Light meter recommendation

[dxbtiger]

Friend is looking to buy his daughter a light meter, can anyone suggest some suitable options?

If you need anymore info than that to make a recommendation then just say and I will find out specifics, I know the square root of FA about them!

[Colin RedGriff]

Probably the biggest question is how much money does he want to spend.

Sekonic hs a good range. The L308 flashmate is a reasonable budget model. I picked one up off ebay, after using one on my college course. Measures either incident or reflected light.

[Kermit power]

Out of interest, what would someone use a light meter for, given the capabilities built in to today's cameras?

I could see it being useful for exposures over 30 seconds where the camera (mine anyway) just silks and tells me to use bulb mode, but other than that, it generally does an excellent job of giving me the right exposure.

[ian in lancs]

The 308 is a really good meter but it will only work shutter priority making it a bit of a faff! The L-358 has become my workhorse but its bigger and more expensive.

Alternatively, there's an iPhone App!

[dxbtiger]

Kermit, that was my exact question to him!

In terms of budget, not sure but he isn't short of cash so can't see it being an issue for the 'right' one.

She has just had a second kid so I think that's the reason for buying it.

Will have a look at the one recommended above, any other options welcomed.

[MartinP]

I have a Sekonic L308s for setting up studio flash power levels. It does a very good job for that. The only time I've ever used it for anything other than setting up off camera flash, was when using a fully manual large format camera when I was at college.

[Kermit power]

"I've just had a second child so I need a light meter"?

That sounds like bloke logic!

[dxbtiger]

Kermit power said:

"I've just had a second child so I need a light meter"?

That sounds like bloke logic!

Haha, she did some kind of photography diploma and is getting into studio portrait stuff I think.

[ian in lancs]

For studio flash type work the 308 is fine. For the most part shutter is fixed and you adjust the lighting for effect/aperture. For ambient portraiture I'd be setting the depth of field/aperture first so the 308 being shutter first is less than helpful and the reason I bought the 358.

[dxbtiger]

ian in lancs said:

For studio flash type work the 308 is fine. For the most part shutter is fixed and you adjust the lighting for effect/aperture. For ambient portraiture I'd be setting the depth of field/aperture first so the 308 being shutter first is less than helpful and the reason I bought the 358.

I pointed him in the direction of the 358 earlier and he said he had come to that conclusion whilst doing his own research so we may have a winner.

[markmullen]

It depends on what you need it for.

I use a Gossen Variosix F2 which has a spotmeter attachment and can do flash, both wireless and wired. It is a good bit of kit, well made and small.

[dxbtiger]

markmullen said:

It depends on what you need it for.

I use a Gossen Variosix F2 which has a spotmeter attachment and can do flash, both wireless and wired. It is a good bit of kit, well made and small.

Thanks Mark.

Will throw that into the mix and see if he knows any more about what she needs.