Light meters: Do you use them?

[AxxisPhoto]

Question for everyone:

When shooting models(even outside with fill), products, commercial, etc, anywhere you have control of the lighting, do you use an actual light meter?

I have a Polaris light meter that I would never start a shoot without! Just wondering, as I never really rely on the histogram for exposure. I guess this comes from shooting film for so many years before moving to digital.

If you do: what kind do you have, how many functions, etc.
If not: why not.

I'm curious to hear everyone's opinion on this! Thanks.

[Coastwatch203]

I always use my Seconic L758DR light meter.
-(when i can, and im in control of the light)

I found it has always been far more "trustworthy" than using a histogram alone - particullarly when 'modeling" with light.

The 758DR is overkill, the 358 is cheaper and does as good a job, but im a sucker for more gimmicks on stuff that you never end up using. lol

I think it is far more important to use a light meter now with digital than with film.

Reason being that there is much less room for exposure error with digital than with film.

I use mine for basic and spot metering mainly, - I think in its many other functions it can make coffee, shake and pour a martini as well as tell jokes to models, - but i havent worked out how to use those functions yet, :)

Jason Cole uses one all the time for light metering - get his DVD its great!

[AxxisPhoto]

I was only asking as it seems there is a lot of exposure discussion using only the histogram. Thanks.

[hawk911]

might be the cost- the 358 is ~$250 or more. Not everyone can afford the extra gear. chimping is free.

[airfrogusmc]

Yes....

I have a couple of very old Minolta 4 flash meters that are still working great.

[RandyMN]

I always use the light meter when using controlled lighting. I have Minolta IV that has been around since the mid eighties, and also a newer Minolta VI.

Today's camera meters have gotten so complicated with using zones, focus points and evaluation formula's, that it becomes easy to rely on them too much in doing the thinking for you. I don't trust my camera meter when I selectively focus on a point and then recompose, so it's much easier to calculate tricky exposures with a separate meter.

However, 90% of my exposures still rely on the camera meter, but that's because things are constantly changing and I feel the camera can out think me.

Histograms are a good alternative if you have time, but I prefer using those tools more during PP than during the original exposure.

I do very little chimping just because it interupts shooting and in times of bright light it's difficult to see much any way.I will do a quick verfication of exposure to make sure nothing obvious is wrong and then move on.

[Jon Foster]

I don't use one but it's only because I don't have the extra cash for one yet. The Seconic 358 is on my list of must have items to get.

Jon.

[Yola]

Unless , I was in an interior placement .. yes I would use one . I dont use one exterior unless I have lights and flash .

They are important .. too use never the less.

[Mark_Cohran]

I use a Sekonic L-508 when using studio flash. When shooting outside, I might use as a spot meter in the lighting conditions are very difficult, but usually I rely on the camera's meter, the histogram and either manual settings or EC.

[AxxisPhoto]

might be the cost- the 358 is ~$250 or more. Not everyone can afford the extra gear. chimping is free.

I hear that. My Polaris meter cost me $150 a few years ago. The only thing it does not have on it is spot metering. I hope to upgrade to a Minolta or a Sekonic one day.

[Karl Johnston]

In situations that merit, like once in a lifetime shots, then i'd justify buying one. Until I start shooting exploding meteors burning up in the atmosphere and girating over my head at a distance of 200 feet from the ground, however, for now I just play by eye. Its fun that way.

[Coastwatch203]

In situations that merit, like once in a lifetime shots, then i'd justify buying one. Until I start shooting exploding meteors burning up in the atmosphere and girating over my head at a distance of 200 feet from the ground, however, for now I just play by eye. Its fun that way.


LOL, - youd want to be able to use a meter very quickly under the circumstances you described!! - :rolleyes:

I can see the after image now........squished by flaming meteor, with only an arm sticking out, holding a Sekonic manual.......

Now to photograph that image I would definatly use my light meter!
LMAO :D

[SYS]

For controlled light shooting in my basement studio, I use the Sekonic 758DR. For non-controlled light shooting, I mostly use the camera meter and histogram.

[airfrogusmc]

In my opinion good reason to use a meter is to get your lighting ratios right before you start shooting.

[AxxisPhoto]

In my opinion good reason to use a meter is to get your lighting ratios right before you start shooting.

Thanks. I live in Oak Park also. Where are you at?

[airfrogusmc]

I'm on Garfield....YOU?

[AxxisPhoto]

I'm on Garfield....YOU?

Kenilworth and Madison.

[FrankieG]

Hi everyone

I usemy light meter more and more because I don't truly trust my camera meter or histogram. Yes the histogram and meter are there for a reason but if you learn to trust them your images will all look the same and your knowledge of light will diminish. I highly recomend getting a light meter and learn how light really works. You will be amazed by your images when you do.

[DigitalSpecialist]

I rarely shoot a photo with out using a light meter. But that is because of my original training in photography!

[flipstyle72]

might be the cost- the 358 is ~$250 or more. Not everyone can afford the extra gear. chimping is free.


what he said...chimping is free.:p But I'll probably pick one up sometime, I just never really felt a need for one all that much. Too much other gear I want that's on the list ahead of it.

[sydev]

Sekonic L358.

You need to keep a hand-held meter in your bag all the times if you are a pro. Not because camera meter is less accurate or incorrect. But because it reads differently.

When the bride's face is under-exposed and the groom's, over-exposed, the camera meter still did a good job as it was built for. It is the photographer's fault to misuse the meter.

[rmd photography]

I use a Sekonic l-558 and agree with all reasons listed above. Metering is more balanced and accurate with it. I can meter off a white shirt vs a tan skin to aviod blowouts...ect.

[Merlyn]

Chimping the histo and doing test shots is OK,but I always use a meter (308s) it gets you in the ball park quicker!!:)

[j2photography]

So....

How do you use the light meters? I saw one of the main shooters use it at a wedding one time. I actually held it for a group shot. I remember him saying something like "tell me when it reads 5.6" or something along those lines, and eventually it did.

What was he doing and how do these light meters work? I usually just go off the histogram....

[myfx]

Can anyone tell me if the canon 5d,(not mark II) has a built in light meter. I want to study photography and they request that i have a camera with a built in light meter. Good possibility that i may purchase the 5d, but before i do, i just want to make sure.

[shooterman]

Can anyone tell me if the canon 5d,(not mark II) has a built in light meter. I want to study photography and they request that i have a camera with a built in light meter. Good possibility that i may purchase the 5d, but before i do, i just want to make sure.Yes.

[kenwood33]

The answer is depends. I used light meters 90% of the time before, but as I accumulated more experience, I can estimate what settings to use based on where the lights are positioned. In addition the shots that I do are fairly simple and involve 2-3 lights. So nowadays I just take a few test shots and adjust settings based on histograms.