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Flash meters
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Jun 26, 2017 19:41:34   #
Chefneil
 
I have GAS. I ate too much chili and now I have to deal with it. Truthfully I don't even know if I really need one, but the idea has been eating away at my brain. The exposures that I have been taking are ok, good or great even, but I just wonder if they could not be even better if I use one of these. Does any one out there have wisdom on the subject of flash meter? I do a little portraiture and may get further into it if the occasion comes along. Right now I am doing mostly still life in controlled circumstances.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1219217-REG/sekonic_401_307_l_308s_u_flashmate_light_meter.html

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Jun 26, 2017 20:15:34   #
BebuLamar
 
Chefneil wrote:
I have GAS. I ate too much chili and now I have to deal with it. Truthfully I don't even know if I really need one, but the idea has been eating away at my brain. The exposures that I have been taking are ok, good or great even, but I just wonder if they could not be even better if I use one of these. Does any one out there have wisdom on the subject of flash meter? I do a little portraiture and may get further into it if the occasion comes along. Right now I am doing mostly still life in controlled circumstances.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1219217-REG/sekonic_401_307_l_308s_u_flashmate_light_meter.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1219217-REG/sekonic_401_307_l_308s_u_flashmate_light_meter.html
I have GAS. I ate too much chili and now I have to... (show quote)


I see a film camera in your avatar so are you shooting film? If you shoot film and use flash and in controlled circumstances the a flash meter is a must. If you shoot digital, again in the same situation, not necessary at all. You can make test shot. Transfer to you computer. And make adjustments. Results are better than flash meter. (I have 2 flash meters)

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Jun 26, 2017 20:18:31   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
One of the reasons, appropriate to your post, that I purchased the light meter I have is that it is a flash meter. I simply hook up a PC cable from the meter to the strobe and press a button and it fires the strobe and measures the exposure. It is a very useful tool and that is only part of the reason for purchasing it.
--Bob
Chefneil wrote:
I have GAS. I ate too much chili and now I have to deal with it. Truthfully I don't even know if I really need one, but the idea has been eating away at my brain. The exposures that I have been taking are ok, good or great even, but I just wonder if they could not be even better if I use one of these. Does any one out there have wisdom on the subject of flash meter? I do a little portraiture and may get further into it if the occasion comes along. Right now I am doing mostly still life in controlled circumstances.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1219217-REG/sekonic_401_307_l_308s_u_flashmate_light_meter.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1219217-REG/sekonic_401_307_l_308s_u_flashmate_light_meter.html
I have GAS. I ate too much chili and now I have to... (show quote)

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Jun 26, 2017 20:19:06   #
mas24 Loc: Southern CA
 
$200 for the meter. That's not a great fortune. If you need it to improve your photography, get it. However, as for myself, I would not need it. Good luck.

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Jun 26, 2017 20:26:40   #
Chefneil
 
mas24 wrote:
$200 for the meter. That's not a great fortune. If you need it to improve your photography, get it. However, as for myself, I would not need it. Good luck.


I enjoy your self-confidence

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Jun 26, 2017 20:32:39   #
Chefneil
 
BebuLamar wrote:
I see a film camera in your avatar so are you shooting film? If you shoot film and use flash and in controlled circumstances the a flash meter is a must. If you shoot digital, again in the same situation, not necessary at all. You can make test shot. Transfer to you computer. And make adjustments. Results are better than flash meter. (I have 2 flash meters)


Most of the time I shoot digital. I was given that camera by some some one special, and I espire to be able to take one shot and use it. I dont like going through skads of images to find the ONE. I do use that camera for some shots though.
The reason I am thinking about getting a flash meter is because I want to get into some portraiture and wonder if a flash meter may help along those lines(for precis metering) I learn kinda slowly and thought if I use a flash meter on a static subject it would make the learning curve a little more manageable.

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Jun 26, 2017 20:47:05   #
camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.
 
