Light meters question? I have made a few purchases of light meters and was wondering if I should have a digital one. I recently made purchases of a Gossen Luna pro CDS, a Sekonic L-256...

tim57064

I have made a few purchases of light meters and was wondering if I should have a digital one. I recently made purchases of a Gossen Luna pro CDS, a Sekonic L-256 and a Sekonic L-398.
My reasoning for purchasing these? Well I was told that Sekonic and Gossen were the brands to buy so thought I would try a couple of different non digital models because of the price..
They are of course all used and were extremely reasonable in price, less than $30.00 each.
Anyway, I was wondering if I would be happier with a digital model?
Is there truly a need to have a digital model over what I have coming. I have a Canon T4I. Portraiture, Landscape,Animals are what I am into photographing. Astro imaging also, yet pretty obvious that I do not need light meters for that. Tim

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

How did you set the "old" film meter to compensate for "digital" ?

tim57064

donrent wrote:

How did you set the "old" film meter to compensate for "digital" ?

Just thought I would check them out because of the price. Will they not work the same basic way?Tell you what you need to do? Did I leap before really looking first? I asked what I should get and got the answers of the manufacturers. Saw prices and decided to try analog. Feeling like an idiot now.

Jusoljoe Loc: Texas

No need to feel that way. I haven't tried such meters since the old film days, but it seems to me that by setting the "film" speed, ie. ISO just as on ANY meter, the correct aperture and shutter speed combinations would be indicated. The only caveat I can see is that they may not be as accurate. Newer meters for digital read in 1/3 stops. Just my observations.....

tim57064

Jusoljoe wrote:

No need to feel that way. I haven't tried such meters since the old film days, but it seems to me that by setting the "film" speed, ie. ISO just as on ANY meter, the correct aperture and shutter speed combinations would be indicated. The only caveat I can see is that they may not be as accurate. Newer meters for digital read in 1/3 stops. Just my observations.....

I appreciate your response.I do like old technology for collecting purposes and if it works in the long run I figured I would be ahead of game.Besides, the price was too tempting.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

There is no difference between "a supposed film meter" and a digital one, they do exactly the same job on film and digital cameras.

I use my Weston Euromaster of 25 years all the time.

tim57064

JR1 wrote:

There is no difference between "a supposed film meter" and a digital one, they do exactly the same job on film and digital cameras.

I use my Weston Euromaster of 25 years all the time.

Thanks JR1 that is exactly what I was hoping to hear. Thanks a lot. Tim

elandel Loc: Milan, Italy

I bought a couple of weeks ago a Lunasix 3 and use it like any other light meter.

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

Good question, Tim!
I used the Gossen Luna Pro for many years with no complaints, no perceived inaccuracies. I wanted to combine flash capabilities so I went to the Minolta Flashmeter III, which is digital.
First of all, I never found evidence of the digital meter being more accurate simply by virtue of being digital. If the analogue display (dial) is of sufficient size, it can be every bit as accurate as digital.
I did, however, find the analogue display quicker and easier to "deal" with in everyday use. Sort of like when I look at an analogue clock face I get more information in a shorter time than with digital. It tells me roughly "where my day is" at a glance, whereas with digital I need to mentally transpose the information. With analogue all the numbers are simultaneously visible for comparison.
Final analysis: I would be pleased with either system, with a slight preference toward the analogue. An old "film meter" will serve every bit as well as the latest "whiz-bang" digital.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Danilo wrote:

Sort of like when I look at an analogue clock face I get more information in a shorter time than with digital. It tells me roughly "where my day is" at a glance, whereas with digital I need to mentally transpose the information. With analogue all the numbers are simultaneously visible for comparison.

I've never seen it put into words, but that's why I prefer analogue clocks too. :thumbup:

tim57064

Thanks Danilo,Guess if I want to get flash readings though I will have to get a digital. So much more expensive though, even on ebay. Been watching the prices on Minolta and Sekonic. So you have the Minolta III and find it okay then. I will probably go for it. Thanks Again.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

B&H has a used Minolta IIIf:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800915824-USE/Konica_Minolta_Minolta_Auto_Meter_IIIF.html

and a Minolta Meter III
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800900987-USE/Konica_Minolta_Minolta_Flash_Meter_III.html

I loved my Minolta Autometer IVF.
B&H has a used one:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800915821-USE/Konica_Minolta_8054103_Auto_Meter_IVF_.html

To compare a new version-Kenko took over making the IVF model and rebadged it:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/514614-REG/Kenko_KFM_1100_KFM_1100_Auto_Digi_Meter.html

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

GoofyNewfie wrote:

Danilo wrote:

Sort of like when I look at an analogue clock face I get more information in a shorter time than with digital. It tells me roughly "where my day is" at a glance, whereas with digital I need to mentally transpose the information. With analogue all the numbers are simultaneously visible for comparison.

I've never seen it put into words, but that's why I prefer analogue clocks too. :thumbup:

My 19 year old Grandson was showing me his new analogue watch the other day and admitted that he had to learn how to read it! Those of us who grew up in the analogue world don't have that problem.

We often assume that a digital readout, because it displays exact numbers, is more accurate.'taint necesarily so. The display, whether analogue or digital can only reflect the accuracy of the underlying measuring device.

potmead Loc: 191miles North of London, England

I still use a Weston Euro-master (about 40 years old) and it still gives me good exposures.
As it is analogue it is easy to estimate between exposures down to about 1/3 stop, so a digital meter is not more accurate.
The hand held meter has one big advantage over any in-camera meter (however old or make) in that it can measure Incident light as opposed to reflected light.

Graham

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

donrent wrote:

How did you set the "old" film meter to compensate for "digital" ?

========================================
What I meant by the above Q was how do you set for the "film" speed when using a digital cam ?
Do you use the ISO setting in place of the "film" speed setting ???