The least expensive most accurate incident meter???

[Keith]

I've been able to get fairly reliable incident readings with my VCII from the back of my hand but some of the environments I've had to shoot in over the last few weeks have produced results that indicate I need a little more accuracy and control. I've been going from rooms with dark floors white walls, dark walls light floors etc etc with various levels of natural and artificial light ... luckily Tri-X is very flexible!

So what is the cheapest most accurate incident metrer I can get with a budget of not much (read totally broke at the moment) ... alternately is there someone out there who would like to swap an incident meter for my VCII?

 

[Bob Michaels]

I swear by my Sekonic 308 because it is small enough to comfortably carry in a pocket, does perfect incident readings, has reflected readings available and also does great flash metering. Notice that having one small enough to comfortably carry was my first parameter. That was intentional.

I bought mine several years ago from Poon at HKsupplies.com (Hong Kong) for around US$120 new. I have no idea what they are now.

Of course no meter will give you good exposure readings. You need to use your brain for that. But they will give you a good indication of the light intensity which is a key input into the exposure decision you make.

 

[jmcd]

One thing to think about if buying used is whether the meter is calibrated across the full range.

For about $15 I bought a nice Weston V with a dead cell, and had it calibrated at Quality Light Metric with a new selenium cell installed for around$60-$70. It needs the invercone attached for the incident reading. I enjoy using this meter and it has proved accurate.

 

[craygc]

As with all meters, in camera or hand held, "accuracy" of metering is really about calibrating the specific meter for a specific camera for a specific emulsion (I guess even sensor for that matter). Also, if you want to assume the shutter speeds of the camera are accurate, then you can probably just work to calibrate the meter. This is probably easier to achieve a good average with reversal film as working with negatives require densitometers and a lot more effort. Shoot a variety of scene environments, and each time set the ISO setting on the meter in 1/3s above and below the nominate speed. Choose the result that appears the most correctly exposed and select the associated ISO setting. That is if its a 400 speed film and your best frame was shot at 320, then use 320 on the meter with that camera for your 400 speed films.

For negs however, it isnt going to make very much difference at all...

 

[peter_n]

A Weston V or modern equivalent is accurate and they can be had for $50-60. Make sure it has the incident cone.

 

[Merkin]

I am personally a big fan of the gossen digisix. It is very small, very accurate, has a number of neat features, and you can get an adapter that allows you to attatch it to your hotshoe. It is a bit more than the Sekonic, but more reliable in my opinion. Of the three people I have known with the small sekonic meter, two of them were miscalibrated.

 

[eli griggs]

I also have and use Weston V meters restored and calibrated by Quality Light Metric and they are great.

Cheers

 

[michaelging]

I will second the Gossen Digisix. It will fit in you pocket or in the hotshoe. Its fast, accurate and even has a thermometer. The only bad thing about it that you have to convert from a EV to F-stop or shutterspeed with a dial, but that's a small thing.

 

[Keith]

Man oh man ... I've just been checking out Digisix prices and can't believe the variation around the globe. From $125.00 USD at Amazon to $378.00 AUD for a local Oz seller ... that's bizarre! 😱

It does sound like a good little meter for what I want but strangely Dante Stella didn't seem to like it much at all! Karen at photoethnograpy loved it however!

 

[Krosya]

I swear by my Sekonic 308 because it is small enough to comfortably carry in a pocket, does perfect incident readings, has reflected readings available and also does great flash metering. Notice that having one small enough to comfortably carry was my first parameter. That was intentional.

I bought mine several years ago from Poon at HKsupplies.com (Hong Kong) for around US$120 new. I have no idea what they are now.

Of course no meter will give you good exposure readings. You need to use your brain for that. But they will give you a good indication of the light intensity which is a key input into the exposure decision you make.

Another vote for 308. I tried several - different Sekonic models, different Minolta models, Westons, etc, yet this is the one I have ended up with - small, accurate - great. Plus I have a separate spot meter for tricky light.

 

[jonmanjiro]

I've never owned a Sekonic 308, but after owning a Gossen Digisix and now a Sekonic 208, its the one I wish I did buy!

