Sekonic L188 Meter readings off

[Chan Tran]

strange; Gossen fixed two of mine for just €50 each.

Which Gossen's and also perhaps they want to make you happy. You're a celebrity of source.

 

[runswithsizzers]

too long, don't read - illustrated version available <here>
I used a Gossen Pilot 2 for many years. When the Pilot 2 finally became unreliable, I wanted my new light meter to have a dial too!

My first replcement for the Pilot 2 was a Sekonic Twinmate L-208. You should probably look at that one because it is one of the few modern*, small meters with a dial. However, I didn't really like it. My main objection was, the dial would often rotate if bumped, or when I put it in my pocket. Sometimes (like when taking notes) I want to see what my last reading was. (* by "modern" - I mean silicon cell)

Next I tried the Gossen Luna-Lux SBC (known outside of the USA as Lunalite). This gorgeous chunk of German tech was much more solid than the Sekonic Twinmate L-208, but also much bigger. If you want small, this is not for you. Or me, either.

I am presently using a Sekonic L-308s Flashmate. No dial, not sexy like the Gossen, but considering size, cost, accuracy, reliability, and ease of use - for me, it's the most practical. I use it for incident readings almost exclusively, and the top-facing placement of the dome is more convenient for over-the-shoulder incident readings than the front-facing domes of the Gossen meter. It is also easy to take a reading with one hand (the dial-types can be operated with one hand, but not as easily). The L-308s pictured on my webpage is shown in an optional blue rubbery sheath which makes feel nicer in the hand, but also makes it harder to slide into a shirt pocket, so you might want to skip that accessory.

Never buy any light meter untill after you have made sure batteries are commonly available. The L-208 uses a common coin-type battery, the Luna-Lux SBC uses a 9V, and the L-308s uses an AA battery. Good luck.

 

[benjiboy]

As a "rule of thumb" accuracy check use "Sunny 16", set the I.S.O on the meter at 100 and the shutter speed at 1/125 sec. point the meters incidental light receptor at the sun on a cloudless bright sunny day, and adjust the meter until it reads f16.

 

[gone]

I used to own a Sekonic L308s Flashmate. Very accurate, but you had to point it like some sort of Star Trek communicator device. It needed to be held like you would a cell phone, not a regular meter. People in buildings would get a worried look on their faces when you held it like that and aimed it in their directions. It just didn't work at all for me. The little Pilot meters are great, but not that accurate in low light.

I gave up on this meter and sent it back. Then I bought a Sekonic Micro Leader. It also is several stops off, and not linear either. The first meter had been described as "TESTED", and the second said it was "TESTED and ACCURATE". Oh well. At least I got refunds, but had to eat the shipping charges back.

For the present I'm using the Leicaflex with Sunny 22 metering (Arizona), and studying the camera to see what's involved in taking the top off to see if the little contact tab in the battery chamber could be repaired/replaced. That repair job looks way, way beyond my skill set. This camera is built more like an expensive gun than a camera. The tolerances are amazingly tight, and after all these years, and w/ apparently no service, the shutter appears to be on the money, even the 1/2000 speed. When KEH gets a smallish meter w/ a dial like one of those Twinmates, I'll buy one from them.

 

[Arvee]

momus, have a look at one of these; I have a couple of these (a Toshiba and one rebranded Sears) that are small, inexpensive, accurate (CdS so good low light response) and operate on the cheap 675 hearing aid batteries. They're not well known but well made and do the job nicely.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/233531997941?hash=item365f977ef5:g:looAAOSwQC9ecmcu

 

[Kino]

Grab a used Luna Pro for about $30 on Evilbay. They are cheap and rugged.