Spot and flash meter on a budget

[Anupam Basu]

I am in the market for a light meter and would like some recommendations. I use spot metering about 80-90% of the time with my in-camera meters and love the ability to scan a scene to get a sense of the contrast range, so a spot meter would be nice.

But I also want to use it as a flash meter to test out manual multiple macro flash setups. I have little experience with flash metering so far and so amwondering if there are any limitations to flash metering in macro situations (I can compensate for effective aperture etc, of course).

So, are there any spot meters that will also let me do flash/incident metering without breaking the bank - let's say within $150? Or am I better off with two different meters?

Thanks for any suggestions,
Anupam

 

[Nick Zentena]

Do you mean new? The cheapest new one is likely the Sekonic 558 and that's 3xs your budget. If you mean used check out the KEH website. Some of the older models might be in that range.

 

[Anupam Basu]

Definitely used. I know about the new ones - those prices are good incentives for brushing up my sunny-16.

-A

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Take a look and see if you can find a Sekonic 408. It's a 5 degree spot, so not the most refined measuring tool, but it will do ambient and reflected and spot natural and strobe readings, and is highly accurate. It's also weatherproof (don't go swimming with it, but if it gets a bit of rain/mist/humidity around it, it won't go up in a blaze of electronic smoke either). There's one for sale on feePay right now with 2 days left and it's at $100. Someone (I think one of the internet scam(or should I say scum) artists) has one new in box for $319. I'd guess you could pick one up pre-owned for somewhere in the $200 or less territory. I've had mine for over ten years now and been quite happy with it.

 

[mgb74]

It seems to me that the ergonomics of a flash incident meter and a spot reflective meter are so very different that combining the two will be a real compromise.

 

[Soeren]

Well, I have:
In camera Spotmetering (35mm):
Gets lots of use when shooting 35mm.
Seconic 308 Incident light&flash meter:
Used for almost all shots with flash in both 35mm and 6X7 and in icdent mode for most of my MF photography.
Minolta spot&flash meter:
The least used of my meters. Used when I'm in doubt regarding contrast.
I can recomend the Seconic 308 meter. Its small, light and easy to use except in darkness since the display, at least in my version, is not iluminated.
Cheer
Søren

 

[Jerry Thirsty]

Maybe you can find a Minolta Spotmeter F (used)? Here's some info on it:

Dead Link Removed

KEH lists one for $179, in EX condition, but "incomplete", whatever that means. Might be worth giving them a call.