Light Meters - Kenko vs Sekonic

[Karl C]

I did a search and read a lot about the Sekonic L-358, which appears to be a great light meter. Doing an online search, I see Kenko also offers light meters.

Does anyone have experience with the Kenko KFM-1100?

Thanks

[Richard_Miami]

It would appear that they are the Minolta meters re-appearing as Kenko.

Article here: http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=NewsDesk_Internal&article_num=041107-6

As I understand it, the Minolta meters have been very well regarded.

[Wilt]

Minolta once held the pro meter market and had very strong following among hobbyists. The KFM-1100 is the same as the Minolta Autometer IVf or Vf (not sure which one), which was one step down from Minolta's top pro meter, and was purchased very heavily by both professionals and amateurs. The price that B&H has for this meter is a bargain compared to the B&H price for the Minolta brand meter 15 years ago (in absolute dollars, not adjusted for inflation!) The Sekonic 358 enjoys the advantage of features over the Kenko due to 10-15 years more time in evolution! But the Minolta/Kenko is a perfectly fine meter even without those things (like PW radio option). For $30 price difference (at B&H) seems to make the Sekonic a better deal for dSLR users, since it has avaialability of 1/3 f/stop increments (or 1/2 stop) whereas the KFM-1100 is limited to 1/2 stop increments.

[gkas]

I wouldn't assume that the Kenko is made with the same quality as the Minolta used to be. I would surely pay the difference for a proven product.

[Wilt]

I wouldn't assume that the Kenko is made with the same quality as the Minolta used to be. I would surely pay the difference for a proven product.


It could even be made to a higher standard! No one knows (except the company executives)

[Karl C]

I checked KEH for the Minolta meters and they're more expensive than a new L-358. Having 1/3 stop capability is important so I wonder why Kenko didn't design their meter with that functionality, especially since the Minolta's offered that. The L-358 is the better way to go.

Thanks for the help.

[Wilt]

They 'copied' an existing design! No intellectual value added, just a name silkscreened onto the front! I have to check my Minolta Autometer, but I do not recall that it had 1/3 EV increments!

As I said, the Kenko price today is lower than the price of the Minolta Autometer was 15 years ago, and the KEH price is (surprisingly) as high for used as you could buy them new! Film cameras did not have fractional EV shutter speeds at your fingertips, and the mechanical lenses only had 1/2 EV increments on the aperture control ring, so 1/3 EV increments on a meter was pointless back then!

[Karl C]

They 'copied' an existing design! No intellectual value added, just a name silkscreened onto the front! I have to check my Minolta Autometer, but I do not recall that it had 1/3 EV increments!

As I said, the Kenko price today is lower than the price of the Minolta Autometer was 15 years ago, and the KEH price is (surprisingly) as high for used as you could buy them new! Film cameras did not have fractional EV shutter speeds at your fingertips, and the mechanical lenses only had 1/2 EV increments on the aperture control ring, so 1/3 EV increments on a meter was pointless back then!

My bad, thought I read a spec that indicated the Minolta's had 1/3 increments.