Light meters

Thomas Bertilsson

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• Aug 22, 2004

• #1

Hello,

I am wondering if there are any light meters out there that can measure fairly low light (like inside houses when it's dark) that won't cost me an arm and a leg.

I should probably decloak the fact that I like to use a gray card - all the time - so it doesn't matter which kind I use, although I would probably prefer a spot meter since I'm trying to get into portraiture a bit more.

Thankful for some illumination,

- Thomas
Saint Paul, Minnesota

PS. I hope I posted this in the right place, I couldn't find a really good spot for a lightmeter discussion.

 

mark

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• Aug 23, 2004

• #2

Old gossen luna pros will do what you want. Mine is really old and works perfect.

 

AndyH

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• Aug 23, 2004

• #3

Absolutely - Luna pros are reliable and will work in very low "available darkness" situations. Older ones can be had relatively inexpensively. I would check on ebay.

 

dr bob

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• Aug 24, 2004

• #4

Roger. Gossen Luna Pro! But watch out! They use 1.35 volt mercury batteries which are extremely hard to find. A conversion is available but I haven't tried it yet. Silver/zincs may work, but a recalibration will be required, and some non-linearity will be observed.

 

Graeme Hird

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• Aug 24, 2004

• #5

I'm told Quantum lightmeters are the most sensitive, but I'm not sure if they're still available. Do a search and see what comes up.

I have a couple of Gossens and I'm happy with them.

 

bobfowler

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• Aug 24, 2004

• #6

Let me chime in here with another bit of praise for a Gossen product, the Luna Pro F. Unlike the old Luna Pro which has a CDS cell, the Luna Pro F has uses a silicon blue cell which has better low light response. It also (very important) uses a regular 9 Volt battery instead of the mercury button cells. Another important feature (for me) it's also a flash meter. I've been using Luna Pro F's since the mid 1980's - they're great!

 

papagene

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• Aug 24, 2004

• #7

Ditto on what Bob said. I too use a Luna Pro F and am quite happy with its performance.
gene

 

Ted Harris

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• Aug 24, 2004

• #8

You can also add the Luna Pro SBC to the kist equally sensitive, null metering useful for Zone work and uses a 9 v. battery.

 

removed account4

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• Aug 24, 2004

• #9

Ted Harris said:

You can also add the Luna Pro SBC to the kist equally sensitive, null metering useful for Zone work and uses a 9 v. battery.

Click to expand...

ted - you beat me to it!

... what ted said

-john

 

PJC

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• Aug 24, 2004

• #10

Greetings,

Spectra light meters, used by all the cinematographers will do what you want. I dare say they can read the light in a dark closet.

Regards, Pete

 

Flotsam

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• Aug 25, 2004

• #11

Back in college I used to pick up some extra cash by shooting the work of the art faculty and and students onto slides. One time, after shooting a bunch of paintings in a normal flood lit copy set up, the artist said that he really likes the way one of his paintings looks at night, by the light of his television set. We pulled the drapes, shut off the lights, turned on his TV, and I shot it. I used an old CDS Luna Pro. It came out quite nice.