Looking for a good Light Meter: I'm looking to purchase a Light Meter. I don't know much about them, and am looking for something mid price range that will work without too much fuss.

Mikey69 Loc: La Crosse, Wi.

I'm looking to purchase a Light Meter. I don't know much about them, and am looking for something mid price range that will work without too much fuss. I read alot or reviews from different manufacters, but I'd rather hear from actual photographers. And this is a great forum for that.
Thank-you in advance because I know I'll get helpful information here.

bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR

Mikey69 wrote:

I'm looking to purchase a Light Meter. I don't know much about them, and am looking for something mid price range that will work without too much fuss. I read alot or reviews from different manufacters, but I'd rather hear from actual photographers. And this is a great forum for that.
Thank-you in advance because I know I'll get helpful information here.

I highly recommend these folks. They are experts in all things photographic. They've been around for a very long time.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=light+meters&N=0&InitialSearch=yes

ScottK Loc: Trophy Club, TX

Sekonic

BBNC

I don't know what you consider mid-range, but I've been looking for a good meter under $200.00 and I must say that is a tall order. Beware of used meters from someone you don't know or e-bay. You might check KEH Camera, they have lots of used ones with a 6month guarantee. As far as new meters go, good ole B&H is where I would buy. Sekonic and Gossen are the industry leaders.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

Gossen Luna Pro

BBNC

I have a vintage Luna Pro from the early 80's which I haven't used in years. I put new batteries in and it works, except the calibration is about 1 to 1-1/2 stops under. I wonder if it would be worth while to get it re-calibrated.

It is a classic, and very easy to use.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

BBNC wrote:

I have a vintage Luna Pro from the early 80's which I haven't used in years. I put new batteries in and it works, except the calibration is about 1 to 1-1/2 stops under. I wonder if it would be worth while to get it re-calibrated.

It is a classic, and very easy to use.

Used ones currently sell for $136.00 in good condition, so it might be worth it. Can't you calibrate it yourself, perhalps against a DSLR?

BBNC

Brucej67 wrote:

BBNC wrote:

I have a vintage Luna Pro from the early 80's which I haven't used in years. I put new batteries in and it works, except the calibration is about 1 to 1-1/2 stops under. I wonder if it would be worth while to get it re-calibrated.

It is a classic, and very easy to use.

Used ones currently sell for $136.00 in good condition, so it might be worth it. Can't you calibrate it yourself, perhalps against a DSLR?

I read the calibration procedure somewhere, and it involves using a variable light source, an EV light meter and 5 or 6 adjustments. I think a repair shop (we have one locally) might be able to do it reasonably if calibration is all that is wrong with it. I've sent them an e-mail, waiting on a reply. A professional friend has suggested that if the Luna Pro is right, it may be more accurate than most camera meters.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Bruce

Mike Little Loc: Ozark, Missouri

Find a good used sekonic, they work great and won't cost a fortune like a new one.

bfloating Loc: Portland, Oregon these days, Originally NYC

In my professional experience, NOTHING is as deadly accurate and as flexible as the Minolta Flash Meter IV. If you can get your hands on one of these marvels you will have the BEST of the best.

3 hr, 22 min., 31.5 second time exposure at three in the morning at Westport, Wa. at 3 a.m.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

bfloating wrote:

In my professional experience, NOTHING is as deadly accurate and as flexible as the Minolta Flash Meter IV. If you can get your hands on one of these marvels you will have the BEST of the best.

The picture is a beautiful work of art, what camera did you use, aperture setting?

Rich Maher Loc: Sonoma County, CA

I use a Gossen Luna Pro digital. Great little meter.

johnr9999 Loc: Carlton, OR

Mikey69 wrote:

I'm looking to purchase a Light Meter. I don't know much about them, and am looking for something mid price range that will work without too much fuss. I read alot or reviews from different manufacters, but I'd rather hear from actual photographers. And this is a great forum for that.
Thank-you in advance because I know I'll get helpful information here.

Mikey,
after a burglar got the majority of my camera equipment (mostly Nikon F2 equipment), the first item I replaced was my Pentax Spotmeter V. I got it on ebay, (which I have no trepidation in using as I have Paypal), had a local camera repair shop update the battery system (original no longer available) to standard watch batteries and had them calibrate it for linearity and Zone system. It's a one degree spotmeter at the center with a 10 degree outer ring. Highly recommend it.

sontog Loc: S. California

I have been using a Sekonic model L-358 for years. You will find as many recommendations as there are light meters but this one is simple to use and an excellent tool. Works great for me.

Dean Sturgis

I have a Luna Pro meter, I got adapters for it that hold MS76 size batteries and us a diode to drop the voltage. It seems to accurate enough the give good exposure & reasonably match the reading of a camera with a good meter.
Another good meter is your digital camera if it reads out the exposure data.
I was taking pictures with a TLR Mamiya C220, I talked too some one that was admiring the old camera, I told him that the DSLR around my neck was my lighter meter. I was only party joking, I had no handheld meter with me. I took reading with the DSLR, took a picture & checked the exposure, when I saw what I liked I set up the Mamiya for that.
The biggest advantage of handheld meters may be incident light reading.

dsturgis