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Flash Light Meter
Anyone used a "Sekonic L-358 Flash Master Light Meter"? If yes, what are your thoughts about it. Apr 01 12 08:02 pm Link Am-r wrote: its a good solid meter. i recommend getting the pocket wizard add-on to it. I've used this meter only a handful of times, but i owned the l-758 for years before i sold it with plans to downgrade to a 358. the 758 was just overkill and i didn't use it that much. so go with the 358, you wont be disappointed. Apr 01 12 08:08 pm Link It does everything I need a flash meter to do. My Polaris 100 also does everything I need a flash meter to do, but for less money. Wanna buy my L358? Apr 01 12 08:11 pm Link I wouldn't recommend an expensive light meter. Any incindent light meter will do. Once you learn your lights you won't really need one, if you are shooting digital. They are good for learning, but you get instant results with the lcd. Unless you are using more than 4 lights, or shooting film, lighting meters aren't entirely necessary. They are good to have when you need one, but you certainly don't need anything fancy. Apr 01 12 08:15 pm Link Am-r wrote: I have that one. Use it all the time. Great meter and really helps me speed up setting all the lights up Apr 01 12 08:22 pm Link I use it... works great, no complaints. Apr 01 12 08:26 pm Link I have the 358, I started without it and bought flashes first. The meter helps me just put the lights take a reading and adjust acordingly I don't need to memorize what power settings to use when placing the light on a certain place in my studio. Lately I've been using the continuous light mode for either sunlight or in studio when using a projector (the meter also has a reflective convertion but I've never used it). One of the modes I use the most is the one that takes 2 readings and gives you the ratio between them. The other thing I started doing is "seeing" the flash falloff with the meter (taking multiple readings in different places on the subject) this helps sometimes when I turn off the modeling lights to know where the hotspot of the light is. Do you really need it? In the digital age you can live without it BUT it helps workflow wise either in studio or on location. Instead of chimping and reading the histogram wich can take away time you could use shooting you just use your meter and adjust. Apr 01 12 08:27 pm Link the L-358 is my go-to studio meter (I use its big brother the L758 out of doors and in mixed light) - excellent and reliable meter Apr 01 12 08:30 pm Link Awesometographer wrote: How much? Apr 01 12 08:30 pm Link David Poata wrote: I was kinda kidding. I still like my 358 well enough, and I like having backups. Apr 01 12 08:38 pm Link Thanks guys for all the feedback. Its selling new for $308 (shipping and tax included) at amazon.com. I believe thats a good price. Apr 01 12 09:08 pm Link Am-r wrote: I have been using the same Sekonic L-308 Flashmate for over 20 years without a single problem ever. Apr 01 12 09:13 pm Link Doobie the destroyer wrote: The reason I was interested in it because it does speed up things in situations when you are renting studio time. For people that have their own studios, light metering is not an issue once you have your lights setup to begin with. Furthermore, I think it is a handy equipment for photographers that are mobile. Apr 01 12 09:14 pm Link Fotografica Gregor wrote: I thought you can use the L-358 for outdoors as well. Apr 01 12 09:15 pm Link Michael L. wrote: I saw that one as well but the question is can you use L-308 outdoors and in mixed light? Apr 01 12 09:20 pm Link Am-r wrote: You can preset your lights, by aperture and distance, if time is an issue. Apr 01 12 09:45 pm Link Am-r wrote: I always wanted to buy the L-358 but never did. I still use a minolta VF for studio work. It pretty much does the job. It doesn't have aperture priority tho. Apr 01 12 09:48 pm Link Am-r wrote: $150-$200 on ebay... check that out. Apr 01 12 10:00 pm Link Am-r wrote: Yes, both ambient and reflective. Apr 01 12 10:04 pm Link I have one and have found it very useful. You can get away without it by chimping and deciphering histograms, or if you do a lot of shooting from a standard lighting setup, but there's a reason they are out there and that they command as much as they do. Heck, you can do mostly the same thing with the guide number and a long string. The PocketWizard module is very handy - again, you can work without it but it's a matter of convenience. When I first picked it up, I kind of felt disillusioned. It's not like I was seriously underexposing or overexposing images before I bought it, so it seemed to have made very little practical difference. But since I've forgotten it once or twice and it irks me when that happens. It gets used a lot. Apr 01 12 11:09 pm Link I have one and I love it Apr 01 12 11:18 pm Link I have one also, I usually shoot manual. really helps set up the lighting ratios on my monolights,i can fine tune the shadows especially if I'm not in my studio. I don't rely on my in camera meter if I can help it.I didn't get the transciever the works with PWizards, but that's ok I use the remote that came with the lights, and a separate radio trigger plugged into the monoblock. I'm glad I have it, no regrets Apr 01 12 11:31 pm Link PW flex users: "The new Sekonic RT-32CTL Radio Transmitter module will be available worldwide in April 2012." http://www.sekonic.com/Others/Company/News.aspx I like mine but it has some irritations. If you set it to work in 1/3rd stops you can move the reading in 1/3 stops, if you set it to work in 1/10th stops you can only move the reading in full stops and so have to count f/stops in your head. You do get some 'intermediate' shutter speeds when reading flash but have to scroll all the way through to get to them and they are rather limited. Apr 02 12 02:18 am Link I have one and used it quite often and with success until I got the CyberCommander. Now I only use it for ambient... Apr 02 12 03:02 am Link I have the same meter (L-358) and I love it...I got it used off Craigslist for about half-price and it's great, I use it for almost every shoot. I recommend looking for a used one, they pop up all the time on CL or ebay and you can save some $$! Apr 02 12 03:42 am Link |
