Hi all,

What's the most ideal lightmeter for use in with non TTL Leicas/rangerfinder/Rollei TLR for taking Potraits with and without flash, Studio with flash, Landscapes and Street Photographys.

Who is the most ideal? Sekonic or Gossen Luna Pro?? Interms of equipment accuracy, easy use and price affordablility.

thanks...

-- alfred (cnka@pacific.net.sg), May 01, 2002

Answers

My choice was a Sekonic 408. Flash and ambient metering of incident or reflected (built-in 5-degree "spot") light. Tough, weatherproof, accurate. Runs on a single AA battery. Costs about $300. The only weakness I've encountered is that the sensitivity of the spot meter isn't that great (the incident is much more sensitive). I also considered a 508 because of the much tighter zoom spot meter, but it's considerably larger and more expensive.

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), May 02, 2002.

I also considered replacing my Gossen Sixtomat Flash with either a Gossen Starlite or the Sekonic equivalent to get the spot metering foor landscape. In the end, I kept it and went for a Pentax Digital Spotmeter and I have no regrets I did.

The main reason I was considering the Starlite was beacause the Pentex was expensive and I had figured it would be cheaper to sell the Sixtomat and get the Starlite. But then I saw the price of the Pentax by Robert White (http://www.robertwhite.co.uk) and that made the final decision.

Between the Gossen Starlite and the Sekonic I would have chosen the Gossen because it is more sensitive in spot. I found the viewfinder better on the Sekonic, though.

-- Stephane Bosman (stephane_bosman@yahoo.co.uk), May 02, 2002.

I use the Sekonic L408 with my Hasselblad. No problems ever encountered. Slides are always well exposed. Excellent meter!

Good luck, Frank

-- Frank Bunnik (frank_bunnik@hotmail.com), May 02, 2002.

I use a Sekonic L-318b, which is very compact (the size of a pack of cards and a couple of ounces in weight).

It can be switched from incident to 50-degree reflected by changing a little bayonet cap over the sensor. A semi-spot (5 degrees) viewfinder can also be bought separately and attached.

It will not do flash, but there is another model in the same body that has flash capability. I don't know that model number.

I use it because I can slip it in a pocket and it 'disappears' - no noticeable weight or bulk.

I have yet to find lighting it can't handle - although the bigger Sekonic/Minolta/Gossens are probably more sensitive in pure blackness. They probably also have more capability for things like cumulative flash or calculated contrast ratios - but they won't fit as comfortably in my pants pocket...

Small is good for hiking, backpacking, street photography. Features are good for studio and flash work. You'll probably have to compromise one or the other since the feature-laden flashes are relatively big.

Price about $250 US.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), May 02, 2002.

My Minolta Autometer IV-F is compact, reliable, and accurate.

-- Dave Jenkins (djphoto@vol.com), May 02, 2002.

the 408 is a great meter and a tough one too. the design is a bit weird and needs time to get used to, it is either designed for left or for right hand use, i just can't find out for which. the whole thing is a bit bend, in my opinion just to the wrong side. it has more features than most of the people need. pricewise it is great, though. if you can afford it i would go for the 508 though. the 1-5° spot might come in handy, it has an illuminated display amd the top meter cell can be twisted.

gossen might have been the top of the crowd 15 years ago, but today the sekonic are better meters at a more affordable price IMO.

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), May 02, 2002.

The best meter IMHO is the Sekonic L-508.

http://www.sekonic.com/Products/L-508.html

I've had one for 3 years now and it is just great. Once you use one you will never go back to your previous meter.

Tony

-- Tony Oresteen (aoresteen@mindspring.com), May 02, 2002.

Without a moment's hesitation, the Sekonic L-408. The 508 has a huge, rotating incident dome on top. The 408 is pocketable, quick and reliable.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), May 02, 2002.

I've been using the Gossen Sixtomat Flash for five years now. Compact (half the size of the 408 or 508 or Minolta units), built-in flash support, needs only a single AA. I almost always use it on incident.

-- Andrew Nemeth (azn@nemeng.com), May 02, 2002.

I use the Voigtlander VC meter that fits the flash shoe. Its compact and blends well with any rangefinder. Available in Chrome or Black. A neck strap accessory allows you to hang it round your neck to use as a regular meter if need be. Well made and acurate.

-- Joel Matherson (joel_2000@hotmail.com), May 03, 2002.

Lightmeters, like cameras, and like many other things, have ergonomic considerations that are often more important in terms of usage than anything else. As a result, there is no "ideal" lightmeter and you are just getting answers that express personal ownership rather than anything that could really help you decide.

I have a Minolta flashmeter and a Quantum Calculite XP. I bought the Minolta because it was available locally for rental and I got very used to using it. No other reason. Works fine as a flashmeter and an incident meter, the rest of the time I use the camera's meter. The XP I use in low light situations. It goes about 6EV lower than most built-in meters (Olympus SLRs are an exception) and lower than other current model external meters. That's the kind of technical consideration that made it useful. Otherwise, they all work fine. I've never seen a lightmeter that wasn't consistent (accuracy can be adjusted.)

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), May 03, 2002.