 

[john341]

Best meter

Best meter

I found travelling around that I could not rely on my judgement for that desired negative, so I bought a $5 Weston Master II which functions very well.My Weston IV packed it in and the V gives horrible readings - I don't know how long it will last but for the moment it'll do me

 

[trev2401]

I use an F5 with a 50/35/lens of choice for full 3d color matrix bla bla metering. Accurate like heck, and 300$ used for a bargain conditioned copy.

haha.. sorry, bad one there... Seriously speaking, the Minolta IVs are pretty accurate for both spot (with the attachment) and incident/reflective. Used on the bay for around 120-150$ Had one for 8 years now. love it.

 

[hiromu]

I use Digisix and it works fine for what I use.
Small, light and reliable.

Hiromu

 

[Leigh Youdale]

Incident Light Meter

Incident Light Meter

Keith,
I have had (and used) a Weston Euro-Master meter for years and it's been extremely accurate and useful. The only drawback is that to fit the Invercone for incident light readings you really need both hands free.

These days I'd probably go for the Sekonic L308. There's an ad on <www.camerasdirect.com.au> where they've dropped the price to $285 AUD - or you could try Vanbar in Melbourne for the Gossen Digisix at $308.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

Keith,
There's a meter at $40 USD in RFF Classifieds at the moment that might suit.

 

[Keith]

Keith,
I have had (and used) a Weston Euro-Master meter for years and it's been extremely accurate and useful. The only drawback is that to fit the Invercone for incident light readings you really need both hands free.

These days I'd probably go for the Sekonic L308. There's an ad on <www.camerasdirect.com.au> where they've dropped the price to $285 AUD - or you could try Vanbar in Melbourne for the Gossen Digisix at $308.

I was looking at L 308 prices and noticed that eBay seller 'digital rev' has them for $237.00 AUD posted from Hong Kong ... that's a great deal and I've dealt with this seller before.

 

[VinceC]

For an absolutely no-frills match needle meter, I use a Sekonin Twinmate L-208, which retails for under $100 US.

major shortcoming is that it has marginal low-light performance. ... Meter doesn't start to quiver until f/2 @ 1/8 - f/1.4 @ 1/15 (ISO 400). I shoot in that range all the time. On the other hand, that's my lower limit of hand-holding, so a meter reading isn't very important below that.
Vince

 

[Sparrow]

I’ve used a Sekonic 398 for years, they must go cheap these days

 

[Rui Morais de Sousa]

The least expensive most accurate incident

The least expensive most accurate incident

Hello Keith,
Having to deal with a lot of different meterless cameras, I have been using professionaly hand-held light meters for many years now, mostly in incident mode. I liked to use Minolta Autometers and also had a Seconic top of the line model (can't remember the model, and I don't have it here with me to check up). All these models were relatively big, specialy the Seconic, which was also not very reliable (that is relative: I used it a LOT and very intensively. Had one bonus feature: had a chronometer that helped me a lot on interior architecture shots, for controling long exposures).
Some years ago I switched to Gossen, and I choosed the Variosix F, because it is small and has flash meter ( a must for my work). It has incident and reflective mode, and I also have the 5 degrees finder to use on it when I need a small angle reflective measurement (That allows me to leave my Minolta Spotmeter back home...).
Moreover, it is easy to use, you can handle it with one hand, you get direct readings, no needles to align, etc. Simple and efficient as I like. Weights about 125g, and uses 9V batteries that last long. Most important, it is accurate.
I like it so much, that I even bought the Colormaster 3F that uses the same body and looks very similar in operation (beeing a Color Meter!).
I use both instruments for 10 or 12 years now and I am very satisfied. I would buy them again!
The F model has a very similar newer version, the F2. If you take a look on my blog (link on my name below, you can see lots of work metered with it. You also find a link to Gossen).
I would also consider the Seconic L-398M or a similar newer model, if there is one. They don't need batteries as they use selen cells.They are small and are a classic among the film industrie (if not exactly this model, some similar ones). A good model for incident reading.
Greetings, Rui