Sekonic Light Meter Advice??

[Poisson Du Jour]

As an amateur currently without a meter, the L-308 is very tempting for its small size. But I admit that I feel a strong pull from the L-758 so that I can easily do zone-based metering, esp. for scenes with distant highlight/shadow subject matter (landscapes or otherwise). This is further reinforced by an urge to venture into large format sometime in the moderate future.

Question for those with an L-758: how well does it fit into a coat pocket, both size- and weight- wise? Strangely enough, I've had a hard time finding photos of it that give a proper sense of scale and the photo shops I frequent in the Seattle area don't seem to carry it.

The L758, while expensive and feature packed, can be overwhelming if you're flustered, in a hurry and forgot to clear your previous settings. It is valid for the reasons you point out (reflective spot metering along the Zone System) and will be undeniably useful in large format.

Regarding weight, it is a little 'bottom heavy' but comfortable even in small hands and it's various protrusions (namely the rotating lumisphere head, eyepiece and spot metering lens, preclude it from easily slipping into even a decent sized shirt pocket (mine is stored in a padded foam cell in turn carried in my LowePro Trekker AW outer pocket). If you mean slip it into a trenchcoat pocket, it will feel quite at home in there; you'll know it's there from its just-mentioned weight (268gm with battery). Together with ditching the way too long lanyard supplied with the meter, I have attached a 30.5mm UV(N) filter on the spot meter lens; I didn't like the idea of that lens being unprotected. I fashioned a small 'hood' to push over the lens from a discarded toilet roll with the inside painted flat black.

Can't find a pic, hmm? It's possible the L758D has been discontinued in favour of the L758DR (equipped with remote radio triggering = extra cost). Check out that model, if nothing else, on the Sekonic website under Products.
The L758 can frequently be found on eBay at great savings.

 

[nemo999]

Whatever happened to Gossen spot meters? Are they defunct? Does Pentax still make the spot meter or is Sekonic the only game in town? Thanks.

Jerold - Badger still sell the Pentax Spot Meter (http://www.badgergraphic.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=871)
I love mine - light and easy to use
Martin

The Pentax Digital Spot Meter is certainly a well-made and accurate tool, but it really should be called the Pentax Analog Spot Meter With A Big Viewfinder Display. A press of the button captures a reading in the viewfinder which appears as a large number (the only digital part of the meter). You then have to transfer this reading manually to the external dials, which are calibrated in very small figures in drab colors. The meter works fine, but ergonomic it ain't.

 

[Martin Aislabie]

The Minolta range of meters was taken over my Kenko

Robert White sell them - http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/products.asp?PT_ID=439&P=Kenko-Light-Meters

Personaly I am unsure about how much technology I want my meter to have

I want it to meassure the light - and I want to work our the rest - that way the wonderful technology these meters possess don't get in the way of me working out the zones and exposure options

Or am I being a techno luddite (again!)

Thanks

Martin

 

[benjiboy]

If you are considering the Sekonic 758 Martin, and want a zone system capability with spot metering, have a look at the top of the range Gossen Starlite meter, it's about the same price as the758, and is powered by a single AA battery

 

[Windscale]

I have used a 308B for some 20 years and I wouldn't go anywhere without it. I have also bought a 308S recently so as to have a spare. It is the same size as the B and the two gave a same reading under the same lighting. These have all the functions I need and they are so compact.

 

[Frank Bunnik]

I bought a 758-D this year for about 250 euro from Hong Kong. Excellent meter. I have used a combined Sekonic before but sold that older model last year thinking I would not need it any more for almost the same price as it happend that I bought this new one.

The older model has never let me down, it always worked without any problems. Thus the reason that I bought another Sekonic.

 

[John W]

Can't find a pic, hmm?

Thanks for the detailed info. I've found plenty of pictures, just few that give a proper sense of size. Just as how online product shots might mislead the unwary into thinking that a Mamiya RZ67 was about the same size as a Rollei or Hasselblad 6x6 camera. Similarly, I find it hard to relate measurements on a website into how a camera/meter/etc. will feel and work in hand.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

[...]I find it hard to relate measurements on a website into how a camera/meter/etc. will feel and work in hand.

First impressions — mine at least — are "that's big!". And it is. It travels everywhere with me: today I was in the car down near the coast and happened across a scene of old row boats tied up that took my fancy; whipped out the L758 and made 8 spot and 3 incident readings. The scene is bedevilled by strong spectrals and bright whites — ideal fodder to evaluate before returning with the cameras.

 

[jamusu]

Still haven't purchased one yet, but plan to do so in the near future.

Jamusu.