uses for a Sekonic L-558R?

[mike774u]

Well I ran across what I felt was a good deal on the Sekonic L-558R, so I bought it. Now sitting here playing around with it I have no clue what I will be using it for until I decide which studio set up to go with.

I was hoping maybe some of you all can help me with some uses for it. Do I need to go buy a kit of pocket wizard transmitters/receivers to make this a useful gadget? Is this mainly a useful tool when using my tripod and studio lights? Do I need to fire my flash at it to get an accurate reading? Should my camera readings and the light meter readings be close to the same? These are just some of the answers I am looking for that I figured I can't seem to find in this manual due to I doubt they expect someone to be stupid enough to buy one without knowing really how to put it to use...lmao @ myself.
Thanks for any good suggestions/pointers anyone can give me. Guess I am off now to try and figure out exactly what this thing can do.
Mike

[PacAce]

The Sekonic L-558 is not just for studio use. You can use it anywhere you use the camera and that includes indoors and outdoors. Basically, what you're going to end up doing is replacing your internal light meter in the camera with the Sekonic so you need to set the camera on Manual mode and just rely on the Sekonic for the light reading. The advantage the Sekonic has over the internal meter (I see you have a 10D) is that you can get acurate spot meter readings with it. You can also use it to get incident light readings which is much more acurate than the reflectance light reading you get with the camera. And, no, the light meter and the camera will not always give you the same readings. When they differ, I would go with the external light meter reading, unless, of course, you're not really sure how to work the light meter yet.

In a nut shell, when using the light meter, use it in incident reading mode whenever possible. If not, and when faced with a difficult lighting situation, use the spot meter mode.

Having said all that, the use of the light meter may not always be practical, though, in a non-controlled environment.

Have fun with your l-558. :)

BTW, if you don't mind my asking, what kind of a deal did you get on it and where? ???

[snibbetsj]

Well, you could go practice spotmetering some landscapes :D :D (Only partially kidding here)


Seriously though, I use my meter only in the studio for setting the flash ratios/exposure. Your in-camera meter is not capable of doing this since it is not controlling the flash. I still use my sync cord to fire the flashes from my meter. You should have a sync cord plug on the meter to hook up the cord. Then you can fire the flashs and check exposure. PWs are the greatest for this since you don't have any wires running/hanging around but are not essential (just very nice, they're on my list of things to buy).

Use your meter in the flash mode, set the shutter speed to 1/160 or 1/200, and fire the flash, the meter will calculate the f-stop needed for a good exposure at that power level. Change flash power settings until you get the f-stop you want. Then set your camera to that reading and you will have a good exposure. Your meter and camera should be right on together, there is a procedure to calibrate your meter to your camera in the manual. I consider them necessary for good studio work.

:)

[snibbetsj]

Ahhh PacAce beat me to it. Oh well, post count continues to rise very slowly. :D

[mike774u]

BTW, if you don't mind my asking, what kind of a deal did you get on it and where? ???
Ebay of course...LOL There is a company that sells "educational" ones. I paid $399 for it.For me that was good..$100 less than everywhere else I was seeing them for. It comes with the same 3 year warranty. I could see no wear in it at all. So I am happy with it. Now I just have to figure out how to use it.
Have fun with your l-558. :)
Thanks A lot I am use I will once I figure it out :) . I guess the real fun will be once I decide on which studio light set I buy. Thank you for your tips and explanation to the uses of this neat little gaget.

Mike

[mike774u]

. Your meter and camera should be right on together, there is a procedure to calibrate your meter to your camera in the manual.:)
Now should I try doing this not really knowing what I am doing in the first place? If I just learn to trust the Sekonic shouldn't my pictures still turn out ok even if the little scale inside the camera says it will be off? I have tried a couple of pictures and the meter does seem to do a good job.I just need to also figure out which settings and how to use which one on the 550EX. One reason I always try and buy good is so I can never blame my equipment. I know the reasons my pictures sometimes come out messing up is due to me just not knowing what I am doing. This whole photography hobby is a lot more complex than I had anticipated. It is keeping me entertained though trying to learn it all. My poor little Fuji 4700 sees no light of day anymore though.

thanks,
Mike

[snibbetsj]

Mike,

When you shoot in the studio, you should be in manual (M) on your camera. The in-camera meter will tell you that your photo is going to be underexposed because it doesn't know you're going to be using the flashes. Use the setting from the lightmeter and you'll be fine. My Sekonic L358 is actually off by about 1/3 stop consistently so I've just learned to compensate, e.g. if I want an f-stop of f8, I'll set the light power so the meter reads f9 and my camera at f8 and the exposure will be correct. Hope this clarifies things.

[mike774u]

Hope this clarifies things.
Yes it does, Thanks you. I am so tempted to go on and order these Alien Bees. I want to start learing this so bad. this is getting addictive. First it was the 70-200 then I had to have the 24-70 then the Sekonic kinda came along and now I am wanting the studio lights... gezz thats a lot of shopping all in one month :rolleyes: