What lightmeter to accompany my M?

amoz

amoz

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I am looking for a good lightmeter to use for available light, and I would like the option of spot-metering. The in-camera meter of my MP (and future M9...) has its limits, so what would you recommend to complement this system? [If it is of any importance: I shoot with 35/2 and 75/2 lenses.]

Thanks!
 
Assuming that by "available light" you mean "poor light", there's rarely enough light for shadow-based spot metering with a true (1 degree or less) spot meter. My own advice is to learn more about how to interpret the MP/M9 meter, and cultivate guesswork.

If you are metering for negatives, you might care to look at http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps expo neg.html

Cheers,

R.
 
Thanks, Roger. I just mean ambient light, not necessarily poor light. And I would mainly need it for my slide-film work.

So thanks for the tips, but I would like to purchase and try a good handheld light-meter. Just don't know which one to get...
 
amoz said:
Thanks, Roger. I just mean ambient light, not necessarily poor light. And I would mainly need it for my slide-film work.

So thanks for the tips, but I would like to purchase and try a good handheld light-meter. Just don't know which one to get...
Click to expand...

Slides? Incident. Any will do. I use Gossens, because I don't believe anyone makes better (though there are probably others that are as good). No point in spot metering for slides, unless you can't get to the subject or to somewhere that is equivalently lit, in which case you can use the highlight index on the spot meter.

If you want incident and spot in one meter, the obvious choice is the Gossen Starlite but it's $800 or so.

Again there's a slide metering module on the site: http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps expo slide.html

Cheers,

R.
 
I agree with Gossens. However, I would suggest a Gossen Luna Pro SBC. The SBC meter is more sensitive and doesn't suffer so much from memory. It does have both reflected and incident modes, but I think you would want the accessory dome rather that the built in dome for most accurate results in incident mode. I base that on the use of my Sekonic L28c2. The Sekonic does by the way work in suprisingly low light, but based on cost, I would still suggest the Gossen Luna Pro SBC.

As to spot, I am inclined to think as Mr. Hicks says, it isn't of much use for slides. I haven't shot slides in a long time, but my recollection is they don't like available light much.
 
My understanding is that the meter of the MP can be described as semi spot. For slides, any good incident light meter will do. Gossen and Sekonic are the leading brands. Alternatively, you could use your camera's meter to take a reading off the palm of a hand and add one stop. Yet another option is to take a reading off something dead white (paper or handkerchief) and add 2.5 stops. Palm or white object to be in same light as subject to be photographed.
 
Buy a gray card. You can meter off the gray card and it'll give you the proper exposure.

They are about $15.
 
payasam said:
My understanding is that the meter of the MP can be described as semi spot. For slides, any good incident light meter will do. Gossen and Sekonic are the leading brands. Alternatively, you could use your camera's meter to take a reading off the palm of a hand and add one stop. Yet another option is to take a reading off something dead white (paper or handkerchief) and add 2.5 stops. Palm or white object to be in same light as subject to be photographed.
Click to expand...

Seconded. Beats a grey card hollow (cheaper and easier to carry). White paper as second choice.

@Oftheherd: yes, sorry, I wasn't thinking of the old CdS meters, only of reasonably recent silicon blue cells. You are of course absolutely right. (I use a Variosix F2 and a LunaPro SBC).


Cheers,

R.
 
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Roger Hicks said:
Seconded. Beats a grey card hollow (cheaper and easier to carry). White paper as second choice.

@Oftheherd: yes, sorry, I wasn't thinking of the old CdS meters, only of reasonably recent silicon blue cells. You are of course absolutely right. (I use a Variosix F2 and a LunaPro SBC).


Cheers,

R.
Click to expand...

Mr. Hicks,

And I am not really up on newer SBC cell meters. No real need as I have a Luna Pro, Luna Pro SBC, and a Sekonic L28c2. But I was wondering if you have used the dome accessory with the Luna Pro SBC, and if it is in fact more accurate than the small dome built into the SBC.

I have always trusted the L28c2 more for some reason. It just gives a very accurate incident reading. It seems to me the Luna Pro SBC is more accurate as a reflected meter than incident. The Luna Pro seems a little better as an incident meter for some reason. I don't know if that is just the two I have or if all Luna Pro and Liuna Pro SBC meters are the same.

So I was wondering sir, have you had an opportunity to test them against each other?
 
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