Portable used light meter recommendations - affordable, neck lanyard friendly, reflected light

[brainmonster]

Yes, I'm glad to see you can order a digital shoe mount light meter from North America. Stuff from china takes forever to arrive these days. Might buy some sometimes if I'm ever in need.

 

[ic-racer]

There is a Chinese competitor to the Reveni; I made my choice...."O Canada! Terre de nos aïeux..."

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Ordered!

Can't find any REVENI hits on the search function here, so I'll start a thread and review it when it arrives.

View attachment 256248

This looks really neat. I suppose it works ???

 

[Pieter12]

Gossen DigiSix. Small, makes reflected and incident readings.

 

[MattKing]

This looks really neat. I suppose it works ???

Here is a review: https://www.35mmc.com/28/09/2020/reveni-labs-light-meter-review/

 

[AgX]

good: Gossen LunaPro SBC
better: Gossen LunaPro digital or digisix

For me:
the other way round

 

[voceumana]

I have several meters--a Pentax Digital 1 degree meter, a Sekonic L398, and a Polaris flash/incident/reflected meter. If I had to have just one, I'd pick the Polaris; I think Sekonic makes a similar meter. It uses just one battery (AAA or AA, I don't remember which) and it lasts a long time. It matches my other 2 meters for reading values, it is light weight and will fit in a shirt pocket. Lots of versatility for a single meter. I bought it just for the flash meter, but find it all around very usefyl

 

[brainmonster]

I have several meters--a Pentax Digital 1 degree meter, a Sekonic L398, and a Polaris flash/incident/reflected meter. If I had to have just one, I'd pick the Polaris; I think Sekonic makes a similar meter. It uses just one battery (AAA or AA, I don't remember which) and it lasts a long time. It matches my other 2 meters for reading values, it is light weight and will fit in a shirt pocket. Lots of versatility for a single meter. I bought it just for the flash meter, but find it all around very usefyl

Are you talking about Polaris/Shepherd brand flash meters? Their digital meters look pretty bulky. There's another model, AM130/120 which looks smaller, but similar to Luna-pro but with flash support

Given the choice I'll probably pick up a luna-pro, non SBC and non F version cause they are cheaper and I don't need flash metering.

Still a little bulky for my taste, but they seem to be top notch meters.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Are you talking about Polaris/Shepherd brand flash meters? Their digital meters look pretty bulky. There's another model, AM130/120 which looks smaller, but similar to Luna-pro but with flash support

Given the choice I'll probably pick up a luna-pro, non SBC and non F version cause they are cheaper and I don't need flash metering.

Still a little bulky for my taste, but they seem to be top notch meters.

Luna Pro the OLD version? Old mercury batteries, keep that in mind. Some have been modified, if you can find one of those, for newer batteries, you can go with correction on the go, but barring modification you are not getting a meter that works as intended unless you invest in a battery adapter with reduces voltage, and that is $20 and more depending on source.

 

[markjwyatt]

Luna Pro the OLD version? Old mercury batteries, keep that in mind. Some have been modified, if you can find one of those, for newer batteries, you can go with correction on the go, but barring modification you are not getting a meter that works as intended unless you invest in a battery adapter with reduces voltage, and that is $20 and more depending on source.

Or Wein cells.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Or Wein cells.

Either way, get an adapter and cheap batteries afer that, or continue feeding Wein market. My sole point being, there is plethora of great choices that do not come with such problems. I have an old Luna Pro that was peanuts with intent to modify, then I found Luna Pro SBC for hardly more money, but these chances seem to have gone with apparently higher demand. Too bad SBC and variants are large bricks, even though so good as meters.

I have to say Gossen Digisix does appear like a right choice for small. Being current model it comes at a price though and it's hardly one that will cover all corners. so it is an add on rather than one and only.

 

[voceumana]

This is the one I've got--discontinued, but available used. It will fit in a shirt pocket, and it's pretty thin, and very light weight.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/93222-REG/Shepherd_Polaris_SPD100_Polaris_Digital_Meter.html

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Or Wein cells.

Either way, get an adapter and cheap batteries afer that, or continue feeding Wein market. My sole point being, there is plethora of great choices that do not come with such problems. I have an old Luna Pro that was peanuts with intent to modify, then I found Luna Pro SBC for hardly more money, but these chances seem to have gone with apparently higher demand. Too bad SBC and variants are large bricks, even though so good as meters.

I have to say Gossen Digisix does appear like a right choice for small. Being current model it comes at a price though and it's hardly one that will cover all corners. so it is an add on rather than one and only.

 

[BradS]

Given the choice I'll probably pick up a luna-pro, non SBC and non F version cause they are cheaper and I don't need flash metering.

Still a little bulky for my taste, but they seem to be top notch meters.

They are less expensive for a reason. They use an obsolete, un-availble mercury battery and CdS cells...both of which tend to require them to need professional calibration service before they are useful....and you still have a meter that uses CdS cells which, even though they are better than the ancient selenium meters are not without problems.

No...much better to save your money for a new meter that will be accurate for a few decades.

EDIT: if money is an issue I'd very strongly suggest trying one of the several excellent light meter apps for the iPhone. I use one called simply "myLightmeter Pro" but there are others.

 

[MattKing]

I have had good results with the older versions of the Luna Pro meters and the physical adapters that permit use of hearing aid batteries. They have given readings that coincide with my Lunasix F and my Digiflash meters.
I've also used the voltage modification adapters and silver oxide batteries in an older Luna Pro.
If you use the hearing aid battery adapters, make sure you have extra batteries and a toothpick - the little 675 batteries are small and sometimes a challenge to pop out of the adapter.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

I have had good results with the older versions of the Luna Pro meters and the physical adapters that permit use of hearing aid batteries. They have given readings that coincide with my Lunasix F and my Digiflash meters.
I've also used the voltage modification adapters and silver oxide batteries in an older Luna Pro.
If you use the hearing aid battery adapters, make sure you have extra batteries and a toothpick - the little 675 batteries are small and sometimes a challenge to pop out of the adapter.

