Sekonic light meters..

bherg · Jul 6, 2006

Hello ..

Im about to get me a new and abit more modern light meter.

I have looked on the sekonics and decided to get one of those. But what is the diffrence betwen them all. There are Flash masters, zoom masters, cine master, dual master and so on......

I do not use flash that much, but i want to have it in my lightmeter if i do.

So i want an allround meter. for spot, reflective, indicient (sp?) and flash.

Any kind person who could explain this mystery?

Cheers Johannes

Lopaka · Jul 6, 2006

All depend on what kind of shooting you do. For general still photography, my primary meter is zoom master (L-508). It does general incident reading, flash reading and has a zoom spot meter that zooms in to 1 degree. I think there are a couple of versions of this - one has a pocketwizard transmitter chip so you can fire flashes remotely - if you also by the pocket wizard radio triggers (not cheap). I don't think you need the extra $ for this unless you are going to do a lot of flash with multiple lights. (mine doesn't have it)

Mine has worked fine for a number of years - uses a single aa battery.

Bob

Charles Webb · Jul 7, 2006

Regardless of your seldom use of flash, it would be good to have the capability. Might even lead to using flash more in the future. It has proven itself to be an asset rather than a liability.

Charlie....................................

arigram · Jul 7, 2006

I have the L-558 which has everything a lightmeter could possibly have in. From spot, to radio triggered flash metering and its also easy to use.

Lopaka · Jul 7, 2006

Charles Webb said:
Regardless of your seldom use of flash, it would be good to have the capability. Might even lead to using flash more in the future. It has proven itself to be an asset rather than a liability.

Charlie....................................

Good point.

There have been some changes in the features since I bought mine. MAC (USA Mamiya distributor) distributes both Sekonic and Pocketwizard in USA and I am given to understand that thier influence led to the marriage of Pocketwizard technology with Sekonic flashmeters.

To clarify - flashmaster does incident ambient and flash, but no spot meter. Cine incorporates features for videography. Dual master is the current term for the combination meter L558R which does incident ambient, flash and has a spot meter (zooms to 1 degree). The literature says it also will measure % of light from ambient vs flash at various settings when you test flash. My older version (L-508) doesn't do that trick (does flash or ambient). Sounds like a winner to me. There is a more expensive version of the L558 that incorporates cine features as well.

Bob

Nick Zentena · Jul 7, 2006

If you want one meter to do everything the 558 is about the only choice IMHO. The 358 if you don't need spot mode.

michaelsalomon · Jul 7, 2006

I own the 558 and have no complaints, it is my second sekonic meter, the first being the 358, no problems whatsoever. Keh.com has a good price on the 558 if youre interested.

Mike

bherg · Jul 7, 2006

I made my decision on a 558 Dual master, and bought one. I should have it in a couple of days.

Thanks for all the advices...

Cheers Johannes

NikoSperi · Jul 8, 2006

bherg said:
I made my decision on a 558 Dual master, and bought one. I should have it in a couple of days.

Thanks for all the advices...

Cheers Johannes

Good choice; I love mine. One piece of advice though, always keep spare battery for the thing - Murphy will dictate when it dies, and it dies very suddenly.

Daniel_OB · Jul 10, 2006

bherg
for that (558 seconic) money you can get all new Gossen Starlight form BH. If you can you better off cancel order and get Gossen.

Dave Parker · Jul 10, 2006

Daniel_OB said:
bherg
for that (558 seconic) money you can get all new Gossen Starlight form BH. If you can you better off cancel order and get Gossen.

I have a 558 and never had any problems with it, just as accurate as the Gossen, I think he will be quite happy with it..

R.

Nick Zentena · Jul 10, 2006

Daniel_OB said:
bherg
for that (558 seconic) money you can get all new Gossen Starlight form BH. If you can you better off cancel order and get Gossen.

The Starlight is 30% more money.

Helen B · Jul 10, 2006

Daniel_OB said:
bherg
for that (558 seconic) money you can get all new Gossen Starlight form BH. If you can you better off cancel order and get Gossen.

Daniel,

Could you explain why you recommend the Starlite (sic) over the L-558? Is your recommendation based on experience of the two meters?

Thanks,
Helen

Chan Tran · Jul 10, 2006

If I am not mistaken the Starlight is significantly more expensive than the Sekonic L-558. On the surface they offer about the same features. I do like the Starlight better but really can not positively recommend it over the sekonic.

Daniel_OB · Jul 10, 2006

I got a new Seconic and took it home for the test. It was close to be fine in gray and white. However color sensitivity was the reason I returned it the same day. As I can remeber the biggest problem is red. Also retractable dome disappointed me too.

Gossen starlite can be taken as reference meter on the whole spectrum, for reflected light, with no problem, and the same can be said for some more Gossen meters (e.g. old LunaPro, and very old Leica MR Matra meter (CDS) for Leica M cameras which is made by Gossen). I just do not know how they managed CDS to be so good on different (LunaProII) colors but I guess it is also up to electronic.

Chan: Leica and Nikon has also similar features (visible) but not similar invisible features.

HB what is (sic)? Is it stands for silicon?

Chan Tran · Jul 10, 2006

CDS actually has better color response then silicon. Silicon is always very sensitive to IR and needs filter to response properly.

Helen B · Jul 10, 2006

Daniel_OB said:
...
HB what is (sic)? Is it stands for silicon?

To save you looking it up in a dictionary, here is what the OED has to say:

sic // adv. (usu. in brackets)
used, spelt, etc., as written (confirming, or calling attention to, the form of quoted or copied words)

Best,
Helen

Daniel_OB · Jul 10, 2006

Chan, how meter is made is to manufacturers and meters designer and it is not photographers buseness. Photogs have to use in the proper way as a part of the personal system, and there are only some basic thinks about meters design that photog "have to" know, as how to set switches, color sensitivity, view angle, ... but what is under the cover and how the switch is designed I do not care. All I care about is to get my neg as I want with no surprise.

On the very end the best meter is one you own and you like, no matter price. Just learn its photographis properties and you can correct it when time comes to use it. If it shift two opening on red, what is a problem if you know it. But one need time and knowledge to "meet" his meter. That point is a problem to many.

Chan Tran · Jul 10, 2006

Just tried to give some answer to your comment on how the old CDS meters responded very well to color. I think your argument on having the starlight over the sekonic is a valid one. I don't own either Gossen or Sekonic meters so I don't really know. I only have Minoltas and I am quite happy with them.

HerrBremerhaven · Jul 10, 2006

You guys lost me a bit on the Red response aspect, so here are some questions. Are you referring to a reflected or spot metering? If you are referring to red response of an incident reading, is that an issue of setting sun redness, or of metering red gels on strobes? Something else like red filter usage on the lens, or filter factor? Thanks for some incite.

Ciao!

Gordon

Chan Tran · Jul 11, 2006

Daniel, I am interested in finding out the color response of my meters. How would you go about doing that?

bherg · Jul 11, 2006

Daniel_OB said:
bherg
for that (558 seconic) money you can get all new Gossen Starlight form BH. If you can you better off cancel order and get Gossen.

I bought my Sekonic New for 189 £ The gossen is 340 £..

So there are a substantial diffrence in price. And i need the money for my new large format camera.

I think i can stand the Sekonic 558 Dual master

Cheers Johannes

Quinten · Jul 12, 2006

Not sure about the type, but I use one of these seconics with spot, incident and flash modes.

It doesn't really work in low light, when exposures are around a second or longer you'll have to be really lucky for the thing to give a reading. So for tripod photography I have to bring my digital nikon as a light meter wich feels a bit stupid having such an expensive light meter at home. Maybe gosson or such are better with this?

HerrBremerhaven · Jul 12, 2006

I can use my Sekonic L-358 for long night exposures. Quite often those would be two to four minutes, or somewhere near that. One thing that helps is to remove the incident dome and replace with the fresnel (name wrong?) piece. That gives roughly a 50º field of view, though is actually a reflective reading. I do this primarily when using E-6 films with my 4x5, when I want the accuracy.

Ciao!

Gordon

PhotoBob · Jul 12, 2006

Sekonic Light Metres

Hi
I've used the L-408, 508 and currently am happy to own and use the L-608.
This recent metre allows for zoom spot metering amidst a whole bunch of other features.
I find it very versatile and useful for me in my work.
Perhaps visit the Sekonic website and compare the different metres, looking for one that will meet your particular needs.
In the end, you'll have to decide which one is best for your photography.

Sekonic light meters..

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency