How useful is a light meter?

I am a strobist and often using lights to me is a guessing and trial-error game. Would a light meter take the guessing part out of it?

Short answer: yes

I suggest the Sekonic L-358.

Yes. They're useful especially if you're trying to achieve a particular ratio along with proper exposure. I don't have any links but if you do a google search, youtube search, or visit Sekonic's web site ( I think they have links to videos) you will find a ton of info on just how useful they can be.

paintballkidz wrote in post #14157788
I am a strobist

David Hobby (Mr. Strobist) has made a living with manually-controlled off-camera flash for many years. He can probably setup his lights and guess the output within a half a stop.

After many years of doing that sort of thing every day, you will be able to guess that well, too.

Until that day comes, a flash meter will be your best friend.

Is there a big difference in the cheaper light meters compared to the more expensive sekonic ones

Curtis N wrote in post #14158058
David Hobby (Mr. Strobist) has made a living with manually-controlled off-camera flash for many years. He can probably setup his lights and guess the output within a half a stop.

After many years of doing that sort of thing every day, you will be able to guess that well, too.

Until that day comes, a flash meter will be your best friend.

I agree with this.

paintballkidz wrote in post #14157788
I am a strobist

Is that like being a Baptist?

paintballkidz wrote in post #14158100
Is there a big difference in the cheaper light meters compared to the more expensive sekonic ones

If you're balancing flash and natural light, the ability of the 358 and better units to tell you the flash percentage of the exposure can be useful. The swivel head is more useful than you might think, too.

Honestly, though, I think these days you can get by with chimping.

Never used one and don't plan to. It's no different from shooting manual in available light really.

Grendizer wrote in post #14158205
Never used one and don't plan to. It's no different from shooting manual in available light really.

yes, only if you mean that you shoot with no modifier and cant adjust the power and can not move the sun back and can set ratios and you dont have a meter in your camera

if that is all true then yes

Found a L-358 at a local pawn shop for $150 and I wont leave home without it now. Love it!

Hehe, I feel like Ive been posting this a lot lately.

http://www.frankdoorho​f.com …all-people-that-are-word/

Until I got one in the form of the Paul Buff Cyber Commander, I always thought they were unnecessary and overpriced. I felt confident metering in most situations and get maybe within a stop most of the time and adjusted from there. But once I began using it, I quickly learned how useful it is and took a lot of guesswork out of the process.

Short answer: Once a skeptic, now a believer.

Let me start by saying, I'm an amateur photographer who has been shooting for about 2 yrs. I have recently finished watching Zack Arias' One Light Workshop, David Hobby's Strobist DVDs, and some workshops from Sly Arena. Zack stated he carries one in his gear bag but rarely, if ever, uses it. David mentioned something similar. I don't specifically recall Syl's comments regarding carrying a meter.

Yes, they are able to make great initial guesses at what the flash settings should be, but those are also just starting points and they do usually adjust from there by 1/3 to 2/3 of a stop, sometimes more. David now criticizes people who use light meters; specifically the anal retentive type that measure every 3-ft to the 10th of a stop. He went on to say that once he stopped using his meter it was very liberating, allowing him to be much more creative; to step away from the technical details and start seeing light creatively. All of them now use their camera as a meter; either by pointing the camera at a scene, or taking a picture (in David's case it's usually his hand) and looking at the image and the histogram - yes, chimping.

All of that said, yes, I do think light meters are excellent tools and they are great at what they do. But are they really necessary? I'm not yet convinced... then again, I'm not being paid to shoot either

asamimasa wrote in post #14159266
Until I got one in the form of the Paul Buff Cyber Commander, I always thought they were unnecessary and overpriced. I felt confident metering in most situations and get maybe within a stop most of the time and adjusted from there. But once I began using it, I quickly learned how useful it is and took a lot of guesswork out of the process.

Short answer: Once a skeptic, now a believer.

I do use this as well. It's just the right cap to the entire CyberCommander system.