How many Nikonites use light meters

Do you use a light meter and how often

  • Total voters
    21
K

Krs_2007

Senior Member
Moab Man said:
I would like to have/use one, but I have no idea what to buy and how much I NEED to spend for quality while avoiding excess cost.
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Thats another reason why I started this thread. I have been looking at Sekonic mainly. I like 308s but if I was to go with a studio setup with pocket wizards then I was looking at the 478. It's about like looking at anything else, too many decisions and you just have to decide what will work. I know it can be used for other types of photography as well, so I am sure I will get one sometime soon.

all good responses and thanks everyone for participating, I hope more will respond.
 
M

Moab Man

Senior Member
How do you plan to use it?

For example, only for studio flash, or general purpose outdoors (landscapes, etc) ?
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I can't even answer that other than a yes to all. However, I just don't know enough to really answer it. It's kind of like asking someone, well why didn't you just ask? My response being I didn't know enough to even know what the question was to ask.

I know it was mentioned before about a newsletter or something to that affect. This would be a great tutorial if someone wanted to take it on. The how, why, when, and if there are different kinds of light meters for different applications.
 
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WayneF

Senior Member
Moab Man said:
I can't even answer that other than a yes to all.
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Well, many only use a meter for flash, and for flash, the less expensive Sekonic L-308S is all you need, it does all that needs to be done (it meters the lights, and does it well). Yes, there are more frills not included, but none of the frills seem necessary or useful (my view). All I want to do is meter the lights. L-308S is simple, easy to use, we don't have to learn to use it.

But for more general purposes (like landscapes), the L-308S only does Shutter Preferred mode. Which is all flashes do too, so no issue, but you may like Aperture Preferred for general work. That would move you up to the L-358, which has always been the most popular model. I'm not sure it is still in production, they added the L-478 now (touch screen :) )

My own notion is that the meter is absolutely mandatory for multiple flash, but the camera meter is more than plenty for anything else. An incident meter could be more accurate, but more awkward, and we've learned to use the camera meter.
 
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dmc

Senior Member
When using AF lenses, I use the in camera light meter. For non-AF lenses, ie AI-S lenses, I use an iPhone app called, strangely enough, Light Meter. The thing is deadly accurate. I can even save it to camera roll to examine later.
 
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John P

Senior Member
I use a Sekonic L358

I have used lightmeters for years. I have to admit. I use one less now that I shoot digital. But it still has it's place.
But with film......I used one religeously.
My old Gossen never let me down.
 
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