light meter: I have set up 3 softboxes (I should say someone did it for me) I want to get a light meter but I have no clue what to get or how they range in price. I have a new...

buffyjean Loc: Washington, North Carolina

I have set up 3 softboxes (I should say someone did it for me) I want to get a light meter but I have no clue what to get or how they range in price. I have a new great-grandbaby I am taking many photos of. Thanks for your help.

drspears Loc: Columbus, IN

Sekonic L358, best all around meter at the most resonable price. can do all you need in photography.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

drspears wrote:

Sekonic L358, best all around meter at the most resonable price. can do all you need in photography.

I own a Sekonic L-508. Right now, the top of the Sekonic line is the L-758DR. Let's face it, just about any Sekonic L series meter will meet basic needs. The L-358 is an outstanding meter, and if you can find any of these at an acceptable price, go for it. Note that the L-358 does not have a zoom spot, but it does trigger wireless flash, a feature that will probably be more useful for your purposes (wireless triggers must be RF, not IR or ultra-sonic).

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

No contest

Minolta Flashmeter VF, 4 or 5

Where are you, you are in hiding

BUY IT if it is good working order, best money you will ever spend

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Minolta-Flash-Meter-IV-w-case-NICE-140-WARRANTY-FREE-USA-SHIPPING-ROBERTS-/400458700095?pt=US_Light_Meters&hash=item5d3d32d53f

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

drspears wrote:

Sekonic L358, best all around meter at the most resonable price. can do all you need in photography.

I second this...but an L-308 will do it too, and cheaper if money is tight.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

rpavich wrote:

I second this...but an L-308 will do it too, and cheaper if money is tight.

+1 The L308 was the meter I used when I had my Bronny 6x6 and the ONLY reason I changed was that I wanted a meter that took adaptors for 10 degree and 5 degree metering

By the way if you connect a Flashmeter 4 to a trigger it will remotely fire flash units

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

JR1 wrote:

By the way if you connect a Flashmeter 4 to a trigger it will remotely fire flash units

FYI, same with Sekonic...though I found that it was just as easy or easier to just have an extra trigger in your hand just for firing flashes...or use the one from the camera while adjusting and then put it on the camera when ready to take the shot.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

rpavich wrote:

FYI, same with Sekonic...though I found that it was just as easy or easier to just have an extra trigger in your hand just for firing flashes...or use the one from the camera while adjusting and then put it on the camera when ready to take the shot.

Yep, I use the trigger from one of these, makes life soooooo easy (or similar)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-4GHz-Wireless-Remote-Flash-Trigger-for-CANON-/110695415289?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_CameraAccessories_CameraFlashUnits_JN&hash=item19c5f5fdf9

lpurschke Loc: new york

If you are just starting out and are just as confused as I was... go to your local camera store and physically see them and talk to someone...tell them what equipment you have and your experience. you can keep it very simple for now. I have a simple Polaris that I started out with.... basic...not overwhelming... sorry just my opinion..

sportyman140 Loc: Juliette, GA

lpurschke wrote:

If you are just starting out and are just as confused as I was... go to your local camera store and physically see them and talk to someone...tell them what equipment you have and your experience. you can keep it very simple for now. I have a simple Polaris that I started out with.... basic...not overwhelming... sorry just my opinion..

I was just checking them out on eBay and I think that will be the one i get because of money but if it works then great.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

sportyman140 wrote:

I was just checking them out on eBay and I think that will be the one i get because of money but if it works then great.

The only caveat i would add on the Polaris SPD100 is that there is a somewhat significant failure rate (mine lasted about 6 months) before it wouldn't work. Quite a few reviews say the same...so you MIGHT want to consider instead the Sekonic L308 instead. About the same price but better reliability.

the other thing is that both the SPD100 and the L-308 register in "full stops" and "1/10 stops" and so you are left "doing the math" in your head which isn't horrible but it's annoying to me.

AS you can see, on the SPD100 instead of "f/20" it's "f/16 + 2/3"

And on the L308 you can set it to 1/3 stops but you still get "f/5.6 + 1/10"

You just have to get used to it.

sportyman140 Loc: Juliette, GA

rpavich wrote:

The only caveat i would add on the Polaris SPD100 ... (show quote)

Thank you very much, that is some much need advice and will review and research more.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

buffyjean wrote:

I have set up 3 softboxes (I should say someone did it for me) I want to get a light meter but I have no clue what to get or how they range in price. I have a new great-grandbaby I am taking many photos of. Thanks for your help.

I use a Sekonic L-758DR. It can trip each strobe and measure the output. Then you can use the results to better balance the lighting you need for your particular purpose.
--Bob

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

rmalarz wrote:

I use a Sekonic L-758DR. It can trip each strobe and measure the output. Then you can use the results to better balance the lighting you need for your particular purpose.
--Bob

Is it wrong that I just involuntarily salivated on my keyboard?

moriti Loc: California

Excellent question, I have been considering the sekonic L358 but they have come out with a L478DR. I am not sure between the two. :D