Digital Lightmeters

[Monobod]

Hi,

There doesn't seem to be much discussion here about these 'toys'. I know they are expensive and so perhaps not many of us own one, as indeed I do not.

I am getting more interested in studio work with both permanent lighting and flash and I feel that one of these may be very useful. many years ago, when I used manual camreras with no internal meters, I used an d still have my Weston Master V, but these are no good for flash readings as they have a needle pointer not a retained readout.

Do you have any advice on which to buy or what to look for in a modern meter?

Thanks.

[zx9]

Hi David,
I use a Minolta Autometer ivf which must be about ten years old so not one of the high spec. 'digital' meters. It has a digital display (and bar chart) it will do incident or reflected readings for ambient or/and flash, though you have to change the attachment which is not as easy as just sliding over a mini diffuser as on other meters.
You have to set a shutter speed then take the reading, you can then scroll up and down the shutter speeds and it will display the appropriate aperture for the new exposure time.

I paid under £100 for it second hand a couple of years ago, the same meter is now made by Kenko KMF 1100 and is about £250 ish.
If you are looking at S/H meters make sure you can still get the correct battery, the Minolta uses a good old AA cell.

[OneTen]

I really like the Sekonic meters. I've had three different version; L-308S, L-328F and L-608. Each can measure flash or ambient light, incident or reflected. The latter two have a swivel metering head and the last one is also a zoom spotmeter.

I've found them all to be very accurate and intuitive to use. For your needs I'd probably recommend the 308, it'll do what you want it to very well.

[parisian]

I use a Gossen Starlite (often) and to me it is invaluable. Both Gossen and Sekonic are very good performers indeed and neither make will disappoint you.
On the other hand if you are searching the secondhand market look for a Weston Master V or Euromaster. As analogue meters they are probably without peer - just make sure the 'invercone' is included.

[Wheelu]

I can recommend the Gossen Digisix, which will handle both incident and reflected light, and has the considerable advantage (to me) of being both small and light.

Features it does not have include a spot meter and a flash meter, but you will pay considerably more for those, and the meter will be a good deal larger.

Beware that selenium meters tend do die when they get old. I have had a Weston Master from new that has been well looked after but no longer works. Not sure that the cost of repair could be justified.

[Yecora99]

I bought a Gossen Sixomat Flash meter secondhand for just over £40.00. It is a well used meter but in full working order.

This has all the features I need, with Incident, Reflective and Flash metering. It looks similar to this meter but has white buttons instead of Red buttons.

Best Regards,

Yecora99

[Monobod]

I can recommend the Gossen Digisix, which will handle both incident and reflected light, and has the considerable advantage (to me) of being both small and light.

Features it does not have include a spot meter and a flash meter, but you will pay considerably more for those, and the meter will be a good deal larger.

Beware that selenium meters tend do die when they get old. I have had a Weston Master from new that has been well looked after but no longer works. Not sure that the cost of repair could be justified.

I have had a Weston V with invacone for about 40 years and eventually the readings were way off, so I had a new cell fitted via Jessops. It now gives very good readings. Interestingly, I also inherited my Father's Master V, which is showing its age and the readings do not correspond exactly to the repaired model. They are really nice meters and although it costs a few bob to have them mended, I thought it was worth it. I now have te be very careful not to take the wrong one out with me, as they both look identical.

I am considering the Sekonic L358, which seems to do everything I need and is not too expensive at £199 from WHE.

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

[zx9]

I am considering the Sekonic L358, which seems to do everything I need and is not too expensive at £199 from WHE.

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

Looks like it has very similar spec. to my Mintola, I would have thought it should serve you well. I do not see much advantage in anything more complicated, unless you want spot metering which the camera can probably do quite well anyway.

[Monobod]

Yes, I agree.