Hankwt Loc: kingsville ontario

Ok first i will admit i am a bit of a gear junkie ......... Just curious as what others think of Exposure meters I have a chance to pick up a seconic L-358 meter at a good price. Im using a Nikon D7000 are the meters in the cam as good as dedicated meter ? I do post process in light room so I can adjust - however if i can get even closer less to process. Thoughts ??

olcoach Loc: Oregon

I have a Sekonic 308L that an old guy gave me. I have to admit I never use it as I am Technologically impaired. I know many people on here swear by them but I can't find a reason to carry more gear. Just my ho.

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

I think that they are fun to play with. Others love to use them. To me the Camera Meter does fine and you can check your images as soon as you take them and then adjust right away if needed. In the old days of slide film you had to get it right and a good meter was very important. Others will tell you they are very important for the type of Photography they do. This is one of those things you need to make decide for yourself. I would buy one and see what you think and go from there. - Dave

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I recommend them...and here's why.

Yes...you can "do a fairly good job" and guess at the settings and "chimp it in" and then in post "fix" every shot but that's not the way I like to work. it's slower than having great exposures.

I like to do this:

(Pretend I'm shooting my kid's Lacrosse game.)

Walk out to the edge of the field...take my place.

Pop the meter. Set the camera.

Shoot away for 1.5 hours without even glancing at the camera's meter...and get perfect exposures.

No chimping...no wondering....nothing.


Just the knowledge that you don't have to review the shots to make sure that the camera isn't lying to you.


And bonus! You LEARN A LOT about how exposure works when you use a meter. I don't know how many times I've read on the 'hog that people are confused about what to set their camera's on because their needle is swinging around like a freaking ceiling fan, or they wonder about a white egret on a black background and panic...but at the same time most people also poo poo the use of a meter but the meter does all the thinking for you....it tells you what the settings should be....you just have to be a monkey and do what it says. :)

deej

This is exactly why an exposure meter such as sekonic is on my future purchase short list.
:thumbup:

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Highly recommended! My Sekonic light meter and Gossen Color temperature meter are in constant use.

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

Do you need a meter? Of course not.

Will it improve your keeper rate? Yes.

It is not fooled by subjects of varying reflectance.

jenny Loc: in hiding:)

Too bad people can't learn to use their cameras and have to buy something that does their thinking for them. Only time
you really need a handheld meter is in a studio...then you have to learn how to use it there...

jenny Loc: in hiding:)

BTW,the question was brand name. Yes,if you really need a
handheld meter,Seconic is a good brand.

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

I use my meter in studio to help set my lighting ratios, when out doors I use it less than half the time, usually in tricky light.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

I started taking pictures almost sixty years ago. I didn't have a lot of money and every shot had to count. That didn't always happen until my brother-in-law gave me his old Weston meter (I don't remember the model; you had to know the weston rating of your film, not its ASA or DIN. Years later, I met Ansel Adams and he had a Weston meter around his neck. People today have meters in their cameras, but don't know how to use them effectively. When I was taking pictures of the California State Library, I took over two dozen readings. The handheld meter is a tool, a very effective one. Yes, I can now guess the exposure most of the time, but I still use that tool. I know how to use my cameras, including my 4 X 5. I don't let my meter do my thinking for me, but I'm sure as hell not arogant to believe I have memorized every situation so I never need help in calculating exposure. And I don't depend on PP to correct my mistakes. And, by the way, the Gossen Sixtycolor Color Temperature Meter is one very important asset when I'm trying to take pictures at night under six different kinds of lights. Sorry for the rant, whippersnapper, but you found one of my buttons and you pushed it!

MonochromeB Loc: Chandler, AZ

Relying on your in-camera meter will tell you how much light is reflected by the subject and background while in M mode.

In Av or Tv (or A or T) the 'meter' reading is actually the amount of compensation you are requesting by adjusting one of the sides of the exposure triangle.

The light meter properly used will allow you to see the amount of light landing on the subject (ambient and strobe, if used,) and can assist in fine tuning exposure, although with today's post processing suites * WARNING: Generalization Ahead :)* even a somewhat poorly exposed image can be salvaged faorly often.

As was mentioned above, Sekonic is a good brand, Minolta made GREAT meters,a s did a plethora of other manufacturers. I use my L358 in studio, as well as on location when I'm in dappled lighting or some other lighting I cannot figure out.

As Mr. Lawson said, Necessary, no. For my money Productive in some circumstances warrants some consideration.

Good Shooting!

Ben

creativ simon Loc: Coulsdon, South London

I have a Sekonic light meter and would not be without it, BUT only use it for studio portraits to balance all the lighting.

Normally use the cameras meter and does a good job

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

this isn't even close to being a true statement.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

I have the L-358 and it is a great meter especially for incident light readings which the camera light meter can't do. The meter comes in real handy for portrait photography as well as checking camera meter readings in the field. If you use the meter for portrait photography then get the transmitter unit with it and a few Pocketwizards to control your lighting and auto focus your camera (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqUi1EZYxuk ).