light meters

[yamashita]

Read from websites that light meters can help to set the f and the exposure timing.

But was wondering what brand of meters and the price of it, you guys are using and wish to recommend.

[ckiang]

Quote: Originally posted by yamashita Read from websites that light meters can help to set the f and the exposure timing. But was wondering what brand of meters and the price of it, you guys are using and wish to recommend.

Ultimate will be something like the Sekonic L-608. I think that one costs > $600.

A cheaper one will be the L-308 at around $300 or less. Can't remember.

Regards
CK

[ninelives]

Quote: Originally posted by yamashita Read from websites that light meters can help to set the f and the exposure timing. But was wondering what brand of meters and the price of it, you guys are using and wish to recommend.

the auto meter VF selling at $550.

http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthrea...threadid=13776

[Gunjack]

Wah... Will the selenium light meters be good enough? Saw one selling for around $60, I think...

[forward]

A Light Meter is an essential item for a serious photographer


When you use flash as your main source of lighting
the light meter helps to give you the f/stop according
to the film you used, the distance of the flash from the
subject and so on.

You also use the light meter to give accurate reading
of fill-in flash combine with the available light.
Among serious and advanced amateur photographers
the light meter is not a luxury item.

Depending on your need, you should look for a meter's
capability in its ambient light measurment. The lower
the EV the better. Example the Polaris has the capability
from EV1-19.9 with ISO100.

The older Gossen Luna Pro can even measure moonlight.


Polaris Light Meter
http://www.hirtech.com/PolarisMeter.htm

Flash Meter Reviews

http://www.jafaphotography.com/meters.htm

Sekonic L-608 (weather proof)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bh1.sph/...ID=F123AA8ACE0

Sekonic L-508 Zoom Master
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bh3.sph/...ID=F125A6C8F30

For a more detail list:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/links/903.html

Light Meter Reviews
http://www.photographyreview.com/Lig...S_3115crx.aspx

_____________________________________
Can we argue that the vast majority of
aspirising and amateurs
photographers change their status once
they acquire a good and reliable light meter.
For we cannot deny that after all,
photography is more or less about how we
observe light.

[yamashita]

Quote: Originally posted by Gunjack Wah... Will the selenium light meters be good enough? Saw one selling for around $60, I think...

Looking for a cheap light meter to start with. Where did you see this brand?

[Ian]

Quote: Originally posted by yamashita Looking for a cheap light meter to start with. Where did you see this brand?

There's several great cheap meters available.

One's I'd suggest include:

Gossen Pilot 2:
Selenium Cell / 50 degree coverage
Metering range EV +5~22 at 100 ISO
Shutter speeds: 1/1000th to 4 minutes
ISO range 6~3200
Incident and Reflected metering modes.

Gossen Scout 2:
Selenium Cell / 50 degree coverage
Metering range EV +6~16 at 100 ISO
Shutter speeds: 1/2000th to8 seconds
ISO range 6-6400
Reflected metering only

Sekonic 158 Auto Lumni
Selenium Cell / 65 degree coverage
Metering Range: EV +7~17
Shutter speeds: 1/2000th to 8 seconds
ISO Range: 6~12,000


Sekonic 188 Auto Leader
Selenium Cell / 65 degree coverage
Metering Range: EV +3~18
Shutter speeds: 1/2000th to 8 seconds
ISO Range: 6~12,000


AS to which one to get, that's up to you, however having used Sekonic, Gossen and Minolta meters extensively I have a personal preference for Gossens as they are the best lasting meters I've used. Both of my old Luna Pro's are still spot on after 20+ years of daily abuse as is my Sekonic L148. All my current digital meters are Gossen.

[yamashita]

Thanks Ian.

Wondering what's the price range for those listed meter?

[rubric]

Quote: Originally posted by Ian There's several great cheap meters available.

Saw some really huge meters the other day. Are these compact? Is it possible to get them in Singapore?

[forward]

Light Meter

Meters using Selenium Cell can be a good starter
for beginners but not senisitive enough for most
low lighting conditions.

The differences lie in the heart of the
meter which is a light-sensitive cell.