How is that Digiflash working out for you? I'm looking at the Digisix, which I suppose is same sans flash capability.

 

[brainmonster]

I've always just used these old meters and old cameras without modification and haven't had any problems with my exposure.

However I have come across some on ebay that have been calibrated for "one stop under" which I suppose means it would be better for 1.5 volt batteries.

Perhaps I'll pick up one of these.

Actually I'm thinking of picking up a spot meter. Or actually a "view meter" with a little viewfinder built in along with the little light sensor. Those spot meters look a little bulk or odd to me. I don't think these meters can be calibrated though, but I don't think it's a big issue for me. I've heard that overexposing can actually improve saturation. The only times my pictures have come out badly or any different is if I'm 5 or or stops overexposed or if it's underexposed by more than 2 stops, maybe.

I'm guessing that using modern batteries would cause you to overexpose the image slightly, rather than underexpose the image, but I'm not quite sure.

 

[WonderWil]

I found a used Sekonic L-208 on the auction site a couple weeks back for $70.

 

[ic-racer]

I Or actually a "view meter" with a little viewfinder built in along with the little light sensor. .

I have used the 6-degree Sekonic L206 'viewmeter' since the 1970s. Sekonic updated that with two more viewmeters that zoom wider and narrower.

 

[DWThomas]

The meter I have that is quite capable and compact is an original generation Gossen Digisix. It measures incident and reflected. It's one flaw seems to be disappointing battery life (a CR2032 lithium coin cell), disappointing enough I remove the battery unless I know it's going to be used the next day. The meter has a tripod thread socket on the bottom and Gossen offers an accessory shoe adapter foot but it's priced as though it's made out of pure unobtainium. The current units are identified as a Digisix II -- I've no idea if they are any better on battery appetite. Last I looked, they are a bit dear price-wise.

I also have a Sekonic L-508 which does 1 to 4º spot, incident, and flash. It runs for eons on an AA cell but it is neither light, compact, nor inexpensive.

 

[BradS]

The meter I have that is quite capable and compact is an original generation Gossen Digisix. It measures incident and reflected. It's one flaw seems to be disappointing battery life (a CR2032 lithium coin cell), disappointing enough I remove the battery unless I know it's going to be used the next day. The meter has a tripod thread socket on the bottom and Gossen offers an accessory shoe adapter foot but it's priced as though it's made out of pure unobtainium....

Adorama lists the Gossen Digisix accessory shoe thingy for $8.89 ???

https://www.adorama.com/gshsa.html

...and the Digisix II is listed for $169...which also seems totally reasonable to me for what it is.

https://www.adorama.com/gsdslm2.html

 

[MattKing]

My Gossen Digiflash - also the original version - has been excellent for the several years I've owned it. I deal with the battery life issue two ways:
1) I keep it outside of its included soft case, in a small camera pouch that fits in pockets on my camera bags and does not press the buttons when the meter is in there; and
2) I buy the batteries at the Dollar store - $1.25 for a card with three batteries - and I keep at least two sealed and unused batteries in each camera bag.
The meter requires one battery only. The flash metering function takes a bit of familiarization, but generally works well.
I like the way it works - I even have a couple of cameras that use the EV information it produces.
Like many have mentioned, it can be slightly irritating when you want to decrease the EI set - the adjustment cycles in one direction only until it reaches the top, when it starts over at the bottom again.
If I were to change anything about it, I would have it come with a small hard case that flips open, and has a slot for a replacement battery.

 

[brainmonster]

Looks like it's backordered though. But B&H has this bracket for $15 that looks similar, I might pick one up since my shoe mount light meter covered the shutter speed dial of my camera. Looks like it would mount the meter a little higher than that gossen mount though:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1483006-REG/uurig_1219_monitor_mount_bracket_holder.html

Adorama lists the Gossen Digisix accessory shoe thingy for $8.89 ???

https://www.adorama.com/gshsa.html

...and the Digisix II is listed for $169...which also seems totally reasonable to me for what it is.

https://www.adorama.com/gsdslm2.html

 

[brainmonster]

Have you found any advantages to using a spot meter? I know henri cartier-bresson used one ;p some people seemed obsessed with them. I'm wondering if they'd be good for isolating the exposure on a subject or getting good contrast for skin tones.

I have used the 6-degree Sekonic L206 'viewmeter' since the 1970s. Sekonic updated that with two more viewmeters that zoom wider and narrower.

View attachment 256301

 

[BradS]

Looks like it's backordered though. But B&H has this bracket for $15 that looks similar, I might pick one up since my shoe mount light meter covered the shutter speed dial of my camera. Looks like it would mount the meter a little higher than that gossen mount though:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1483006-REG/uurig_1219_monitor_mount_bracket_holder.html

B&H also have the actual Gossen shoe adapter thingy for the same price as Adorama, $8.89
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/274510-REG/Gossen_GO_4098_Camera_Shoe_for_Digisix.html

...and the Digisix II lightmeter as well, at the same price as Adorama...$168.80
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/918762-REG/gossen_go_4006_2_digisix_2_light_meter.html

 

[Kino]

Just bought a Weston Ranger 9. A bit older than what everyone else is suggesting, but I figure even if it needs calibration, it should be a useful reflected/incident meter. Ansel Adams thought so!