 Janet Schill |
light meters I am looking to purchase a light meter and would like opinions as to what is recommended to use with a Nikon D70. I do indoor and outdoor portraits. Thanks for the advice! Janet
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Chris J. Browne |
Janet, I've been looking for a light meter also. Here is my early results. I like my General Electric PR-1. But it is very old; and the Selenim is not as good as it was; and it does not measure low light; and it does not measure flash output. Gossen has a DigiFlash for about $170. Flash, Reflective, and Incident. But it uses a button Lithium battery. Minolta AutoMeter VF $220 and the Sekonic L-308B II Flash Mate $180 do all three plus run on AA batteries. A plus in my book. . .always available! I think the Minolta has a spot attachment for critical contrast ratios, but most don't need this level of control. Do you know the contrast characteristics of the sensor in the D70! What about its curve! Then a regular light meter is great. Remember when without a light meter, a nice lawn is about the equal of a grey card. Always manual white balance and test shoot. Etc, Etc, Etc. Good Luck, Chris Browne
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Michael H. Cothran |
For portraits, I would recommend looking at incident light meters. These may also include means of metering reflected light, etc., but you really need one with incident reading capability for "people.". The top brands are Sekonic, Minolta, and Gossen. I have owned all three brands over the years, and prefer, in order, the Sekonic, Minolta, then Gossen. Both Sekonic and Minolta have a full range of meters, many reasonably priced, and any of which would make a SUPERB people meter, both indoors with strobes, and outdoors. I have owned a Sekonic L-508 for several years, and a Minolta Flash Meter IV for over twenty years. If I had to narrow it down to one meter right now, I'd opt for the Sekonic L-398. Michael H. Cothran www.mhcphoto.net
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Janet Schill |
Thanks so much for the input. I really appreciate the help. I've been leaning towards the Sekonic and now I know that I'm heading the right direction. Janet
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Mark Feldstein |
Hi Janet: I think purchasing a light meter is similar to buying a camera in that it depends on a lot of factors that generally come down to personal preference and the intended use. While Sekonic makes very good meters and I have an older L328 for studio use, they don't seem to fare well in the more rugged outdoor environments. If you're considering an indoor-outdoor, incident/reflective, flash meter, you can probably find a good clean Minolta IV F for less than $200 bucks. Although mine isn't 20 years old, I've found it's quite reliable under all conditions. Gossen Luna Pro's are excellent available light meters, incident and reflective readings, but don't do flash. BTW, if your exposure readings are quite critical, like with transparency film, every once in awhile, you should have the meter calibrated to ensure its accuracy. This is usually done during a clean/lube/adjust trip to the manufacturer and doesn't cost much. Usually every couple of years is adequate.
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Susan E. Patrick Harris |
Hi, Janet, thanks for asking this question! I have been researching light meters too. I guess I am on the right track because I am done to Gossen's Luna Pro, Minolta's IVF and Sekonic's L398. I came across the Gossen Digiflash and thought it might be a good blend at a reasonable beginner price. I have shot mostly natural light in the past. I am trying my hand at studio lighting. I am taking BP's studio lighting course in January but I have huge learning curve to close between now and then. Any resource recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I just went digital with a Canon 20d. This community is great for learning. thanks to all who so willing share info and time! Sue
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