what meter

CMoore · May 23, 2016

Those of you That Do carry a meter...which do you use.?
I have always Relied on/Anticipated light via the on-board camera meter.
For you guys with the "typical" 35mm SLR
Nikon F2 .....Canon F1, A1
What meter do you carry outside.?
Do you use it a lot.?
Thank You

MattKing · May 23, 2016

I would hazard a guess that most people who use 35mm SLRs as their primary cameras will use the built-in meters.

While people who primarily use cameras without a built-in meter may use the same hand-held meter with a 35mm SLR as they use with their other camera(s) because of their desire to have a consistent metering approach.

So you may get a lot of answers that reflect people's other cameras.

I tend to use the built-in meters in those of my cameras that have them. I supplement that with several hand-held meters, primarily because I like incident metering.

I have several, because I have too many cameras, and too many camera bags.

For 35mm work, my little Digiflash fits comfortably in the bag.

John Koehrer · May 23, 2016

Usually a Luna-pro F, incident.

Kirks518 · May 23, 2016

Pentax 1° spot meter for large format, and (currently) a Sekonic L-408 for medium format. For 35mm, it's either the built-in meter or the Sekonic if no metering on board.

If you're looking for a good all-around meter, check out the Sekonic 208S. Incident and flash, which is what most folks use/need. I like the 408 as it also has a 5° spot, and I didn't have to rob t Knox to afford it.

Richard S. (rich815) · May 23, 2016

For general everyday B&W work with a decent latitude I'll often go sunny 16 rule and adjust based on my 40 years experience. Or I'll use my iPhone and a light meter app. After trying many I found this one to be simple and most straight forward: Light Meter Free by Clomputing.com https://appsto.re/us/-D5Cy.i

For my more serious exactly working I use a Sekonic L-508. Awesome meter. I've had it for years. A real work horse.

cuthbert · May 23, 2016

I usually use the built in meter, and of course the F1N with its different screens can change the pattern so I would say it's the most useful of them.

Never felt the necessity of a hand meter but I'm not a pro.

ColColt · May 23, 2016

When I'm doubtful about exposure I use the Gossen Luna Pro SBC. CLA'd by Quality Light Metric some months ago it's spot on with known good camera meters. I have four cameras with no meters so, it comes in handy.

michaelorr · May 23, 2016

I keep the SBC in my 35mm kit bag. I use the meter in the camera, though, and the SBC for some intangible security blanket. With roll film, i try to trust the camera meter and judge that the average light is about right or needs a twist of the ex comp. dial in the camera. When i don't feel secure, i bring out the SBC. The cameras i use, manuals all say make a judgement based on scene lighting and make the ex comp accordingly. I really like the ergonomics of using the SBC. A fantastic meter. (i am a self-confessed analog dial obsessive-compulsive).

For large format, i always use a spotmeter. Since it runs on batteries, i keep a Weston V (calibrated by the aforementioned QLM in Hollywood) with incidence (invercone) accessory, in the backpack i carry for this kit. Incidence-ly, i sure like that Weston meter. But i also love to work with the Pentax spotmeter v. Another security blanket maybe, but i try to make sheet by sheet development decisions based on what i record as zones in the exposed scene.

rwreich · May 23, 2016

I use a Sekonic L-398a and I've loved the results. No batteries means it compliments my RB67 and my Nikon S2. I also just picked up a Pentax Spotmeter V, which is really excellent. I have compared the results to the Sekonic and found that they both seem to agree.

shutterfinger · May 23, 2016

In camera for 35mm, Gossen Ultra Spot other formats.

canvassy · May 23, 2016

I use the built-in meter for 35mm cameras that have one. I have a 35mm camera or two without a meter, and none of my medium format cameras have meters. For those I use a Sekonic L-358 that I bought second hand about a month ago.

Alan Gales · May 23, 2016

I use a Pentax digital spotmeter for my 8x10 Wehman, 2 1/4 Mamiya C220 and 35mm Stereo Realist.

None of my film cameras happen to have meters which is fine. I'm used to the Pentax.

CropDusterMan · May 23, 2016

Minolta Flash Meter IV...absolutely awesome meter.

