Light meters - Which of these?: Reveni Labs, Reflxlab, Keks-KM02

[250swb]

They are all ugly mounted on a nice camera, but I have a KEKS meter and it's ok, but that's about it. They all take up useful space that can be used for a viewfinder or even a spirit level. I wouldn't use my KEKS in preference to a Sekonic 208 (hand held, not mounted on the accessory shoe as is possible) or a Sekonic 308, and I only bought it in a moment of madness.

 

[mtnbkr]

They all take up useful space that can be used for a viewfinder or even a spirit level.

When I had a 15mm lens and viewfinder for my rangefinder, I 3d-printed a double-coldshoe mount that let me have both at the same time.

Chris

 

[ant!]

While I surely know less about metering than many others here, I use some for the few of my cameras without a built-in one. For the others, I never had bigger problems with the built-in meter (knowing when to adjust helps, of course).

Recently I used quite a bit the Gossen Luna-Pro SBC (in other places called Profisix), which can be used in both incident and refective mode (plus there is a "tele attachment" for 7 & 15deg view, and a more expensive true spot attachment). And it works with modern 9V batteries, which is nice compared to some older ones. http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Gossen_Profisix_/_Lunasix_F

I also have a Kenko KFM-1100 (= Auto Meter V F), which is a modern incident meter with storage/averaging functions, flash measurements and more. Also various attachments (e.g. a 10deg finder) are available (the Minolta and Kenko are identical, so the attachments work with both).

As a 3rd, I had bought used the Voitländer VC (1st version), but didn't use it much yet. I paid less then the ones you list cost. It is tiny, but in many cases a Gossen etc. should be faster to use and allows to take filter factors and other things directly into account, instead of adjusting the ISO or the reading.

But as mentioned by everyone before, you need to know how to measure. In none-difficult light, a phone app can work as well, as long as one knows the limits.

 

[Xylo]

Have you used any of these light meters:
Reveni Labs, Reflxlab, or Keks-KM02?

No, but I have the small one from TTArtisan and I can say that the build quality is just incredible. The black one has a brass housing, the silver one is aluminum. And it's not thin stuff either, the meter has some weight to it. It was inspired by the Voigtlander one and shares the same ergonomics.

I know that the Reveni is pretty darn reliable, but everybody who uses one carries a set of spare batteries as it's a bit of a hog. Since it's made by a single person in his garage, you do get to support what is essentially a cottage industry. They're made in Toronto and service is one of the best in the business.

 

[armadsen]

I have the Keks KM02 and like it quite well. It's USB-C rechargeable, small, has a nice easy-to-read screen, multiple hot shoe "foot" sizes and mounting positions, and is well built. My one complaint is that the buttons on the top aren't labeled, you just have to remember which one is which, which is stupid. But you can make your own labeling marks easily enough.

It will most certainly not replace a legitimate spot meter, nor a handheld incident meter for all situations, but it's one heck of a lot smaller, which is very important to me in many situations.

 

[madNbad]

I know that the Reveni is pretty darn reliable, but everybody who uses one carries a set of spare batteries as it's a bit of a hog. Since it's made by a single person in his garage, you do get to support what is essentially a cottage industry. They're made in Toronto and service is one of the best in the business.

The OLED screen that’s the root of the battery drain. It’s a great, easy to read screen and makes using the tiny meter easier to use but it demands more power than a regular LED. Matt was working on a prototype that used a single AAA, maybe sometime in the future.

 

[Alan9940]

I know that the Reveni is pretty darn reliable, but everybody who uses one carries a set of spare batteries as it's a bit of a hog.

I carry a card of spare batteries...4-5 sets. The spot meter takes two batteries and eats 'em for lunch!

 

[igmolinav]

Hi,

Thank you for all your messages : )!!!

It's been busy yesterday and today.

I will comeback and talk to you tomorrow
about some of your comments.

I wanted to comment about something
that has impressed me while reading
most of your feedback. Something I also
feel thankful about. I signed up long time
ago to this apug / photrio forum and it is
until very recently that I have started to post.
What impresses me the most from your
feedback is to see how much you care
about exposure! I find it wonderful!
This encourages me to use a light meter that
can read incident light. I don't own one,
but I could sometimes get one on loan.
That way I could get more experienced from
its use and perhaps foregoe the use or
purchase of any of the aforementioned
light meters.

Thank you again, kind regards, see you
tomorrow : )!!!

Ig

 

[Chan Tran]

I don't think I would ever get the hot shoe mountd meter. If my camera doesn't have meter or meter broke I would generally use it without meter. Sometimes I would bring a regular meter with me but rarely.

 

[Xylo]

When I got the one from TTArtisan, the goal was to put it on my FED.
But considering that the meters were probably made to fit on a Leica (the build is really that good), I now feel that my old 5B has more than double in value since I put this on

 

[igmolinav]

Hi,

How are you guys doing?

I hope doing very well : )!!!

I apologize. It has taken me a bit
longer to comeback to you guys.
However, I am very happy to be
able now to comment on some of
your previous messages.

I hope I can comment today on
as many as possible.

Thank you again for your help
with your previous comments!

Kind regards,

Ig : )!!!

 

[igmolinav]

Consider this your opportunity to learn better ways of measuring light.

Handheld meters are fine for street work. I prefer incident meters -- just make sure your meter dome is catching more or less the same light as your subject. But if you prefer reflective meters, just point it at your open palm and then open up a stop. (A reflective meter presumes it is reading light reflecting from an "18-percent gray" object, and your palm is a stop brighter than that.) Either approach can be done where you stand, without approaching your subject, so long as you and your subject are in roughly the same light.