There is no reason for your digital exposures to be off. All modern cameras have color histograms in case the rear monitor is not good enough for you.
If you are using studio lights I will be the first one to recommend that you buy a flash meter. They are invaluable in the studio. Could also be very useful using outdoor flash off camera.
If you want it for ambient light that is a different story and I would say your in camera meters are awesome. Just practice more metering of different subjects and I am assuming you have a basic understanding of what an exposure meter does, in this case a reflective type.
With digital exposure is easier but as I said for studio light or off camera flash you need a flash meter.

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Jun 26, 2017 21:00:34   #
blackest Loc: Ireland
 
Chefneil wrote:
I enjoy your self-confidence


I've not had my flashmeter long and I love it not just for flash but incident light too. The only time it doesn't nail the exposure is when i don't use it correctly that and my color checker chart are 2 essentials for me now.

Alex with minolta flashmeter iv
Alex with minolta flashmeter iv...

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Jun 26, 2017 21:00:55   #
BebuLamar
 
Chefneil wrote:
Most of the time I shoot digital. I was given that camera by some some one special, and I espire to be able to take one shot and use it. I dont like going through skads of images to find the ONE. I do use that camera for some shots though.
The reason I am thinking about getting a flash meter is because I want to get into some portraiture and wonder if a flash meter may help along those lines(for precis metering) I learn kinda slowly and thought if I use a flash meter on a static subject it would make the learning curve a little more manageable.
Most of the time I shoot digital. I was given that... (show quote)


I have 2 flash meters and I like them but I don't use them when I shoot digital.

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Jun 26, 2017 21:02:45   #
mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey
 
Chefneil wrote:
I have GAS. I ate too much chili and now I have to deal with it. Truthfully I don't even know if I really need one, but the idea has been eating away at my brain. The exposures that I have been taking are ok, good or great even, but I just wonder if they could not be even better if I use one of these. Does any one out there have wisdom on the subject of flash meter? I do a little portraiture and may get further into it if the occasion comes along. Right now I am doing mostly still life in controlled circumstances.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1219217-REG/sekonic_401_307_l_308s_u_flashmate_light_meter.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1219217-REG/sekonic_401_307_l_308s_u_flashmate_light_meter.html
I have GAS. I ate too much chili and now I have to... (show quote)

I just got that model a few weeks ago but haven't had time to put it through its paces yet.

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Jun 27, 2017 10:16:38   #
Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana
 
Chefneil wrote:
Most of the time I shoot digital. I was given that camera by some some one special, and I espire to be able to take one shot and use it. I dont like going through skads of images to find the ONE. I do use that camera for some shots though.
The reason I am thinking about getting a flash meter is because I want to get into some portraiture and wonder if a flash meter may help along those lines(for precis metering) I learn kinda slowly and thought if I use a flash meter on a static subject it would make the learning curve a little more manageable.
Most of the time I shoot digital. I was given that... (show quote)


I have a great Sekonic flash meter, love using it, and have not used it once since I grudgingly switched to digital (which I now love).

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Jun 27, 2017 11:48:31   #
DJO
 
BebuLamar wrote:
I see a film camera in your avatar so are you shooting film? If you shoot film and use flash and in controlled circumstances the a flash meter is a must. If you shoot digital, again in the same situation, not necessary at all. You can make test shot. Transfer to you computer. And make adjustments. Results are better than flash meter. (I have 2 flash meters)


I disagree. Get the flash meter; you won't regret it. Yes, you can and probably will fine tune in your computer, but a flash meter will get you to that point much quicker. It will also give you a greater understanding of the still life and macro/ close-up process, including but by no means limited to lighting ratios and bellows factor. You will grow more facile with your equipment, procedure for a variety of situations will become intuitive, and you will begin to develop your own methods.

One way to look at to look at digital is an endless amount of free Polaroid, but not necessarily the best way.

You will also have an awesome incident meter!!!!!!!