Basically there are four types:



1. Selenium Cell - Weston Master V (now a classic)

2. Cadmium Sulfide (Cds) Cells - Luna Six or Luna Six Pro (Gossen)

Has greater sensitivity than selenium
Generate flow of current from a battery
Practical for in-camera use
May be dazzled or “overwhelmed” by intensive light

3. Silicon (Si) “Blue” Cell
Response equal or greater than Cds cell used in
battery powered circuit.
Do not become dazzled by high-intensity
Light can be used in all lighting situation without
delay or difficulty e.g. in the older Fujica ST701, 801 & 901

4. Gallium-Arsenic – Phosphorus Cells
Can be used in very low light levels
Draw little current
Do not become overwhelmed by bright light
Can be used for low light level immediately
after being used in high light levels.

Used in meters built into cameras that have
light emitting diode (LED) displays.

_____________________________
Why get a cheap meter and in less
than two months you find that it is
not adequate for your needs?

Far from the truth, beginners seems
that they just have too much money to spent
on buying something that won't last even
for 60 days.

[rubric]

I'm interested in a cheap meter for my toy camera and nothing else.

[Dagger]

Quote: Originally posted by yamashita Read from websites that light meters can help to set the f and the exposure timing. But was wondering what brand of meters and the price of it, you guys are using and wish to recommend.

Sekonic 508, about S$500 or so.

[yamashita]

wow...that sure cost quite a sum.

[forward]

Light Meter Experience

I was a beginner like you without any knowledge
of what a light meter is all about. After some
research through books and photo magazines
(there is no Internet yet in the 1970's), no such joyful
thing like photo forum, ....weeeeeee..!!!!!....so cool
nowadays for all of you youngkees.

The Weston Master V is the most popular among
professional photographers at that time. I went for it
and paid S$65/- which was a very high price at that
time.

Just two years down the road, I knew the meter is
of not much use to me, so I save up for the next two
years and got myself a Gossen Luna Six which cost me
S$215/- which was also a high price to pay at that time
in the mid 1970's. But I am willing to pay for a good
light meter to help me in my pursue of learning photography.

Now with all these new stuff like the Sekonic L-608 and
the L508, h'mmmm... they are far more advanced that
some of my older meters such as the Minolta Meter III and IV.

For most beginners and even the more advanced amateurs,
the current Sekonic L508 at around S$500/- is a really
good buy.

The Minolta Meter V would cost you another $300/- more.

____________________________
So they say:
If your pictures aren't good enough,
you aren't close enough.
So reading light sensitivity requires
the act of commitment and creative
imagination of the part of the aspirising
photographer.

[yamashita]

Just wondering, how does those analog light meter works? Don't know what should I call it, since they have no LED display, so give it a name like analog.

how do I read those display on those analog type?

[Dagger]

Quote: Originally posted by yamashita wow...that sure cost quite a sum.

very good unit that can also last you long. also used in studios.

[Ian]

Quote: Originally posted by yamashita Thanks Ian. Wondering what's the price range for those listed meter?

I'm not sure of the SG price range, but they are all avaiable for under about 90 USD in the USA so the prices should be cheaper in Singapore. I'd suggest you give Cathay or Prime etc a call and find out.

I'd avoid the russian made meters though, they are horrible quality.

[Ian]

Quote: Originally posted by forward Light Meter Experience For most beginners and even the more advanced amateurs, the current Sekonic L508 at around S$500/- is a really good buy. The Minolta Meter V would cost you another $300/- more.

It would be so nice if people would actually read what the original poster wanted 'cheap' and 500 SGD for a light meter isn't a cheap meter.

[ninelives]

Ian, do u think we really need light meter when nowaday camera already got a built-in one?

Unless we are into portrait/studio photogray else we won't be using it.

correct me please.

[sulhan]

Hiee..

Me will try out a sekonic zoom lightmeter over the weekend to see how accurate my camera metering is. So Ian, i am planning to do it indoors and out doors.
I will be using the meter to compare against the aperture and the shutter recommendation of the meter and the camera.

Is this a fair enough way to do it??


regards.
Sulhan