Thombar Loc: Hominy, OK

Can anyone recommend a decent Light Meter for under $150 that will show percentage of ambient light to flash? I'm just a hobbyist at this point and don't have the budget for an expensive meter. Many thanks!

CO

The Sekonic L-358, L-558, L-608, L-478, L-478DR , L-758DR show the percentage of ambient light to flash. I have the Sekonic L-478DR that I use for studio photo shoots. Some of those models are discontinued.

Thombar Loc: Hominy, OK

Thanks, Co, I'll check them out.

zigipha Loc: north nj

if you can get any of those for under 150, i'll buy a dozen..

CO

You can purchase used Sekonic L-358 light meters on ebay for $75, $100, $165.

What are your light meter recommendations for the OP?

gplawhorn Loc: Norfolk, Nebraska

I just bought a used Minolta Spotmeter F on eBay for $150; it'll be delivered today, so we'll see what I get. The seller has a 99.4% rating with 65,000+ transactions, so I felt pretty safe in ordering.

Lazy J Loc: Pacific Northwest

I, like you, am a hobbyist photographer. Also like you, when learning this hobby we love, fell hook line and sinker into the need for a light meter. So, speaking from experience, you do not need one unless you are big into studio shooting. Mine set in my bag and was never used. For me, it made this hobby I enjoy too anal and lessened the enjoyment.

So, in my opinion the light meter in the camera is more than sufficient for the typical user (i.e., hobbyist), and any deficiencies are easily corrected in post processing if you are mindful of the histogram when shooting.

Put that retired income towards a good lens. It will pay more dividends. My two cents worth, keep the change!

zigipha Loc: north nj

I dont have any..i have been looking for the same and have not found a 358 for less than 225. Thats why i said ill take em at 150

Ill keep looking though...

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

He wants a flash meter - the camera meter won't do that.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Sekonic 308 is $200. Should be a ble to find one used in the 150 range. I just looked at one of those today. I'm seriously thinking of picking up a lumu that plugs into my iPhone. However it doesn't do flash.

gplawhorn Loc: Norfolk, Nebraska

The Minolta Spotmeter F arrived today, and I've been playing with it a little bit. As it turns out, I've been metering my images all wrong. People would say, "Expose for the highlights," so I would expose for the highlights - put the spot on the whitest part, and adjust until it was at zero. Then I would take the picture.

Oops! As you all know, if you meter zero on the white part of the image, that becomes the midtone, and the image is too dark.

Using the Minolta, I've learned that I need to increase my exposure to +2 after metering on the bright spot. Voila! Nice picture, good exposure, proper highlights and shadows!

:oops:

Anyway, for those of us who DON'T have years of experience, a light meter might be a good training tool.

Now I just need to go back and take all those pictures again . . .

Kuzano

Wonder why so many people avoid eBay. In the last 60 days there have been 150+ L-358s sold on eBay. A dozen listed closed at less than $165, and one even sold for $129.99.

With eBay it's just a question timing, and while for the most part the L-358's sell for $200 and up, If you follow an item, you may just luck out and find a "fixed price" low because someone just wants to get rid of one... may not even have used it.... may have picked it up at a yard or estate sale, with no real idea of it's value, but they got it for $50 or even less.

If you are set on a price, you can always put in a Proxy Bid at your max amount. Also, many people doing fixed pricing are now adding the Best Offer feature. I've been doing well on Best Offer. It's pretty interesting how soft people get on price when there's a firm offer on the screen in front of them.

I've been buying/selling film gear (some digital but digital gets so worthless SO FAST). Buying/selling over 15 years now.

Never been scammed or defrauded, never lost any money that wasn't my fault in not paying attention. I never buy from anyone with a feedback rating less than 99.5%. You don't have to. Far too many sellers and repetition on most items

For instance, right now there are 36 listings under the search for L-358.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I use the Polaris light meter and it's easy to use and the price is right. I've used over 2 years without any problems.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Polaris-Flash-Meter-2-025-/141737415082?hash=item21003551aa

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I purchased this one for around 125 Australian dollars.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-113454-1.html

It does work well, and very precise. It's just a bit of a hassle when traveling. TSA gets weird about it.
--Bob

Thombar Loc: Hominy, OK

I can see why TSA gets weird about it. The thing looks like something from Star Wars. :lol: