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Lightmeter suggestion
- Thread starter allard2
- Start date
I use a Sekonic Twinmate L-208 light meter with my Rollei camera. Available for less than $100.00 from B&H Photo in NYC, the L-208 meter provides both reflected and incident light readings and fits easily into a shirt pocket. I use incident light readings almost exclusively. The meter works great. BW
simonpg
Active Member
I recently purchased a Sekonic 558L and am delighted with it. It is a flash, incident and spot meter. I selected it over a 508L and 608L and the Minolta equivalents. Why? I firstly decided on the must have features; narrowed down the list; looked at useability/ergonomics; looked at higher features that maybe I would "grow into". I always try to buy this sort of stuff with a level of capability just above what I think I need now, since experience later on makes one hunger for higher capabilities. For my MF (Hassy 501cm) and LF work I needed flash, incident and spot capability. The Sekonic user interface was nicer than Minolta (both are equally high quality - the only difference was useability/design). While spot reading is limited to 1 degree, it is a tru multi-spot unit (the 508L has selectable 1 and 4 degree). The 608L extra features were to do with radio controlled multi-flash module which I definitely will never need. The 558L offered EV readout (perfect for my Hassy lenses and Rolleiflex) and a great ambient/flash balance read-out. The Minolta had an awful quadrant read-out of the same. Finally the Sekonic also offered dust and splash protected body ( which I got to use in the outback a month ago during a major downpour after 3 years drought). Then I looked at price (always do that last to avoid distraction - if too costly, I just delay and save up). B&H offered a great price compared to local Australian dealers (US$370 or so). A great feature is that you need NO ATTACHMENTS, nothing to mess about with or get lost. Hope this helps.
Allard
In my opinion, a good lightmeter for the Hasselblad system should be able to be used with one hand (no dials or match needles); should give output in EVs (so you can easily transfer the exposure value to the lens) and should be able to measure reflected and incident light. Ex&les of meters which have these features in a compact package are the Gossen Digisix and the later Digiflash (which adds flash metering capability).
Ideally, the meter should also have a 1% spot function and be able to measure reflected and incident flash. There are meters which can do all this, and have the above requirements, but they are very bulky (and expensive).
Use this link for an article on meters for classic cameras: http://www.photoethnography.com/equipment.html
I have a Sekonic L-438 meter (mentioned in the article) with instructions for sale. I have adapted a Minolta incident cone to fit the meter so you can get incident readings from it. Price about US300+freight.
Roger
In my opinion, a good lightmeter for the Hasselblad system should be able to be used with one hand (no dials or match needles); should give output in EVs (so you can easily transfer the exposure value to the lens) and should be able to measure reflected and incident light. Ex&les of meters which have these features in a compact package are the Gossen Digisix and the later Digiflash (which adds flash metering capability).
Ideally, the meter should also have a 1% spot function and be able to measure reflected and incident flash. There are meters which can do all this, and have the above requirements, but they are very bulky (and expensive).
Use this link for an article on meters for classic cameras: http://www.photoethnography.com/equipment.html
I have a Sekonic L-438 meter (mentioned in the article) with instructions for sale. I have adapted a Minolta incident cone to fit the meter so you can get incident readings from it. Price about US300+freight.
Roger
since early 1990ties I had a seonic L 328, it was great but was broken last week so I bought a L508 - the L558 has better spot reflected flash metering (down to f.2 instead of down to 5,6) but I only use the flasmeter with incident metering so I do not care - With my first sekonic to last at least 12 years I can only rekomend them!
Q.G. is right this has not much to do with 501 CM but spot metering is good with hasselblads!
Q.G. is right this has not much to do with 501 CM but spot metering is good with hasselblads!
janikphoto
Member
I have a sekonic 508 that is great. But almost any of the sekonics should do fine. If you don't need extra bells and whistles, look at their entry level models...
G
Gggranero
>I have a Sekonic L-308 BII and, with the exception of spot metering, it >has all you need at a reasonable price: reflective metering (receiving >angle of 40 degrees), incident metering (with 180 degrees lumisphere), >incident metering (with narrower angle lumidisc) and flashmeter (both sync >cord and cordless). In addition, it is not bulky so that I carry it with me all the times. If you do not need spot metering, I think it is one to be considered.
I have a Gossen Lunasix F (also called LunaPro F in US I think). It is a lightmeter and flashmeter (incident and reflective) without spot metering. You can find used one at around 100-150 USD and with an extra 20-30 USD you can get an adapter for spot metering (7 and 15 degress).
You can find some at the moment on Ebay.
You can find some at the moment on Ebay.
I can strongly recommend the Gossen Digisix:
It's a small portable meter that gives a direct EV reading that you transfer directly onto the lens. I also use a Sekonic L-358 for the studio work (flash) but I have never been able to get a different (better or more exact) reading on the Sekonic than with the little Gossen, inside or outside.
The Gossen is a little marvel that I love to take for fieldwork. It's in good contrast for the already heavy Hassy. The price is great as well, apart from the fact that it measures the temperature, has a clock, alarm and other little features that can come handy.
It's a small portable meter that gives a direct EV reading that you transfer directly onto the lens. I also use a Sekonic L-358 for the studio work (flash) but I have never been able to get a different (better or more exact) reading on the Sekonic than with the little Gossen, inside or outside.
The Gossen is a little marvel that I love to take for fieldwork. It's in good contrast for the already heavy Hassy. The price is great as well, apart from the fact that it measures the temperature, has a clock, alarm and other little features that can come handy.
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