Light Meters, Question/Vent

[MichaelBernard]

Someone I know remarked to me earlier that she didn't think I was warranted in upgrading from a 20d to a 5d because I haven't "fully learned" any of the cameras I've had before (rebels->20d->5d). When I asked her how the hell she could possibly tell me what I have or have not mastered she responded, "You don't even have a light meter... All of the photographers I know have one"

This irritated me to no end..but it got me wondering if a light meter really does make or break a photographer. In your opinions should every photographer have one?

[equetefue]

it doesn't. You never see a PJ stopping in the middle of a battlefield to check the settings with the Sekonic

[matonanjin]

Someone I know remarked to me earlier that she didn't think I was warranted in upgrading from a 20d to a 5d because I haven't "fully learned" any of the cameras I've had before (rebels->20d->5d). When I asked her how the hell she could possibly tell me what I have or have not mastered she responded, "You don't even have a light meter... All of the photographers I know have one"

This irritated me to no end..but it got me wondering if a light meter really does make or break a photographer. In your opinions should every photographer have one?

Why on earth would you let this bother you?

I have one. I use it all the time. But I am from film days and that's what I am comfortable with. It's what's right for me.

I don't know about all the photographers that she knows, but I know a lot that don't use one.

Tell her she is an idiot.
Tell her to judge photographers on their work, not whether they own a piece of equipment.
Make your decision whether or not to upgrade on your needs, no someone else's opinion.

[tsw910]

thats a big hell no ... light meters can be very useful in certain environments or type of shoots .. but it definitely does not make or break a photographer !

[MichaelBernard]

it doesn't. You never see a PJ stopping in the middle of a battlefield to check the settings with the Sekonic

I told her this. She just kinda scoffed it off. Meh whatever her friends are fairly successful and she is uber-neurotic. I wasn't letting her or anyone decide my upgrade needs/choices, I just wondered what the consensus was amongst photogs.

Just proves the point that you shouldn't feed the models.

[JackLiu]

Built-in lightmeters in todays DSLRs are most efficient and effective for just about all shooting events. IMO there is no need for a handheld exposure meter. However, flashmeters are a different animal.

[number six]

I've had a Gossen handheld meter for about 40 years. I use it once or twice a year - as an incident light meter.

As a reflected light meter it works just as well as ever, but it's nowhere near as useful as the camera's meter plus histogram.

In Ye Olden Dayes some medium- and large-format photogs would use a Polaroid back to fine-tune exposure after taking handheld meter readings. A great idea, but too expensive for me.

Now I have a histogram with blinkies - much better.

If I didn't have my Gossen I wouldn't buy a new one - except, as Jack says, for flash. That would be handy. Might get one...

-js

[Jon]

I have two, or maybe three. I virtually never use them; 99% of the time all I need is the camera's meter set to Evaluative. I dig out the Sekonic L-358 if I need to meter flash, but most of the time I'm using E-TTL flash so I don't need it for that either. The L-358 and L-98 both do incident, when I need that (which isn't often either). And the L-28's got a housing for use underwater with the Nikonos.

If the 20D is lacking in some feature that would be valuable for your preferred photo style it doesn't matter how thoroughly you've learned every last nuance about using it. If the 5D offers that feature, and you will be using it regularly, it's time to move on.

[JAZZ D.P.G.]

Move quick and get a good deal! L328 for sale in sell forum.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=735042

Now you'll be a professional shooter :-)

Next time you get this kind of stuff, ask for a full technical explanation of their opinion. Usually empty talk, no value to it. Still very annoying.

[mattograph]

I think all aspiring photographers should use and learn an incident light meter as they develop their skills. Used ones are cheap.

Its amazing what you can learn when you force yourself to get out from behind the camera and learn to think about the light.

Equally amazing is how fast you will learn what the light is doing, internalize the knowledge, and be ready to put it on ebay.

[MichaelBernard]

Thanks for the support guys, it really made me feel better about the whole thing.

[neilwood32]

I think all aspiring photographers should use and learn an incident light meter as they develop their skills. Used ones are cheap.

Its amazing what you can learn when you force yourself to get out from behind the camera and learn to think about the light.

Equally amazing is how fast you will learn what the light is doing, internalize the knowledge, and be ready to put it on ebay.

I dont think that really requires a light meter- just an awareness of what is going on around you.

It should be fairly easy to decide what the light is doing once you have a basic set up dialed in and adjust from there. Sunny 16 rule is a good one to have in the back of the mind.


So long as you are aware of clouds/weather, it becomes fairly routine to dial a setting without really thinking about it or requiring to check the metering.

Oh and with regards to the OP - no a light meter is definately not a requirement these days!

[Naturalist]

I have always used one so I must be a good photographer - time to upgrade my camera? lol

[mattograph]

I dont think that really requires a light meter- just an awareness of what is going on around you.

It should be fairly easy to decide what the light is doing once you have a basic set up dialed in and adjust from there. Sunny 16 rule is a good one to have in the back of the mind.


So long as you are aware of clouds/weather, it becomes fairly routine to dial a setting without really thinking about it or requiring to check the metering.

Oh and with regards to the OP - no a light meter is definately not a requirement these days!


In the interest of full disclosure, I have never used a meter outside. All my meter work took place inside, where I did indeed learn a great deal Shooting a session of white seamless probably taught me a semesters worth of information in two afternoons.

and, to neilwood -- certainly you can do more with a DSLR today than you could many years ago. But an LCD is not a replacement for understanding the basics of light, nor is a guideline designed to help you get started a hard and fast way to determine proper exposure. Take a quick look at your own flickr account. The first page alone provides several examples of how a simple rule like Sunny 16 can betray you. Don't take this the wrong way -- I'm just saying that its not always easy. Its okay for the OP to invest a little effort in becoming better at his craft.

[MichaelBernard]

I've noticed that I'm developing a "gut" for lighting situations. I'll see the clouds, or the light and know what settings to have my rig at (ballpark) then work from there and the meter readings on the camera itself. I'm going to pick up Understanding Exposure as I hear that is an awesome book to have in one's collection.