Luis-F-S · May 23, 2016

Alan Gales said:
I use a Pentax digital spotmeter for my 8x10 Wehman, 2 1/4 Mamiya C220 and 35mm Stereo Realist.

None of my film cameras happen to have meters which is fine. I'm used to the Pentax.

+1 on the spotmeter. I have two Zone VI modified ones, the second is a spare! A lot of times, frankly I just use my eyeballs! L

R.Gould · May 24, 2016

only 2 or 3 of my cameras have meters that work, and as they are 40+ years old I prefer to check with my Euromaster

KidA · May 24, 2016

I'm interested in a meter that has pretty much everything that the Sekonic L-408 has (including it's size and slimness!) with the addition of a centre-weighted reflected option. A 1 deg spot meter would be preferred over the 5 deg, and ability to measure closer than 50 cm (seems just a bit too far) would be nice also. I read the instruction manual for this thing and it really seems like something I can work in harmony with if I had the extra couple little things I've added.

David Allen · May 24, 2016

I grew up using Weston meters and I still use a Weston V meter.

I have never used the built in meter.

Bests,

David.
www.dsallen.de

thatguychad · May 24, 2016

Gossen Luna Pro SBC or Luna Pro F.

RalphLambrecht · May 24, 2016

CMoore said:
Those of you That Do carry a meter...which do you use.?
I have always Relied on/Anticipated light via the on-board camera meter.
For you guys with the "typical" 35mm SLR
Nikon F2 .....Canon F1, A1
What meter do you carry outside.?
Do you use it a lot.?
Thank You

Gossen Luna-Star F2 as incident and flash meter;simple and flawless, runs on a 9V block battery

onre · May 24, 2016

Ikophot. The one I have is oddly accurate. We were discussing meters with a friend, he had a digital spotmeter in hand. I went close to a wall, pointed Ikophot at the wall and said "a bit over EV eight". He pointed the spotmeter at the same point, pulled trigger and said "eight point two".

Peltigera · May 24, 2016

I use my Ikophot with my medium format cameras - I have to use the DIN film speed settings as Zeiss Ikon call DIN 21 80 ASA and DIN 24 is about 170 ASA. That is only 1/3 stop out, but I prefer to keep things as good as I can.

narsuitus · May 24, 2016

CMoore said:
Those of you That Do carry a meter...which do you use.?

All my medium and large format cameras do not have built-in light meters.

All my Nikon F2 35mm SLRs do not have metered viewfinders.

All the meters in my M42 Pentax and Fuji 35mm SLRs may work but I never bothered to put batteries in the cameras.

When shooting with meterless cameras or cameras with non-working built-in meters, I use a variety of hand held light meters to determine correct exposures. However, the Gossen Super Pilot is the one I use most often.

Light Meters by Narsuitus, on Flickr

Sirius Glass · May 24, 2016

If the camera has a built in meter, I use it. Otherwise I use a Gossen Luna Pro SBC or Sekonic 308L.

CMoore · May 24, 2016

michaelorr said:
I keep the SBC in my 35mm kit bag. I use the meter in the camera, though, and the SBC for some intangible security blanket.

Not only is your comment "Sig Worthy", but it also fits ME like a glove.
I just recently got back to cameras, and I am still 3-6 months away from my darkroom (light at end of tunnel...!!).........but I have always made-do with the 35mm meter.
Seems like the negatives develop properly when I either follow the meter, or overexpose (maybe over expose a bit... 50% of the time.?). I do not think i have ever underexposed...though I have never pushed film yet either.
Anyway.....thanks for all the replies. As Matt King prophesied, most seem to use the on board meter when shooting SLR 35mm.
Probably more GAS than anything, but I feel like a small hand-held could be useful someday.
Might prevent the loss of a Pulitzer Prize winning B&W slipping through my fingers.....

Jim Jones · May 25, 2016

David Allen said:
I grew up using Weston meters and I still use a Weston V meter.

I have never used the built in meter.

Bests,

David.
www.dsallen.de

I've usually used Weston, GE, and occasionally Norwood selenium meters for the past 60+ years. They are compact, reliable, and don't need batteries. OTOH, they have poor low light sensitivity and are more fragile than all-electronic meters. The meters in Nikon F and Nikkormat cameras were even better when using telephotos.

what meter

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency