On Lightmeters

[Gav O Reilly]

Wanted to ask about using lightmeters if that's ok.

 

I'm not looking for a 101 on them, i do know the pricipals: The incident meter, the reflected meter and spot meter and what they're used for etc. What I'm trying to figure out at the moment is more the practicals, and how the fuctions combine.

 

Do these meters come as separate units? Are there certain brands better at one type? And can you get meters that also measure things like foot candles and colour temperature? That kind of thing.

 

Thanks,

Gav

[Adam Frisch FSF]

Yes, you can get it all. Not combined, though .

 

Color meters are normally done by Minolta or Gossen.

Foot candle meters are not used much more, but I think Spectra and Sekonic make some.

 

Incident meters and spots are done by all big manufacturers: Minolta, Gossen, Sekonic, Spectra.

All have their pro's and con's. Seems like Sekonic is the preferred choice, especially with the bigger combo meters that have spot and incident built in. Spectra is classic (but if you ask me, an overpriced, ill-fitting plastic box). Sekonic's are well built but kinda expensive. Minolta are stuck in stills-land and rarely have film settings. Gossen has a good range that are rightly priced (I say so because I own one) and that's about it.

 

Can't beat the old analog Sekonic L-398 for coolness and durability, though.

[Kevin Zanit]

My 508C is a spot/ incident combo. It also does foot candles, EV, Foot-lambert, Lux, and some other ones that I have never used in my life (or heard of for that matter ;) ).

 

My old 398 works to this date, and works well. It also does foot candles.

 

 

 

Kevin Zanit