Suggestions for a good ambient/spot meter for landscape work?

Michael Mutmansky · Feb 9, 2022

Folks,

I'm going to put back together a film system for some uses (medium format, 617 and probably a 6x6 as well) and I want a good quality Sekonic stype spot/ambient meter that I can use, but I don't have any need for any flash balance or other flash synching capabilities...

So, I'm looking for recommendations on a (used, I'm expecting, since theor current meters are all really much more capable than I need) Sekonic meter model that I can get that will ba a solid performer. Looking at the CameraWiki site, it looks like the ideal one would be the L-558 model which was only recently discontinued.

Does that sound about right to people or is there somethign I should know about that meter or a different one that would make a better choice?

BrianShaw · Feb 9, 2022

Not picking nits, but I think the L-558 was discontinued about a decade or so ago. It has evolved about 2 generations since. No matter, it is a very competent meter that does everything. I've been using mine for about 15 years. Like you seem to be intending, I don't use some of the "advanced features" much at all. But when flash metering is needed it is nice to have it.

I think it is a fine choice that will not only serve your needs but do so for a long time. The thing I like about it as an option to the beloved Pentax digital spot meter is the memory and averaging function. A graphic understanding of the dynamic range is provided, plus an average exposure to be considered. so, yes... that sounds about right to me!

abruzzi · Feb 9, 2022

I use the Sekonic 508. It does 1-5 degree spot and incident as well. I paid $150 but I think they more commonly go for about $200. The Sekonic's drawback is it doesn't show you anything through the viewfinder, so you point, take your reading, then take it from your eye and look at the main LCD to see the reading. You can also store two readings and view three on the aperture scale (two in memory and the current reading.) So I use that the record the darkest and lightest spot in the image (which gives me the range of shades) and the last reading is on the subject so I can see where that fits in the range. I don't do zone system, so that is sufficient for me.

If you don't need/want incident, also consider the Minolta Spotmeter F, which is also quite nice.

BrianShaw · Feb 9, 2022

abruzzi said:
The Sekonic's drawback is it doesn't show you anything through the viewfinder

That's the beauty of the L-558 and later models. They show the reading currently being taken in viewfinder. If the reading button is held, it shows the reading for whatever the meter is pointing at, giving a quick impression of dynamic range. There is even a way to make it show, in the viewfinder, the difference in EV at a resolution of 1/10 stop. It's a very capable meter for scene evaluation.

Sirius Glass · Feb 9, 2022

I use the Sekonic L-308S for reflectance and incident readings with f/stops or EVs [I have never used the flash reading & I do not know how] and the Pentax Digital Spot Meter.

abruzzi · Feb 9, 2022

BrianShaw said:
That's the beauty of the L-558 and later models. They show the reading currently being taken in viewfinder. If the reading button is held, it shows the reading for whatever the meter is pointing at, giving a quick impression of dynamic range. There is even a way to make it show, in the viewfinder, the difference in EV at a resolution of 1/10 stop. It's a very capable meter for scene evaluation.

yeah, the Minolta has that as well. It can display the measured f stop, EV value, or brightness difference from the previous measurement in 1/10 stop increments, and like the 558, if you hold the button in, it keeps updating as you move it around. Its really a nice meter, but the only reason I use the Sekonic more is the Sekonic allows me to get lazy and fall back to simple incident. I'd love a later Sekonic, but even used, they're pretty pricey.

Michael Mutmansky · Feb 9, 2022

Thanks folks...

Back in the day, I had one of the Zone VI modified Pentax spot meters and for other shooting purposes (flash), I had a Minolta F spot meter and an old IIIF ambient meter... Near the end, I dropped the Minolta and it passed away, so I bought a Sekonic 508 I think. I was a bit worried that buying another 508 may be putting money into a pretty old meter now and that may be a problem for reliability... hence the thinking of the 558.

I'll look into the other meters mentioned a bit here as well. I do want the ambient dome for times when that approach would be a bit more useful, but I will mostly be using it for the spot capabilities.

Michael Mutmansky · Feb 9, 2022

Oh, and let me say... damn, the prices on the used Sekonic gear are seemingly insane. I guess because the new version is backordered everywhere on the planet it seems. I wonder if this is a chip shortage casualty.

