Small Meter Suggestiions for 2017

[froyd]

To see the EV in the window, you'll have to move the dial. The hack will skip that process. Push the button, and the needle will point at the EV right there and then.

I don't always use a light meter, but when I do, I use 208. (tho I don't have that mod)

What he said.

When I go out with my meterless cameras, I take two readings: in the light and in the shade. Without turning the dial at all can see if the difference is 2 -3 (most commonly) - 4 stops apart. If the light changes or I'm in an in-between situation, I can take a reading and the needle will tell me how many stops up or down to adjust. No need to touch the green arrow.

 

[roscoetuff]

CLosing the loop here, initially I bought the Gossen Digisix and it's fine, teeny tiny. Will do the job. But then I found a deal on a Gossen Luna Pro F used and that's just the size of my iPhone with a few more options for offsets and averaging that come in handy. Also allows Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority. Nice meter and decent documentation. Highly recommended!!!

 

[Pentode]

The Sekonic L398A is a superb, old-style meter with a superb incident integrating dome on a big swivel, no batteries, etc...

I totally agree! A classic, simple meter that's accurate, small, easy to use and nearly bomb-proof. It's no accident that it was a standard for photography students for decades. Plenty of pros used them, too until digital meters became the benchmark.

 

[menos]

The Gossen Luna Pro is my absolute favorite light meter.
Unfortunately Gossen has discontinued this meter and replaced it with a newer version with extruding swivel head incident cell making the same great meter bigger than it should be.

Look for second hand deals on the older version - those are fantastic!
I love especially the contrast measurement in shutter speed priority - you can take a quick incident reading in aperture priority, then flip the incident half dome away from the cell and take a full scene contrast reading, measuring from deepest shadow to brightest highlight and place your perfect zones!

I love that meter! Only improvement I could think of would be if it made coffee and could cook.

 

[roscoetuff]

Menos: You know I bought a Luna Pro a week or so later, and you're right, it's great meter. Gossen makes some very, very fine equipment. I wish they'd put the software that's in the top end in the lower end models so you could read Zone system right from the meter, give you a retrofit, or work-a-round for the other meters. Wanna sell meters? This is what you do. Luna Pro is the size of an iPhone and fits where you need it. Digisix is fine when you don't want to know you even HAVE a meter.

 

[menos]

Hey, congrats on the meter ;-)

Actually the little Luna Pro does have a functionality that comes pretty close to you being able to read and place your zones most precisely:

- set the meter to shutter priority mode
- flip the incident diffusor dome over (or on the current model remove the dome from it's bayonet mount) so you can use the reflective metering mode
- point the meter towards the scene you want to meter
- press and meter button and KEEP it depressed while moving the meter across the scene you want to capture
- once you let go of the meter button the meter will display you in shutter priority mode the initial measurement when you started the metering

… AND - it will show you the entire aperture scale the scene covers, displaying you the whole contrast of the scene, hence letting you PERFECTLY place your zones ;-)

I use this contrast metering mode all the time when in difficult light (and it is just so fast to use). I love this little meter.

 

[one90guy]

The L-208 is my small meter, have larger but rarely carry it. Been using my 208 for at least 4 maybe 5 years still works, still no battery change.

David

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Been using my 208 for at least 4 maybe 5 years still works, still no battery change.

David

Thanks for the info. I was wondering about mine. It was at +40 and -20C with me for few years now and still on same battery.