Gear Talk > Lighting
Light Meters?
mws:
How many of you use a light meter? If so, what are you usually shooting with them? I was looking into them on the interwebs the other day, I’m really surprised how expensive they are. Even used older ones on ebay still command a hefty sum.
I’m guessing the majority of people who use them are doing studio/portrait work. Do you still find yourself using one as much as you used to, as in camera metering has improved over the last several years?
Jamesy:
I picked up a Sekonic L-358 years ago and it really helps when you are shooting in a studio setting. Cameras typically have reflective meters and a light meter can meter do incident metering explained here: http://www.sekonic.com/Classroom/MeteringTechniques/IncidentvsReflected.aspx
I use the flash mode so it will tell me what the exposure should be with the flash in the exposure, very helpful indeed.
When I do event style shooting or Aperture priority/eTTL shooting I don't use a meter. I bought one to have it for a workshop by Don Giannatti (Wizwow) years ago (BTW, he was on CreativeLive last week) and thought I would sell it afterwards but have found it is an invaluable tool for any portrait/studio photographer.
xROELOFx:
i have a Sekonic L-358 too. i use it to set up my flashes when doing portraits, so i get the right exposure. the camera's meter is not as accurate. with the sekonic i know the exposures are correct.
Jamesy:
--- Quote from: xROELOFx on April 13, 2012, 09:41:56 AM ---i have a Sekonic L-358 too. i use it to set up my flashes when doing portraits, so i get the right exposure. the camera's meter is not as accurate. with the sekonic i know the exposures are correct.
--- End quote ---
Plus the added bonus of the Sekonic being able to meter the flash exposure too. When you do a reflective reading from a camera to the subject, it is only metering the ambient light reflecting off of the subject.
When you set the a light meter to meter incident combined with flash you get the entire exposure.
xROELOFx:
--- Quote from: Jamesy on April 13, 2012, 09:55:35 AM ---
--- Quote from: xROELOFx on April 13, 2012, 09:41:56 AM ---i have a Sekonic L-358 too. i use it to set up my flashes when doing portraits, so i get the right exposure. the camera's meter is not as accurate. with the sekonic i know the exposures are correct.
--- End quote ---
Plus the added bonus of the Sekonic being able to meter the flash exposure too. When you do a reflective reading from a camera to the subject, it is only metering the ambient light reflecting off of the subject.
When you set the a light meter to meter incident combined with flash you get the entire exposure.
--- End quote ---
yes, you are right. that's part what i meant to say :P. i use it to meter each flash individually, to setup each flash's output. and then the whole scene and adjust accordingly.
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