Do I really need a light meter?

[singlerosa_RIP]

So B&H has as their daily special a Sekonic L478DR and X-Rite ColorChecker Passport with Sekonic Gray Balance Card budled for a decent price ($369). Knowing I can return in 30 days I ordered one. I've been thinking about getting a light meter for years, but don't know anyone who uses them out in the field, which is where most of my shooting takes place (events, sports, architecture, etc.). I'm all for taking it up a notch, but I don't want to look like more of a geek than I already do or buy something that I don't need. Pros and cons anyone?

 

[rocketman122]

I have my sekonic L-718 that ive used over the years. I like sekonic. imo, a light meter is only useful for studio work where you can check lighting ratios. other than that I dont see a reason to use one because you can adjust exposure so quickly. I just came back from a wedding an hour ago. I used 3 flashes on the outside edge of the dance floor aiming in. I set them according to what I know will be good frome xperience. I shoot a few people who walk through the dance floor like a waiter for example to test it and then adjust in the camera and shoot again to verify.

looks like a nice toy to have, but not so useful. I dont think youd get use of the $370 because I dont think there are many situations that need it. I also think its much slower than shooting, then adjusting in 1-2 shots.

now if it could read color temperature as well then id say hell yea because reading color temp is way more useful imo.

 

[WayneF]

I only use my light meter in a studio situation. It seems absolutely required for multiple flash units, to set each light for ratio, to know what they are doing. I use a $200 Sekonic L-308S, and it does all I need, it meters the lights. I love the meter for multiple flash.

Using one flash, you can easily just tweak it in by eye. But for multiple lights in a less casual situation, you need to know exactly what each light is doing. The idea is to set each to do what you want it to do.

For outdoors walking around in ambient, the camera meter is already pretty good, or at least convenient, and I've learned to use it.. It is reflective however, and the Sekonic will provide incident readings, independent of the colors in the subject. That can be an advantage, but frankly, I NEVER bother with a handheld in outdoor ambient, seems very unnecessary. Shooting Raw, I just tweak it a little in post if necessary. Whereas, indoors with umbrellas, the camera cannot meter manual flash, and I can take whatever time it needs when setting up.

So there seems two baseline situations, to control the lights to be what you want them to be, or to just accept whatever light you find on scene.

More thoughts on it at Why would I need a handheld light meter?

 

[480sparky]

My RB67 doesn't have a meter. So yea, I need one.

 

[hark]

I have a Gossen light meter. It's been quite handy when taking stained glass photos at church (incident light reading). And as mentioned, it can help with portraiture.