E.M Posted June 6, 2024 Share #1 Posted June 6, 2024 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello all, I am looking to buy a new lightmeter. I had a Gossen Lunasix 3, a Sekonic L-398 and a Minolta attometer IV-F. The Gossen was stolen, the Sekonic has a selenium cell that cannot be replaced and the Minolta doesn't work anymore and cannot be repaired. All my cameras have meters, but I just prefer a separate light meter to measure with invercone. What are your experiences with different brands, any advice ? Thank you and have a nice shuttertime . http://www.etiennemichiels.com Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 6, 2024 Posted June 6, 2024 Hi E.M, Take a look here advice on light meter. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
250swb Posted June 6, 2024 Share #2 Posted June 6, 2024 A Sekonic 308 is a popular meter, or a 208 for something smaller, or if you need spot metering a Sekonic 758. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted June 6, 2024 Share #3 Posted June 6, 2024 Agree on the Sekonic L-208 Twinmate - a small handy analog meter with good battery life. Readings closely match my old Luna-Lux SBC (which is too big for my kit). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anbaric Posted June 6, 2024 Share #4 Posted June 6, 2024 (edited) I like the modern Gossen digital models. Mine is a Sixtomat Flash, which has now been replaced by the Sixtomat F2. It does reflected, incident and flash metering, and the sliding incident dome is on the top edge of the meter so it's still very slim and pocketable: https://gossen-photo.de/en/sixtomat-f2/ There was also a similar Sixtomat Digital, which doesn't do flash metering, and there is now a Digipro F2, which is larger with a swivel head for the incident dome. Note that Gossen also used the 'Sixtomat' brand for some of their vintage analogue meters, which are very different. I haven't used their smaller meters, currently the Digisix 2 and Digiflash 2. Edited June 6, 2024 by Anbaric Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted June 7, 2024 Share #5 Posted June 7, 2024 (edited) 15 hours ago, E.M said: Hello all, I am looking to buy a new lightmeter. I had a Gossen Lunasix 3, a Sekonic L-398 and a Minolta attometer IV-F. The Gossen was stolen, the Sekonic has a selenium cell that cannot be replaced and the Minolta doesn't work anymore and cannot be repaired. All my cameras have meters, but I just prefer a separate light meter to measure with invercone. What are your experiences with different brands, any advice ? Thank you and have a nice shuttertime . http://www.etiennemichiels.com Hello E.M, Welcome to the Forum. The meters you used before are all good meters. I used a Flashmeter IV for a number of years & it worked very well. A Kenko KFM-1100 is a copy of a Minolta Flashmeter V. Which is Minolta's simplified replacement for the Minolta Flashmeter IV. It does what you are asking for & more. It measures both incident & reflected lite, flash, etc. The Kenko KFM-2100 is a copy of a Minolta Flashmeter VI. Which is Minolta's upgrade of the Flashmeter IV (4). This meter also includes a built in spot meter & more. It measures both incident & reflected lite, flash, etc. Many people think that the smaller hemispheres on more modern CdS, Silicon, etc. meters work as well measuring incident lite as the larger Invercones do with selenium meters. The Kenko meters above use silicon cells & are each powered by 0ne (1) "AA" cell. Best Regards, Michael Edited June 7, 2024 by Michael Geschlecht Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCPix Posted June 7, 2024 Share #6 Posted June 7, 2024 You did use the Minolta IV - I used (and still have) the V. Used it extensively for studio flash and location available and mixed available/fill-flash. It has been 100% reliable and totally accurate. I did get to the point of shooting colour transparency film without bracketing as I had such trust in that meter (two examples below). Very highly recommended. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/395657-advice-on-light-meter/?do=findComment&comment=5336781'>More sharing options...
hansvons Posted June 8, 2024 Share #7 Posted June 8, 2024 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) On 6/6/2024 at 1:13 PM, E.M said: 3, a Sekonic L-398 and... Mine works since 30 years. I shot with it 100+ film projects. It’s the Hollywood classic. Don't let it lay around in sunlight and it will serve you a lifetime. Other than that, I can't recommend enough light-metering phone apps such as Lightme for iOS. Edited June 8, 2024 by hansvons 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fotoklaus Posted June 8, 2024 Share #8 Posted June 8, 2024 The onl, lightmeter which I carry around is the Gossen Digisix/ Digiflash. Out of the pocket, one button press and that's it. All other meters stay at home, as good as they all might be. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
E.M Posted June 11, 2024 Author Share #9 Posted June 11, 2024 Thank you all for your replies and experience. It is a not so easy choice ( maybe I buy them all 😜 ). I am now leaning towards a Gossen Digipro F2 or a Kenko KFM 1100. I like the big invercone on the Kenko, but does that make a big difference in reality, I guess not ? I like the fact that you can do a preselection for aperture or shutter on the Gossen, that is really cool. I was not really impressed by the quality of the Minolta, and it stopped working in cold temperature, once in Beijing, my L-398 kept working. But I want to have a fast reading in the street, and many times I don't want to point the camera towards a scene for measurement. I have been in trouble before, doing that. Again, thanks a lot to all of you ! Etienne. http://www.etiennemichiels.com Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnwolf Posted June 21, 2024 Share #10 Posted June 21, 2024 For “fast reading in the street,” I like the small models that display the entire scale of aperture/shutter speed combos, rather than a single pair in a window. You can take in all options at a glance, which I find very quick. That’s what I like about the L208. Never used a Digisix 2, but would love to try one. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEyesHaveIt Posted June 23, 2024 Share #11 Posted June 23, 2024 As a super portable option, check out this one https://www.reveni-labs.com/shop/p/reveni-labs-spot-meter-mk2 I heard about it through Nick Carver's very useful tutorial on exposure metering for film cameras. https://www.nickcarverphotography.com/teaching/online_courses/manual_metering_film_photography/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikep996 Posted June 24, 2024 Share #12 Posted June 24, 2024 (edited) I like my Sekonic L398 - no batteries and they are available new if your old one quit. I much prefer it to the digital meters. Though I admit that when out with my Linhof Technika 4x5 and need a spot meter reading(s) I use an iPhone app. I found that Raveni spot meter to be too annoying in use but lots of folks seem to like it. Or at least the hype indicates they do. Edited June 24, 2024 by Mikep996 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
atournas Posted June 26, 2024 Share #13 Posted June 26, 2024 On 6/6/2024 at 2:13 PM, E.M said: Hello all, I am looking to buy a new lightmeter. I had a Gossen Lunasix 3, a Sekonic L-398 and a Minolta attometer IV-F. The Gossen was stolen, the Sekonic has a selenium cell that cannot be replaced and the Minolta doesn't work anymore and cannot be repaired. All my cameras have meters, but I just prefer a separate light meter to measure with invercone. What are your experiences with different brands, any advice ? Thank you and have a nice shuttertime . http://www.etiennemichiels.com Why do you want to replace the selenium cell in the Sekonic L-398? Just curious, for I own such a Sekonic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danner Posted July 11, 2024 Share #14 Posted July 11, 2024 (edited) I recommend the Gossen Sixtomat F2, it's easy to carry and operate, accurate, and supports all primary metering modes (incident, reflected, and flash). Link Edited July 11, 2024 by Danner 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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