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Jun 27, 2017 11:54:22   #
BebuLamar
 
DJO wrote:
I disagree. Get the flash meter; you won't regret it. Yes, you can and probably will fine tune in your computer, but a flash meter will get you to that point much quicker. It will also give you a greater understanding of the process, including but by no means limited to lighting ratios and bellows factor. You will grow more facile with your equipment, procedure for a variety of situations will become intuitive, and you will begin to develope your own methods.

One way to look at to look at digital is an endless amount of free Polaroid, but not necessarily the best way.

You will also have an awesome incident meter!!!!!!!
I disagree. Get the flash meter; you won't regret ... (show quote)


I used the flash meter all the time when I shot film. Now I shoot digital I can guess my exposure very close and check the exposure as well as lighting ratio by looking at the screen. If I need more I can view my shots on a well calibrated monitor before making adjustment to the flash power, aperture etc.. In fact my first guess is usually useable but of course I rather make adjustment and reshoot. It really doesn't take that much time.
No I never regret buying the flash meter as I have 2.

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Jun 27, 2017 12:47:26   #
rpavich Loc: West Virginia
 
There is a lot of mis-information whenever this subject comes up...I'll try and clear some up.

1.) The camera's histogram doesn't say anything about exposure. It cannot replace an incident meter. Period.

2.) Sure you can just do "good enough" shots and be happy without a meter and that's fine but if you want to KNOW anything about the intensity, ratio or value of light or flash..then you need a meter.

3.) Lastly, (and my favorite) is that a meter is a great teacher. You LEARN a LOT when you use one. Without a meter you can pop your flash, take shots and do everything until it "looks good" but that method will never teach you when you have a 1:1 lighting ratio, or a 2:1 ratio, or what the effect of adding another 1/2 stop of fill will do for a portrait or your still life. Flash meters give you real VALUES of light..amounts that you can repeat over and over and use them like pulling a tool out of your tool belt.


After using a meter for a couple of weeks you will KNOW that your YN560 will give you f8 at 18" from your subject at 1/125. You won't wonder...you'll KNOW because you repeat it over and over in your set up and you SEE it on your meter...just like a calculator. You know what 2+2 is before you hit the = sign. You won't be re-inventing the wheel every time you take a shot, you'll use certain set ups over and over because they are pleasing to you. That doesn't mean that one day you won't need a meter...only that you will gain a lot of confidence.


That's a pretty basic flash meter, but a good starter....buy it and enjoy.

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Jun 27, 2017 13:03:50   #
BebuLamar
 
rpavich wrote:
There is a lot of mis-information whenever this subject comes up...I'll try and clear some up.

1.) The camera's histogram doesn't say anything about exposure. It cannot replace an incident meter. Period.

2.) Sure you can just do "good enough" shots and be happy without a meter and that's fine but if you want to KNOW anything about the intensity, ratio or value of light or flash..then you need a meter.

3.) Lastly, (and my favorite) is that a meter is a great teacher. You LEARN a LOT when you use one. Without a meter you can pop your flash, take shots and do everything until it "looks good" but that method will never teach you when you have a 1:1 lighting ratio, or a 2:1 ratio, or what the effect of adding another 1/2 stop of fill will do for a portrait or your still life. Flash meters give you real VALUES of light..amounts that you can repeat over and over and use them like pulling a tool out of your tool belt.


After using a meter for a couple of weeks you will KNOW that your YN560 will give you f8 at 18" from your subject at 1/125. You won't wonder...you'll KNOW because you repeat it over and over in your set up and you SEE it on your meter...just like a calculator. You know what 2+2 is before you hit the = sign.


That's a pretty basic flash but a good starter....buy it and enjoy.
There is a lot of mis-information whenever this su... (show quote)

That's why I have the meters but I don't use it to take pictures with. Sure meters taught me a lot and that's why I own a lot of measuring instruments. I wish that I can afford a light meters (actually 2) rather than just exposure meters.

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