Why use a Handheld Lightmeter? Why would you use a handheld light meter like a Sekonic or Weston when using a modern DSLR?

somerleaze Loc: Coventry, England

Why would you use a handheld light meter like a Sekonic or Weston when using a modern DSLR?

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

somerleaze wrote:

Why would you use a handheld light meter like a Sekonic or Weston when using a modern DSLR?

Why would anyone want a manual gear change car when automatics have been around for as long as they have

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/Product_Resources/lightmeters1.jsp

Incident readings are the most accurate

http://www.sekonic.com/whatisyourspecialty/photographer/articles/how-to-use-a-handheld-meter.aspx

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

somerleaze wrote:

Why would you use a handheld light meter like a Sekonic or Weston when using a modern DSLR?

It impresses bystanders, and they think you really know what you're doing. :D

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

JR1 wrote:

Why would anyone want a manual gear change car when automatics have been around for as long as they have

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/Product_Resources/lightmeters1.jsp

Incident readings are the most accurate

http://www.sekonic.com/whatisyourspecialty/photographer/articles/how-to-use-a-handheld-meter.aspx

Why shoot in Manual mode when you've got all of those cool modes, like: "sports", "close-up", "landscape"....etc?
<hint: that is a rhetorical response>

somerleaze Loc: Coventry, England

JR1 wrote:

Why would anyone want a manual gear change car when automatics have been around for as long as they have

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/Product_Resources/lightmeters1.jsp

Incident readings are the most accurate

http://www.sekonic.com/whatisyourspecialty/photographer/articles/how-to-use-a-handheld-meter.aspx

Your first line strikes a chord, I have a Citroen with an electronic gearbox and can switch between auto and manual mode. Although I have driven auto cars for at least the last 20 yrs of my 50 yrs driving, I find I am driving this one in manual mode 95% of the time.
Those two links however do answer the question and also tell me why some of my exposures are way out for what had been no apparent reason. I now wish I still had my Weston Master III with invercone attachment. Thanks.

somerleaze Loc: Coventry, England

jerryc41 wrote:

It impresses bystanders, and they think you really know what you're doing. :D

I like that one!

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

somerleaze wrote:

... I have a Citroen with an electronic gearbox and can switch between auto and manual mode. ....

My parents once had a 1948 Hudson with a switch for either manual and automatic as well other makes that shifted automatically when you lifted your foot off the gas or pressed a clutch pedal. Possibly the worst was the Buick Dynaflow that never really shifted, it started in Drive and used the torque converter to drain your gas tank at an alarming rate.

But getting back to the subject, hand-held meters are almost as indispensable as spot meters for film. Both are an improvement over the in-camera meter for some tricky lighting situations but not necessarily for casual snapshots.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

somerleaze wrote:

I like that one!

I have a couple that don't work, and I can sell them to you cheap. :D

somerleaze Loc: Coventry, England

jerryc41 wrote:

I have a couple that don't work, and I can sell them to you cheap. :D

I don't think I will take you up on that one, the postage to the UK will be more than they are worth :-)

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

somerleaze wrote:

I don't think I will take you up on that one, the postage to the UK will be more than they are worth :-)

This is the best

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Euro-MASTER-Light-Meter-by-East-Kilbride-Instruments-/321182847195?pt=UK_Photography_Light_Meters&hash=item4ac7fd50db

They are not cheap, I have the full set from the first manufactured to the last this was the first one I bought years ago new and I carry it with me to this very day

olcoach Loc: Oregon

jerryc41 wrote:

It impresses bystanders, and they think you really know what you're doing. :D

Once again Jerry has given the answer in easily understood language-LOL

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

olcoach wrote:

Once again Jerry has given the answer in easily understood language-LOL

It's the only kind I know. :D

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

jerryc41 wrote:

It impresses bystanders, and they think you really know what you're doing. :D

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

I often use my handheld spot meter in the field when I want to take exposure readings, but don't want to have to move my camera after composing a shot, getting the focus where i want it, and while on a tripod. This may be especially true under changing evening lighting and where I need to determine if I should swap split neutral density filters being used to balance the sky's exposure. At those times, using my old Sekonic meter just works best.

hiker60 Loc: Northern Idaho

Possibly.... More importantly for me, this double check of light is important in my pics.... Just being extra careful (Some might say anal.)