I don't really like the look of the modern (l-858) meter. I suspect it is a battery hog and I think I would prefer the older style unless there is a compelling reason to buy a new one. They are going for a real premium on Ebay for new ones out of Japan. Crazy.

BrianShaw · Feb 9, 2022

Oddly, the L-558 held its value quite well over the years. It never really became “more affordable “. But worth every penny…

Chan Tran · Feb 9, 2022

Michael Mutmansky said:
Folks,

I'm going to put back together a film system for some uses (medium format, 617 and probably a 6x6 as well) and I want a good quality Sekonic stype spot/ambient meter that I can use, but I don't have any need for any flash balance or other flash synching capabilities...

So, I'm looking for recommendations on a (used, I'm expecting, since theor current meters are all really much more capable than I need) Sekonic meter model that I can get that will ba a solid performer. Looking at the CameraWiki site, it looks like the ideal one would be the L-558 model which was only recently discontinued.

Does that sound about right to people or is there somethign I should know about that meter or a different one that would make a better choice?

I guess you meant Spot and Incident meter rather than Spot and Ambient meter.

Craig75 · Feb 9, 2022

Personally I'd see if you can get by with meter / spot metering app for your phone first.

My own experience is that is way more than good enough for landscape work.

$5 and Yr good to go

ic-racer · Feb 9, 2022

Got a 558 and really like it.
Top Of The Line 1-Degree Meters Don't Support "Zone" Metering??

TheFlyingCamera · Feb 9, 2022

You might be able to find a good deal on a Sekonic 408 - it's an incident/reflected/spot/ambient/flash meter. The only real downside is the spot meter is not a 1-degree - I think it's a 5-degree but I could be wrong. I have two of them, actually... very robust little meters, weather-sealed, and not much bigger than the 308. One I have that I bought new back in the mid-1990s. The other one I bought maybe 10 years later. Both still run great, and use 1 AA battery, so if it goes bad on you, no matter where you are you can find a spare.

Alan Edward Klein · Feb 9, 2022

I've been using my old micro 4/3 digital camera for the last two years. If you're, interested, I'll tell you more about it.

abruzzi · Feb 9, 2022

Michael Mutmansky said:
I was a bit worried that buying another 508 may be putting money into a pretty old meter now and that may be a problem for reliability... hence the thinking of the 558.

My 508 is a little worn, but still perfectly reliable. I checked eBay and that one has gone up as well, but can be had for $300 on eBay, but thats less than the $500 that the 558 is selling for.

Michael Mutmansky · Feb 9, 2022

I was poking around the Sekonic site and discovered that they have some of the older meters in their product comparison page still:

https://sekonic.com/compare/

So, you can compare the specs of a bunch of the older ones to the newest one.

I noted a few differences in some of the models. The most significant being that the L-858 appears to have lower reading capabilities (ambient down to EV-5 whereas some of the others are EV-2 and spot is EV-1 vs. EV1 for the older ones). That might be a compelling enough reason to go for the newer one. At least the new one uses AAA batteries, so that shouldn't be a hassle. However, I dislike the loss of the jog button/knob on the newest model. Loss of almost all buttons, actually.

Much to think about I guess...

Michael Mutmansky · Mar 4, 2022

To finish this conversation out, I ended up getting a 758-D meter. They are pricy right now but the older ones aren't much cheapter and will be older, so I figured getting the newer meter might make sense. It uses the same battery as one of my cameras, so no problems there. It is the last of the traditional meters that Sekonic made before going to the touchscreen interface. I detest those things in general use and would much prefer physical dials over a screen with no tactile feedback, hence the 758 model.

Overall, it seems great and hopefully will be with me for the next 15 or more years. I'd be nice to be able to calibrate slide film and pring film through the calibration process that it uses, but I'm not sure there is any direct way to do it. I think I could develop an approach based on my zone system experience. It'd be great to be able to do that straight in the meter. The one thing I think it is missing is the ability to include a reciprocity failure adjustment... That's a bummer, as it would have been easy to do using a lookup table. I guess a printout of a reciprocity table will be needed, as I have used with film since the beginning.

Suggestions for a good ambient/spot meter for landscape work?

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