Sekonic L-358 issue

rubbernglue · Mar 9, 2020

I don't understand it's behavior recently. It seems to be metering some "semi-ambient" mode when trying to meter a wireless flash - it gives me a reading and then it starts reading ambient light the very next second. Sometimes I can flash twice and it "sees" the reading and starts reading ambient light again.
When triggering the flash by wire all works perfectly well and the reading stays after flash is fired.

Have I triggered some strange setting somewhere or why did this happen?

Anyone but me having this problem??´

timothy fairley · Apr 10, 2020

rubbernglue said:
I don't understand it's behavior recently. It seems to be metering some "semi-ambient" mode when trying to meter a wireless flash - it gives me a reading and then it starts reading ambient light the very next second. Sometimes I can flash twice and it "sees" the reading and starts reading ambient light again.
When triggering the flash by wire all works perfectly well and the reading stays after flash is fired.

Have I triggered some strange setting somewhere or why did this happen?

Anyone but me having this problem??´

timothy fairley · Apr 10, 2020

I am having the exact same issue. Started late in March. Looks like the ambient reading is overriding the wireless flash. Constantly showing EU and U on the low scale. I don't know how but I fixed it temporarily then got into ambient again and I can't get it out now
Hopefully someone has an answer. It has worked correctly for years and then …...
.
.

timothy fairley · Apr 10, 2020

Solved!!!!!!! I had an overhead LED light in a ceiling that was on (it is usually off) f turned off the light and everything is back to normal
Tim

BrianShaw · Apr 10, 2020

For posterity, please amend the title to “user error”. No sense leaving the blame on the meter.

timothy fairley · Apr 10, 2020

That's a questionable call IMHO my other sekonic L308S worked perfectly. I doubt that having a light on could be classified as user error. I would more likely classify it as a design problem but no matter the poster should be the one amending the title if he so wishes.
Tim

rubbernglue · Apr 10, 2020

timothy fairley said:
Solved!!!!!!! I had an overhead LED light in a ceiling that was on (it is usually off) f turned off the light and everything is back to normal
Tim

What?! Are you saying that a led light in the roof caused it to behave this way?? That's clearly a design flaw for sure. Will check this when I get home...
Not that I have any other "non led light" in my home, guess I will try it outside then... :-/

benjiboy · Apr 11, 2020

I have had a Sekonic L358 for over ten years and never had this problem.

rubbernglue · Apr 11, 2020

When I think back where I have mostly used the meter with a flash - either outside or in our studio where we have older fluorescent lighting. At home I have these led lighting now that most people use I guess.
Just as I tested the meter a minute ago without leds in the roof it worked flawlessly, and then lid up the leds and noticed no difference in the meter.. (yet). As I sat with it last time I know there were times where the metering actually "stayed" there which it does now but mostly it did just as in the video. Drives me crazy. Well sure enough, I will have the lighting in mind next time I use it with a flash though. The wierdest thing though is that it always works perfect when triggering through cable.

BrianShaw · Apr 11, 2020

NOTES:
• When firing a flash, if the flash brightness is 9EV lower than the ambient light, the meter may fail to detect the light. In this case, make measurements using the Cord flash mode.
• Rapid start fluorescent lamps and special lighting are sometimes mistaken for flash, and accidentally measured. In this case, make measurements using the Cord flash mode.

timothy fairley · Apr 27, 2020

rubbernglue said:
When I think back where I have mostly used the meter with a flash - either outside or in our studio where we have older fluorescent lighting. At home I have these led lighting now that most people use I guess.
Just as I tested the meter a minute ago without leds in the roof it worked flawlessly, and then lid up the leds and noticed no difference in the meter.. (yet). As I sat with it last time I know there were times where the metering actually "stayed" there which it does now but mostly it did just as in the video. Drives me crazy. Well sure enough, I will have the lighting in mind next time I use it with a flash though. The wierdest thing though is that it always works perfect when triggering through cable.

rubbernglue said:
What?! Are you saying that a led light in the roof caused it to behave this way?? That's clearly a design flaw for sure. Will check this when I get home...
Not that I have any other "non led light" in my home, guess I will try it outside then... :-/

timothy fairley · Apr 27, 2020

rubbernglue said:
When I think back where I have mostly used the meter with a flash - either outside or in our studio where we have older fluorescent lighting. At home I have these led lighting now that most people use I guess.
Just as I tested the meter a minute ago without leds in the roof it worked flawlessly, and then lid up the leds and noticed no difference in the meter.. (yet). As I sat with it last time I know there were times where the metering actually "stayed" there which it does now but mostly it did just as in the video. Drives me crazy. Well sure enough, I will have the lighting in mind next time I use it with a flash though. The wierdest thing though is that it always works perfect when triggering through cable.

rubbernglue said:
What?! Are you saying that a led light in the roof caused it to behave this way?? That's clearly a design flaw for sure. Will check this when I get home...
Not that I have any other "non led light" in my home, guess I will try it outside then... :-/

Just Checking to make sure it solved your issue. I can literally enable and disable mine instantly by turning on an off the light

timothy fairley · Apr 27, 2020

rubbernglue said:
When I think back where I have mostly used the meter with a flash - either outside or in our studio where we have older fluorescent lighting. At home I have these led lighting now that most people use I guess.
Just as I tested the meter a minute ago without leds in the roof it worked flawlessly, and then lid up the leds and noticed no difference in the meter.. (yet). As I sat with it last time I know there were times where the metering actually "stayed" there which it does now but mostly it did just as in the video. Drives me crazy. Well sure enough, I will have the lighting in mind next time I use it with a flash though. The wierdest thing though is that it always works perfect when triggering through cable.

rubbernglue said:
What?! Are you saying that a led light in the roof caused it to behave this way?? That's clearly a design flaw for sure. Will check this when I get home...
Not that I have any other "non led light" in my home, guess I will try it outside then... :-/

Just Checking to make sure it solved your issue. I can literally enable and disable mine instantly by turning on an off the light

rubbernglue · Apr 29, 2020

Hmm mine is not that instant, suddenly (it seems) it becomes that way. Perhaps the meter is more sensitive to your roof lights than mine.

rubbernglue · Apr 29, 2020

I suppose we could mark it as solved if that is needed. I suppose roof lighting has changed significant enough for a 20 year old design to have some flaws in that regard.

Ken562 Johnson · Mar 20, 2021

rubbernglue said:
I don't understand it's behavior recently. It seems to be metering some "semi-ambient" mode when trying to meter a wireless flash - it gives me a reading and then it starts reading ambient light the very next second. Sometimes I can flash twice and it "sees" the reading and starts reading ambient light again.
When triggering the flash by wire all works perfectly well and the reading stays after flash is fired.

Have I triggered some strange setting somewhere or why did this happen?

Anyone but me having this problem??´

I had a similar issue. E-6 and E.u readings in an outdoor patio setting surrounded by led party lights. After reading other comments to this question, I retired my lights indoors and VOILA!!! the problem disappeared and the meter works fine. Hooda thunk!?!? Thanks to all who contributed. Hope my experience adds to the knowledge base. Blessings!

Sirius Glass · Mar 20, 2021

BrianShaw said:
For posterity, please amend the title to “user error”. No sense leaving the blame on the meter.

The technical term is Operator Assisted Failure [OAF]. Usage: "The OAF did that."

Sekonic L-358 issue

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