NormanHarley Loc: Colorado

I am having a lot of fun with flash photography. On an earlier post of mine, several members suggested getting a flash meter. They are very expensive new ($350 on up). So I have been looking at quite a few used ones (want to keep it under $150 total) and there are a lot of options.
Minolta flash meters around $50 to $110
Gossen Luna Star F2 at about $150 give or take
Seconic 328 from $90 to $150
And a whole bunch of others ones, too.
I am just an amateur so no need for a fancy flash meter, I want one that will give me a good reading with multiple flashes. I am leaning towards the Minolta III if it is recommended by UHH members because of it's price, but will quickly consider a Seconic or Gossen (or other brands) if they are a lot better. Thank you!
Norman

Terra Australis Loc: Australia

Well worth looking on eBay for a Gossen Luna-Pro F.

Somewhat old now but still a stunning meter for flash work. Supports both incident and reflected readings.

Uses a standard 9v battery.

Mine is still going well.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

I loved my Minolta Meter IV.
Much more than the current Sekonic I have now.
Check out KEH camera's used meters.
I'd send you a link but having trouble with the internet.
I'm surprised I have any signal above tree line on Mt Elbert.

GW Loc: Idaho

I have a Minolta and I like it over a lot of ones I've had in the past . They are good for incident and reflected as well as flash . They also have a nice verity of accessories including a spot meter attachment ( not always so cheap tho , just have to watch Ebay...Good luck...

NormanHarley Loc: Colorado

I did see the Luna Pro F as well as the Luna Star F. Luna Pro's were 'the' meter to have when I was a kid. Thank you :thumbup:

NormanHarley Loc: Colorado

I have been looking at the Minolta III and the Minolta IV. Good to hear that it is a good one! Thanks :thumbup:

NormanHarley Loc: Colorado

Which Minolta model do you have and use now?

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

There's "fancy"... and then there's "more usable".

I have an old Minolta IIIF and it was excellent in its day. But it was designed and made in the era of film cameras, so doesn't have options and conveniences that some more modern models do. I keep it anyway, as a useful backup and because I have some of the accessories for it (that allow metering through a viewfinder or from film plane).

I also have the Minolta V and it's another good one. Still, it's not as flexible as some newer models either.

My main "user" is a more modern Sekonic L-358. This can be programmed to 1/3 stop or 1/2 stop or 1/10 stop readout, has wider ISO and shutter speed ranges that are more appropriate for modern DSLRs, and can be optionally fitted with a radio trigger to be able to work with studio strobes wirelessly. (Might be usable wirelessly with manual portable flash, too... I just don't use it that way and don't know for sure.)

I also have some other, non-flash meters: Sekonic 298 (an incident meter too, but it's self-powered... no battery required, and is still deadly accurate after 30 years use). Also a couple 1 degree spot meters. Had a Gossen Luna Pro (nice, but needed a battery adapters since it originally used mercury batteries that are no longer available)... Also have my Dad's old Weston, which still works fine, along with some other vintage meters in my camera collection.

Minolta (also Konica-Minolta from 2003-2006 approx., and since selling under the Kenko brand), Sekonic, Gossen, Polaris and some others all work great, can be fine and reliable.

I like an incident/flash meter and nearly always have one with me. Used right, it can be a more accurate and convenient way of metering ambient light, too. Many of them also can be used as a reflective meter, if wanted (the L-358 can, with the simply twist of a dial).

One minor recommendation... look at what battery is required by any meter you consider. It's sure nice when it uses something you already use in other products, such as alkaline AA. The Sekonic L-358 uses a Lithium 123 that's the same as is used in some of the radio transmitters and receivers I'm considering. Battery life in meters is really long... but they always seem to fail at the worst possible time and can be a pain if they use a unique and harder to find battery.

NormanHarley Loc: Colorado

The Minolta V And the Sekonic L-358 both look like great meters, but are out of my price range. And I have heard about the old mercury battery replacement problems and expense. Thanks :thumbup:

GW Loc: Idaho

I have the IIIF...

NormanHarley Loc: Colorado

Thank you, I am looking really hard at the Minolta IIIf and IVf. Both are in my price range. :thumbup:

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Can't go wrong with either, I used the IVF shooting transparencies for my commercial work. If it's accurate enough for that it will work for digital.
Takes 1 AA alkaline.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I didn't recall the Minolta V being all that expensive, so I I just pulled mine out and realized the model is "VF" not just "V". I looked up sold listings on eBay (search both "VF" and "V F", with a space)... they seem to run from around $65 to $135, with a few "like new in box" going as high as $180 or so.

Anyway, the VF was a lot more widely usable with modern DSLRs, than the IIIF that I'd used before (but keep to use with my studio strobes, where it's fine since those adjust in 1/10 stops too, plus only slower shutter speeds are needed to sync anyway).

For my purposes the L-358 is even better yet. If interested in the Sekonic L-358 or Minolta VF or IVF, watch for a good deal on a used one. I paid a little more than your budget for my 358 used, about $225 incl. shipping (it's a discontinued model now anyway) and have been using it for several years now. I see they are around this range still on eBay.

Sekonic 308S sells for $200 new... should be around your budget used. I don't think it has radio triggering capabilities, but otherwise is a nice meter.

Polaris has what seem to be a pretty nice model that's about $180 new, probably can be found for less used. I haven't used it, but have heard they are good.

NormanHarley Loc: Colorado

I just watched a youtube video on the Minolta IVf and am seeing them on ebay from about $70 to $140. This might be the one for me, but am still looking for input from others. Thank you :thumbup:

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Whatever you buy (used), I would get it from KEH or some trusted store.