what handheld meter are you using?

[Doug]

The Gossen Luna Star F and its successor the F2 are digital-reading meters that handle both ambient and flash. Large enough for good handling and easy viewing, but slim enough to carry in a pocket. There used to be another similar digital meter at about half the cost, but I see it's no longer listed on B&H. Here's a link to the Luna Star F2...
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...ls&Q=&sku=20971&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

 

[billbarber]

Sekonic L-558
Just started using it; in fact, I don't have my film developed that I used it on.

 

[christo]

Way back when I bought a new Minolta Auto meter III when I was shooting motion
picture film. It must be 20 years but it is still perfect. I use it all the time with a Leica
M. I can still find batteries at my local drugstore. It has memory settings and I have the sport meter attachment along with the flat and 180 dome. Has never let me down but do have extra batteries on hand.

 

[Peter Klein]

My main hand meter is a Gossen Luna Pro Digital. Just a little bigger than a deck of cards, works beautifully for both reflected and incident. There is a version of it that also does flash.

I also have a Minolta Spot Meter M (digital, the predecessor of the current Spot Meter F), and a Pentax Spotmeter V (analog). Both bought used very reasonably. No, I'm not a closet "Zonie." I enjoy doing theatre and concert photography, and regular meters take in too big an angle for stage lighting. I can usually guess right based on a regular meter reading plus experience. But once I got badly fooled, and ended up with very overexposed Neopan 1600. Not pretty. A 1-degree spot meter is the only way to be 100% sure you got a stage exposure right, so I bought one, and somehow ended up with two. Post 9/11, I'm afraid to use them on the street, as I'm afraid some moron will mistake them for guns.

Then there's my Mom's old, no longer working Gossen Pilot. On of these days I have to send it to Quality Light Metric for a CLA and selenium cell replacement. Just because.

--Peter

 

[JeffGreene]

Gossen Lunapro SBC with a multibeam spot attachment (1, 5, 10 degree). It looks unwieldy, but it still is a great meter.

 

[terrafirmanada]

I use the Luna Pro, and carry a copy of the Ultimate Exposure Computer, which you can find and print from the following site: http://www.fredparker.com/ultexp1.htm I typically try to travel light, and have found this is an improvement on the sunny 16, since I use several different film speeds. Of course the free option is nice. The more I practice and quiz myself the closer I get to the Luna. When I am shooting in varied light (sunny with strong shadows) I can sometimes better determine the exposure using Fred Parker's method.

 

[ChrisN]

Gee, nobody else using a Weston V? Great meter, no batteries, the scales are a bit busy, but give all the funny combinations for old lenses and shutter speeds. Got mine overhauled by QLM so it's good for another twenty years at least.

 

[Doug]

Chris, I used to use a Weston Master IV years ago, must have sold it... Have a Master II now that needs an overhaul at QLM. 🙂

 

[thpook]

Sekonic L-608 that I bought a couple of years back.

 

[denishr]

Gee, nobody else using a Weston V?

Chris, I still use it...

After all, I wrote an article about them in the repair section 🙂

However, ever since I got the Calcu-Light XP, the Weston sees less and less action.
Calcu-Light is lighter, and is VERY sensitive - meaning it measures VERY low light. I usually hang it around my neck, and almost don't feel it.
However, Weston V is a perfect companion for my M2 in daylight shooting - and it's still a meter that best "fits" me - I prefer its dials to everything else I've seen so far...

Denis

 

[hoot]

Gossen Lunalite.

Benefits:
* only costs about $80 in excellent used condition
* incident metering is practically failsafe if you use it correctly; i.e., meter the light falling on your object rather than the object itself
* virtually indestructible; you can drop it on concrete
* makes you look like a super pro; scares the hell out of little children and old people

Drawbacks:
* too big to stick in your pocket unless you're wearing cargo pants
* slow to use, as the LEDs give no indication of whether you're a half-stop overexposed or 10 stops overexposed until they tell you that you're spot on
* its 1980s look doesn't really go with the Leica image 😉

At the moment, I'm waiting for a good deal on a used Gossen Digisix or Digiflash model, which works the same way but is tiny, and keep the more precise and sensitive Lunalite in my tripod bag, for the carefully-planned photos.

I don't really trust Selenium, especially in the lower EV range... but if someone makes a compelling argument for it, I'll listen.

 

[Roman]

LunaLite here, too!
And I also see a DigiSix in my future...

Roman

 

[akalai]

Sekonic L358 for when it's really important, such as for studio strobes or low light. Great build, be brilliant if it was a touch smaller but not so bad. Great fun to use with the radio slave installed!

BUT my favourite is my Weston Master V, while not exactly suited for low light its still very good after a rebuild at Quality Light Metric and a perfect match for shooting with my Contax IIa. Actually be warned if you buy one....they are addictive! After thinking I wouldn't see mine again after it was "borrowed" by an ex I gave in and bought another which was genuinely new in box. Best bit was I got my first one back as well....after awhile!!! 🙂

 

[anglophone1]

I had the same dilemma, I have a superb Sekonic L 508 [I think] zoom/spot/incident ambient/flasn meter that I use on location with my strobe kit etc. but it's nearly the same size as a rangefinder body!
I also use mixed flash/ambient light quite a lot in my rangefinder work, and was looking for a pocketable version of this.
A fellow attendee at a workshop with Alex Webb [ an incident light meter user, even with MPs..............] in Tuscany this summer had a digisix which looked great, but no flash capability, but Robert White list the digiflash which has flash metering too.
Serendipity smiled and one appeared on ebay the same week, I have now had it a month and can report it fits the bill beautifully , small ,light, [it hangs on an extending key ring cord on my belt] and very accurate for both flash and ambient light. Also has a digital timer [great for long exposures] and a thermometer!
Hope this helps!
Clive
Antibes-France

[too much kit to list, but 3 bessa R bodies for sale!]

antibeshooter@yahoo.co.uk

www.clive-evans.com

 

[Graybeard]

Weston Ranger or Weston Master V (both overhauled by QLM).

The Master V is the same size as the Sekonic 308 and much more ruggedly constructed.

 

[Alec]

Minolta Autometer IVF. Because I gave my Lunasix away... :-/

 

[RObert Budding]

Soligor Digital Spot Meter.

Robert

 

[paulh]

Just bought a Weston from a RFFer. Coming n the mail!

 

[ErnestoJL]

Many years ago, my choice for a handheld meter was the Gossen LunaSix (or Luna Pro) with CdS cell. I never regretted that.
Along with it, I have a Gossen Pilot 2 (or Sixtino) which is excelent also but leaves a lot to desire for low light. It´s small, light and can take incident/reflected ligh measurements too.
I use this last also with an adapter to place it in the accesory shoe, but I prefer the Metraphot for that place (it was designed for that purpose).
Ernesto

 

[Per]

Weston Master V, have two of them. Also uses a Gossen meter from the 80´s.
The Westons have style and do a very good job, goes well with M3 and YashicaMat.