L-558 for general reflected metering

dxphoto · Jan 20, 2008

I got this L-558 and skimmed through the manual. I know its a powerful meter. I've been using an old L-158 meter to capture the overall reflected lights off the frame to be captured. It has been very convenient. It seems like the L-558 can only do the spot reflected metering. Is it true or I missed something...

Thanks

Marco Buonocore · Jan 20, 2008

If you want to take a general reflective metering, the easiest way is to take several separate spot readings from the scene, and then use the average function. You can weight the spot readings however you need to; ie avoiding hot spots in the sky, etc...

I personally find that in situations where I would want a general reflective metering, I'll end up using the incident meter. It's quicker, and likely to be more accurate with 'simple' lighting.

It's a wonderful meter - take time to play with it and get used to the features. There's not a lot it cannot do.

BrianShaw · Jan 20, 2008

Marco Buonocore said:
It's a wonderful meter - take time to play with it and get used to the features. There's not a lot it cannot do.

It is a wonderful meter. There is only one thing it cannot do - a 30 degree reflected light measure. As you said, three quick spot measures and an averaging does basically the same.

23mjm · Jan 20, 2008

I have a Gossen Luna-Pro F and recently got a L-558. I have found the average function and 3 to 5 well placed readings will give me the same reading as the Luna-Pro +-1/3 stop. Bring both meters with you shooting and play with them both, I did this at first now I only bring the L-558.

Andrey · Apr 13, 2008

I don't average. I have the zoom version, the 508 which goes to four degrees as well.

What I do is take a couple of readings from the places that I want exposed properly and then just look where the max and min values lie and try to expose accordingly.

I didn't use the 558, but the 508's interface seems to be geared towards meorizing a couple of values all over the scene and only then taking your eye off the viewfinder and checking how much difference in exposure you get.

vet173 · Apr 14, 2008

incident into light, incident away from light, split the difference = average. I use a 508.

L-558 for general reflected metering

dxphoto

Marco Buonocore

BrianShaw

23mjm

Andrey

vet173

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