Does anyone use a light meter?

(antbug) · (antbug) **Join Date: Jul 2004** 02-12-2008, 10:37 AM

Thinking about getting one.... thoughts?

(joshturner) · (joshturner) **Join Date: Jun 2007** 02-12-2008, 11:04 AM

if you know how to utilize the meter in your camera, you really dont need it.
they come in handy if you have really high contrast images and want to expose for the shadows where the matrix metering can get confused, but if you use spot metering mode you accomplish the same thing. just point the spot meter at the thing you want to expose for and either use manual mode and dail in the exposure then recompose and shoot or hold down the exposure lock button then recompose and shoot.
kind of a waste of money in my opinon. unless you are shooting with an antient camera that doesnt have a sophisticated meter in it.

(peter_c) · (peter_c) **Join Date: Sep 2001** 02-12-2008, 11:56 AM

I have one and mostly just play with it. One of the reasons I purchased it was it was cost about the same as another pocket wizard to trigger my camera. I have a Sekonic L358 with the radio module in it. Nikon does not make a wireless remote control for their prosumer cameras.

We are going to use my light meter for a purpose that it was not quite intended for, and that is measuring the light output of different cannister lights for diving. My friend has a home built single LED that is very close in brightness to my 21 watt HID and we want an unbiased test. My HID is the standard in the dive industry, and my friend is hoping to start building and selling LED lights for around $1200. One tool can have multiple uses.

(scott_a) · (scott_a) **Join Date: Dec 2002** 02-12-2008, 1:47 PM

yep...I've got the Sekonic L-358 with PocketWizard chip, too. It's great. I really only use it to meter remote flashes, though, so if you're just shooting some wake stuff during the daytime then you'll probably never really need one.

(wakesurf12) · (wakesurf12) **Join Date: Jun 2003** 02-13-2008, 7:13 PM

Yeah, I tend to use mine when doing studio or off camera flash stuff. It really helps me balance my ambient and strobes without having to shoot a ton of test images. Its a great tool to have yet there are ways around it now a days. But regardless, if you are thinking about getting one and have the money for it I would say it is a good investment. I especially like the Sekonic L-758 because of its cine capabilities.

(richd) · (richd) **Join Date: Oct 2003** 02-14-2008, 8:10 AM

I had a Sekonic as well for a while but I found I just wasn't using it much as I could get an average BG meter just fine with the camera (and never used it for spot metering either). If you're having white balance problems an expodisc might be the ticket as well (if you're shooting under a lot of artificial lighting.)

Sounds like a good thing for flash work however based on Scott/Ryan's posts.