Advice please on incident light meter.

[Paul J]

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I've been using a Minolta IVF for about 15 years now. It's so rock solid and dependable that Ive not had the need to change it. AV and TV must be a relatively new marketing ploy as most light meters I've ever used have shutter speed and aperture clearly displayed so TV and AV is built in.

 

Sorry I don't mean to rant I just find it perplexing I suppose. Regardless, I can completely recommend the the Minolta IVF. It has a brilliant averaging function which works exceptionally well.

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[MarkP]

It's unfortunate that the vendor didn't tell you anything. It's spelled out fairly clearly by Sekonic that the L-308S ('S' for shutter priority) is a flash meter with Tv mode only and is marketed as such. Apparently the 'A' in the L-398A emphasizes aperture priority.

 

The L-358 (no 'S' or 'A') is the 'Flash Master' instead of the 'Flash Mate' and does have both Tv and Av in ambient mode. But of course Tv only in flash mode.

 

I guess they assumed the 308S Flashmate would be used primarily as a flash meter instead of an ambient light meter. Of course you can keep pressing the button until you get the aperture you want, but I realize that slows things down.

 

That all said, I like the Gossen DigiPro F. It's very thin and not that much bigger than the Sekonic L-308S.

GOSSEN Digipro F

 

Thanks. The vendor and I discussed the pros & cons of not having aperture priority so I bought it fully informed. It's not the vendor's fault. The meter came highly recommended from a number of places including previous threads on this Forum..

but with use I've just found it most irritating.

 

I will have a close look at the Gossens.

[OwinThomas]

Obviously lots of protective comments from happy L-308S owners but I'm not one of them. Each to their own:).

 

Not protective comments, just helpful hints & tips.

 

I'm with you on the fact that I couldn't set the aperture value ... was a sort of WTF! type of moment ... but after thinking about it, all you are doing is taking a reading and scrolling through the appropriate EV (shutter/aperture) settings for the metered light.

 

Hope you find the right meter for you, let us know your decision, you never know one or two of us happy L-308 users might want a change

[tobey bilek]

Sekonic Studio Delux. NO Batteries,

 

Set the reading from the needle to the dial & pick a ss/aperture combo you like. If you can operate a M camera, you CAN do this.

 

My MinoltaIV flash meter reads flach and ambient in ss or aperture priority. Cost me beaceu buck new 20 years ago and needs a AA battery and has a 999 page instruction book. I just use the Sekonic

[Paul J]

a 999 page manual to tell you how to press a couple well labelled buttons? I must have missed that.

[Peter H]

I second the vote for the Studio Deluxe without a moment's hesitation.

 

I've used many meters over the years but this is by far my favourite. It also feels totally in tune with an M camera, although this is just a subjective intangible thing.

 

The fact that I can just pick it up and use it and never worry about batteries is a huge and important bonus too.

[CalArts 99]

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Thanks. The vendor and I discussed the pros & cons of not having aperture priority so I bought it fully informed. It's not the vendor's fault. The meter came highly recommended from a number of places including previous threads on this Forum..

but with use I've just found it most irritating.

 

I will have a close look at the Gossens.

 

Just for the record, I have both the Sekonic L-308S and the Gossen DigiPro F. The Gossen is taller and slightly wider, but thinner. The speed of using the Gossen is equal to that of the Sekonic except of course that you can use Av with the Gossen. The reason the Gossen is taller is because the incident dome swivels (which is really convenient.)

 

Although I like the Studio Deluxe (the L-398A) that others have mentioned, and used one for years, it's basically an old Norwood Director (it's really the exact same thing as the classic motion picture cine meter.) While some may prefer the analog dial (you can see all the combos of aperture and shutter at once), it isn't as quick to use as the L-308S or the Gosssen DigiPro F if you want 'one touch' speed. And it's a bit bulky shaped and heavier. Also the selenium cell isn't good in low illumination (you have to swap out the metal 'high slide' based on the illumination level.) That's where I feel the more modern SBC (silicon blue diode) meters do work a lot better (plus they're solid state with no needle pointer to potentially get knocked around.) But it's a good meter nonetheless and of course is battery-free.

 

I think if you work with the L-308S a bit more (again just tap the side button to get to the aperture you need) you may end up liking it after all. I personally don't find it distracting (and it's a good flash meter in both corded and un-corded modes.)

[roguewave]

Mark, I have used the Gossen Digisix since it first was introduced. It remains in my pocket most of the time. It does EXACTLY what you want at a very modest price and in the smallest format available. I keep it with me all the time when I shoot. It's fast accurate & you get what you need easily. I find myself always checking the light in the environment to see if my guess is close to accurate. It has been one of my finest instructors. You can't find a better value.

[Printmaker]

small and bulletproof.

 

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