There's not much of a learning curve to this. Get a good meter and learn how to use it.

Hi,

Thank you very much again : )!!!

This is beautiful advice!

I am trying to do it that way. I got on loan a Sekonic L-508 meter
that works with incident light. As I am using it, I also try to do my
own 'Sunny-16' reading. Then, I try to see how different are both
readings from each other.

Thank you again, kind regards,

Ig : )!!!

 

[igmolinav]

In the past 20 or so years I have had and still do two of the old favourites A Weston Master V with invercone. No batteries just a socking large selenium cell that still works and is accurate. Two levels of measurement controlled by a fold down baffle. The down side is a the cells don't last for ever and mine was used and there are no replacements. When I bought it it had been used by a wedding photographer paired up with his Mamiya c330. I have no idea how long it will last but by it's current performance it will see me out.

My other one is a Minolta Autometer 3, complete with incident light cone and a 10 degree semi spot adapter as well as a normal reflective meter. The semi spot adapter is used via an eye level finder which I probably use most of all. I have replaced the battery once in 15 years of use and they are still readily available. It is more sensitive than the Weston, but not so easy to use and is more obvious what you are doing. The Minolta meter also has a a facility to take 3 readings, store them and then average them out which I do find very useful.

As for the 'new kids on the light-meter block', forget them, there are better meters out there for less money

Hi,

Thank you for your message : )!!!

Very interesting tools you work with: those two meters are a gem to experience!

Thank you again, kind regards!

Ig : )!!!

 

[igmolinav]

Ah those meters are for those who need meter but don't want to bring a meter.

Ha, ha, ha, ha : )!!! Thank you for your message!
That's funny! It's true, we don't want to carry a
meter that takes better readings!

Thank you again, kind regards!

Ig : )!!!

 

[igmolinav]

I have the Reveni meter you linked. It's tiny and featherweight - pretty astonishing when you have it in hand for the first time. It's not necessary to use it shoe-mounted - you can put a strap or lanyard on it, which makes it easier to point toward a particular target you want to meter without having to wave the whole camera around. The main drawback IMO is that the buttons are very small and fiddly, making the meter a bit fussy in use. But it works and is no burden at all to carry.

That said, if I'm out shooting 35mm Tri-X with a meterless camera, as often as not I'll just wing it - set the exposure from experience. If I feel I need a meter I'll typically take a Sekonic L-308 and use it in incident mode. The Sekonic is itself compact and very lightweight as meters go, though of course not so crazy-small as the Reveni.

Hi,

Thank you for your message : )!!!

The Reveni gets mentioned quite a lot! I wonder if you considered the 'Reflxlab'.
It seems as cool as the Reveni.

Thank you again, kind regards!

Ig : )!!!

 

[igmolinav]

Your posts are confusing. You said the meter in your 35mm street photography camera died and you need a replacement. Then you said you want a meter for medium and large formats as well. What is it you want to do? If it's just street photography, it may be cheaper to just get a replacement 35mm camera with an operable meter. But until you explain what you want to do and what you shoot, we're just guessing.

Hi Alan Edward,

Thank you for your message : )!!!

I don't have a meter, as you have read. Neither a handheld,
nor one of the small ones I have been asking about. I get
sometimes a handheld meter on loan. I also get both a
medium and a large format camera on loan every two
months more or or less. The meter on loan I get is a Sekonic
L-508 that also has a spot meter. When using that Sekonik
light meter, I usually use its spot meter. It has an average
function that is quite cool.

Here is the thing. No matter what format I may be using,
either 35mm, MF, or LF, I usually go for an average
reading. This average reading is the result of averaging out
three independent readings done with the spot meter.

Interestingly enough, when I have used the sekonik meter
along a 35mm. camera meter, the readings are either very
similar, or almost identical. This has prompted me to want to
have a small light meter like the ones I have mentioned at the
beginning of this thread. That way, I can carry less and perhaps
the performance is not too different. What do you think?

Thank you again, very kind regards!

Ig : )!!!

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Hi Alan Edward,

Thank you for your message : )!!!

I don't have a meter, as you have read. Neither a handheld,
nor one of the small ones I have been asking about. I get
sometimes a handheld meter on loan. I also get both a
medium and a large format camera on loan every two
months more or or less. The meter on loan I get is a Sekonic
L-508 that also has a spot meter. When using that Sekonik
light meter, I usually use its spot meter. It has an average
function that is quite cool.

Here is the thing. No matter what format I may be using,
either 35mm, MF, or LF, I usually go for an average
reading. This average reading is the result of averaging out
three independent readings done with the spot meter.

Interestingly enough, when I have used the sekonik meter
along a 35mm. camera meter, the readings are either very
similar, or almost identical. This has prompted me to want to
have a small light meter like the ones I have mentioned at the
beginning of this thread. That way, I can carry less and perhaps
the performance is not too different. What do you think?

Thank you again, very kind regards!

Ig : )!!!

Replace your 35mm camera with another also with a built-in meter that you trust to take your 35mm street shots. Then you can either use the 35mm camera's meter as a meter when shooting your other cameras. Or get a separate spot meter to use when shooting the other cameras. I don't know spot meters, so I can't suggest any.

 

[igmolinav]

Replace your 35mm camera with another also with a built-in meter that you trust to take your 35mm street shots. Then you can either use the 35mm camera's meter as a meter when shooting your other cameras. Or get a separate spot meter to use when shooting the other cameras. I don't know spot meters, so I can't suggest any.

Hi,

Thank you for your message : )!!! Very good idea! I'll look for a similar camera!

Very kind regards,

Ig : )!!!