, new or used.

Recommendations?

Thanks!

The Sekonic L-208/Twinmate meets your needs and your budget, IMO, and as one of the posters above commented, the match needle is nice. I have one, and I like it just fine.

 

[oftheherd]

I have a Luna Pro, Luna Pro SBC, and a Sekonic L28c2. All are capable of being used one handed if you are dexterous. However, the Luna Pro SBC is bulkier than the Luna Pro, and the Luna Pro bulkier than the Sekonic L28c2.

The Sekonic L28c2 is a superb Incident light meter. It can be used as a reflected light meter, but I never liked it that way. I never trusted it so much as in incident mode. For that it is excellent. You push the button the needle moves, and when you release the button, it locks the needle. It has no battery. You read the information pointed toby the needle, transfer that to the dial, and read your f/stop - shutter combinations. It does have some memory, but not too bad. It is very one-hand holdable. It is my preferred meter for MF and LF.

The Luna Pro has been described above. It works well as a reflective meter. It is capable of incident as well, but has a very small dome. There are some accessories for it, notably a 7/15 degree attachment, using different marks on its scale. Its needle also locks when the button on the right side is pushed then released. It is probably the most difficult to use in its case.

The Luna Pro SBC had a button on the left. When you take the reading, you must the turn the dial until the needle centers on the zero mark. The dial will then give you various f/stop - shutter combinations. It is a little larger than the Luna Pro. But its strength is its SBC cell. It is more acurate and has no memory to speak of. You won't notice it. It is also capable of using more accessories. That is good and bad. You don't have to pay for capabilities you don't need, but at today's prices, that is now of questionable concern. It will accept any accessory the Luna Pro does, and more. It will take a flshe reader, an optic probe, A true 1 degree spot meter and more. It uses a 9 volt battery which lasts a long time.

The Sekonic reads surprisingly low for the type of meter, but the Luna Pro, and the Luna Pro SBC read in much lower light. The SBC is best.

Ultimately, only you can determine what you will prefer to use; one of the three above, or some smaller meter.

 

[Doug]

... Regarding the "null reading" design, is it a matter of lining up one needle with another? If so, I guess there would be two versions of that, one (call it A) in which the light-metering needle's position can be frozen after making the light measurement, and then the second needle lined up with it at your leisure, and one (B) in which you have to line up the needles while the light is actually being measured. I'm not having any luck finding the Super Pilot SBC manual online. Is it an A or B kind of thing?

It's your Type A, a mechanical lock rather than electronic, that stays locked as long as you hold the button, while you rotate the dial to match the needles.
Download a .pdf manual here:
http://www.butkus.org/chinon/flashes_meters/gossen_super_pilot/gossen_super_pilot.htm

Most of the Super Pilots on eBay at the moment are the previous model with CdS meter cell. Only one SBC (silicon blue cell) model. Here's results of an eBay search for Super Pilot SBC... one meter. a printed manual, a case, etc:
http://photography.shop.ebay.com/i....t&_osacat=625&bkBtn=&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313

 

[kermaier]

I have a Digisix, nice and small, works great one-handed -- but I couldn't stand the other "features" getting in the way. I still have it, but I use an L-208 now. Also small (not as small as the Gossen) and works well one-handed -- the analog, match-needle operation fits my sensibilities better. 🙂

::Ari

 

[dbarnes]

Thanks again to all who replied!

 

[JoeFriday]

My digisix has worked very well for me. It's definitely a one-hander, as opposed to my Luna-Pro, which is quicker, but requires too hands. If I could have a Luna-Pro the size of a digisix, I'd be a happy camper.

 

[rumbliegeos]

I'm not sure exactly how it happened, but I own and use a Gossen Lunapro SBC, Gossen Pilot, Gossen Digisix, Sekonic L-208, and Sekonic L-308B. One thing about all of these meters that has not been mentioned is how their ergonomics may be affected by the orientation of the sensor cell to the general shape of the meter. The Gossen meters and the Sekonic L-208 all have sensors that are basically on the "side" or "end" of the meter, and are very easy to use for reflected light measurements. The Sekonic L308B has the sensor on the "top" of the meter, which is great for incident readings, but a little awkward for reflected light readings. If you plan to use the meter a lot for incident readings, I think the L-308 series and other meters with a sensor on the "top" of the unit may be better for one-handed use. The ultimate choice really depends on many factors of customary use.

 

[dbarnes]

All things considered, I decided to try an L-208. Ruby.monkey's tip about how this meter remembers readings for 15 seconds was what turned the tide in my thinking. I found a clean unit on eBay this morning and it's a done deal at a good price this evening.

 

[Mister E]

I prefer the L-308. I've seen the digisix after years of hard use and it's definitely not one handed once it starts to fall apart. I have an L-208 also, but I don't find it accurate enough for slide film.