Jump to content

Light meter question


Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I bought 2 new Sekonic meters to use with my M-A. An L-398A and an L-208.

 

With both in incident light mode, they don't agree. If the 398 says 125/1.4 the 208 will read 60/1.4. For pretty much all readings they are 1 to 2 stops off, with the 208 always reporting wider apertures/slower shutter speeds. Any hints? I'm pointing both meters from the subject and pointing directly to the lens of the camera. ISO on both is 400. And I'm definitely reading the correct scale on the 398. Thanks.

Link to post
Share on other sites

The only way to really know is by exposing two rolls of film, using a constant light source and reading off of a gray card. One roll for the 398 the other for the 208 then you can compare them side by side. I have owned several different Studio Deluxe models and a 208. The 208 is nice and compact and in most cases a close enough meter. With the latitude of most negative films the 208 will give you good exposures and you can make some adjustments to where the needle reads. The 398 will give you more accurate results and if you add a slide kit, instant readings with different film speeds. Unless you know someone with a calibrated meter to compare the two meters with, you're left to testing to determine which will fit your needs better.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm sure meter testing wasn't how you invisioned using your new M-A but it'll pay off in the long run. Both are good meters and will provide you with many years of service.

 

I totally agree. I was thinking this from the beginning when I first thought about getting the M-A. I was interested in the M-A to force myself to rely on learning to judge settings and working with a handheld meter. I think that incident light metering is going to make a big difference in certain situations because there are many times reflective is just going to get it wrong. I think that could be a reason why some of my exposures with my old MP were off -- I was always relying on the internal meter only.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

There is nothing wrong with the internal meter of an MP, but it still needs pointing at the right thing to take reading from, not just the overall scene which can contain extremes of exposure values that the meter (and photographer) can be fooled by.

 

Steve

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

For pretty much all readings they are 1 to 2 stops off, with the 208 always reporting wider apertures/slower shutter speeds.

 

I'd be more surprised if they were in very close agreement but 2 stops apart seems a little far the other way. Have you tried them outside under sunny 16 conditions? That, of course, is not an absolute and will vary depending upon the intensity of the sun, etc. but it should still provide a good pointer as to which meter is the more accurately calibrated.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I'd be more surprised if they were in very close agreement but 2 stops apart seems a little far the other way. Have you tried them outside under sunny 16 conditions? That, of course, is not an absolute and will vary depending upon the intensity of the sun, etc. but it should still provide a good pointer as to which meter is the more accurately calibrated.

 

90% of the time it's just 1 stop off, while a few readings were heading towards 2 stops. I'll try referencing them to sunny 16 tomorrow, thanks.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I tried sunny-16 just now and both meters are reading the same in bright sunlight: 500/f16. However, just moving into the shade will produce a discrepancy. The L-398A, which, with the high slide in place, is reading 60/f11 and the L-208 is reading 60/f5.6. Now the 398 is reading off the H scale markings with the slide in place, and the foot candle scale is compressed in the lower part of the scale, so maybe the 398 just isn't as accurate near the lower part of the scale. I'm just guessing here...

 

Certainly the 398 is more of a hassle to use because you have to futz around with the slide and change the dome if you want a reflective reading, but nonetheless, I'd like to keep whichever meter is more accurate. I think I'll just have to shoot a roll and see, or get a digital camera check the settings.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

It's like banging your head against a wall. It feels good when you stop. The Twinmate is compact, easy to use and carry around. A meter in your pocket beats one left behind every time. Use it exclusively for at least one full roll and see if you're happy with the results. Trying to get similar readings from different meters is like herding cats. Been down that path a few times.

Edited by madNbad
Punctuation
  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

One of the most frustrating things in photography has always been comparing two light meters. 50 years ago a friend and I both bought Weston Master IV meters at the same time. They read nearly a stop different, but we used them successfully side by side for years with different cameras, once we got used to interpreting them from the way we used them.

 

Gerry

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

All meters can be adjusted by the user.

 

If one of the Sekonics is always reading higher than the other then I would suggest you get them checked to see if they are calibrated properly.

Do it yourself.

Get a piece of 18% grey (in a perfect world - if not then, really, any sort of mid-grey will work just as well for your purposes) and check out exposure values under a constant light-source with as many cameras/meters as you can assemble from friends & family and decide which exposure is 'correct' for you. There should be some sort of middle-ground.

Compare with the readings obtained by the two Sekonics and 'zero' the one which is out. It may also be that one is under by 1/2 stop and the other over by the same margin.

 

Philip.

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...