Do I need a light meter

[rklepper]

I am wondering if a light meter would be a wise investment. I shoot mostly sports, whatever is in season. Right now it is softball, but then into the poorly light gym for volleyball and basketball. I can pick up a Sekonic L-398 for a reasonable price. I am shooting a 30D.

Thanks

[FlashZebra]

Unless you are dealing with situations were you personally affect the light in a complicated way (studio flash, multiple reflectors or flash for ambient light, etc), you do not need a meter.

If you are concerned about tricky lighting, just do a test exposure and check your histogram. This is much faster than careful metering, and if you are not affecting the light, just as accurate.

It seems that you are just showing up and working with the light you happen to have, so your camera's meter and histogram will be fine.

Enjoy! Lon

[deadpass]

light meter debates seem to be up there with battery grips and whether to shoot RAW or jpeg, some people are on one side, some on the other, just depends who you want to listen to.

[cdifoto]

I usually just shoot the grass or floor or something, chimp, and adjust my exposure accordingly. I don't even always use something neutral. I can look at my histogram and guesstimate the number of stops I need to go in either direction for a proper exposure.

[rklepper]

Yes, I am stuck with the lighting that I have. Thanks

Doc

Unless you are dealing with situations were you personally affect the light in a complicated way (studio flash, multiple reflectors or flash for ambient light, etc), you do not need a meter.

If you are concerned about tricky lighting, just do a test exposure and check your histogram. This is much faster than careful metering, and if you are not affecting the light, just as accurate.

It seems that you are just showing up and working with the light you happen to have, so your cameras meter and histogram will be fine.

Enjoy! Lon

[rklepper]

Yes, that is the way that I have been doing it. Just wondered if a meter would help.

Thanks

Doc

I usually just shoot the grass or floor or something, chimp, and adjust my exposure accordingly. I don't even always use something neutral. I can look at my histogram and guesstimate the number of stops I need to go in either direction for a proper exposure.

[rklepper]

Is the debate on if you should use it, when you should use it, how you should use it, etc...?

light meter debates seem to be up there with battery grips and whether to shoot RAW or jpeg, some people are on one side, some on the other, just depends who you want to listen to.

[Wilt]

With the differing levels of reflectivity of different uniforms, it is very valuable to take a meter reading from the sidelines (assuming you are standing in the same type of light as the players), take a meter reading, then set that into your camera on M. While you CAN do that with a handheld incident light meter, you can also do it merely by reading the surface of a grey card with your camera!

[wilflee]

Light meters are good for taking incident readings. For reflective readings, your camera's built in meter is better

If you shoot in areas with fairly uniform lighting (baseball, basketball etc.), simply take a reading off of the grass or the back of your hand (both close to 18% grey) with your camera and that'll do. As for baseball players in the shade, take a spot reading off of their face (skin tone) with your camera and you're all set. They're highly unlikely to let you hold an incident meter next to their face.

If you're shooting in a studio with multiple lights @ different distances and brightness, then multiple readings with an incident meter is necessary to help you adjust lighting ratios.

[Wilt]

If you shoot in areas with fairly uniform lighting (baseball, basketball etc.), simply take a reading off of the grass or the back of your hand (both close to 18% grey) with your camera and that'll do. As for baseball players in the shade, take a spot reading off of their face (skin tone) with your camera and you're all set.

Grass is prettty close. SKIN, however, it highly variable!!! The recluse Irish woman with ghost white skin is one reflectivity, the tanned Barry Bonds (Yes, blacks DO tan!) is another very different reflectivity. Even your own skin is highly variable...after winter is passing you are quite more reflective than if you read your skin after a summer in the sun!