Light Meter recomendations wanted!

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rhcvatni
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Light Meter recomendations wanted!

Post by rhcvatni »

There's been some talk about metering on other topics and i think it's time to get my first hand held light meter. but what meters are any good for shooting 8mm and 16mm. What should i look out for? Any recomendations are greatly appreciated.
ulrichsd
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Post by ulrichsd »

http://www.sekonic.com/Products/L-398M.html

Here is the light meter I use. I like it. Never used digital though. I bought this one (Sekonic L-398M) on ebay for about $125 USD or so. If that is out of your budget, you can find a ton of light meters on ebay for like 10 or 15 bucks. You have to be careful though as older models that use batteries may use mercury batteries which are no longer available due to environmental reasons. You can get one that doesn't require batteries, but sometimes these are less precise, still probably alright for what most of us are using them for.

Good luck.
Scott
istvan
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Post by istvan »

Hey!
I have the same sekonic! It´ll make quite happy, I ´m sure. It´s good and reliable piece of mechanics, and what´s more (different from any digital meter I´ve seen), you´ll learn more from using it as you have to do some of the calculations and set the dialrings right, etc. A bit like the difference between an all-manual and an electric reflex still-camera. Manual is where to start, to learn - and when it comes to reliability - I doubt many of todays automiatic cameras will last as long as many of the older mechanic models. Talking of it, I still might be dubious as to buying a used one; these are very delicate instruments, and you´ll never know what kind of abhorrent treatment they´ve recieved from their previous owners. Even considering buying a used one should at least imply you have access to a deadsure meter for comparing. (and I don´t work for sekonic, etc.) By the way, the sekonic´s got settings for both still and cine photography; very handy indeed.

Last attempt of persuasal: I saw a current-day picture of Vittorio Storaro on set, with this Sekonic in hand... Ok, I´ll get out of here!

Istvan
mattias
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Post by mattias »

yeah, i've got the same one. it's around $200 new from the world's best camera store, wibergs foto, and they often have used ones for around half of that.

http://www.wibergsfoto.se/

/matt
rhcvatni
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Post by rhcvatni »

Great you guys!!! Thanks alot. you've kind of narrowed down my choices pretty quicly and i appreciate it very much. I'm all for learning the basics and doing it manual too. :D
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