Sekonic L-358 compensation settings

The other day I had an hour or so to kill, so decided to play around in the studio since it's been quite a while since I've had time to do that. I set up a mannequin and a couple of strobes with PWs and tried to get my meter readings with my Sekonic L-358. My images were coming out almost completely black, so I gave up on the meter.

Today I had a little time just before sunset, so decided to test the light meter in ambient light conditions using a Photovision exposure target. I had to adjust my meter by -7.2 to get acceptable results. I was shooting with a 7D, a 17-55IS and also a 135L.

Tonight, I took a reading in my office of some stuff on my wife's desk using the light meter adjusted to -7.2 to see the the results. I attached the shot using the light meter settings and shots of the light meter showing the settings and adjustments.

Sorry for the long story. My question is "Has anyone ever had to make such a large compensation setting on their meter to get acceptable results?"

I haven't with mine. Maybe yours needs recalibration.

I decided to try testing the light meter again today and to use my 5D and 7D to make sure it was the light meter and not the camera. Yesterday when I took these, the sun was going down and the light was changing.

Today I had an overcast sky so had very nice flat lighting that should allow consistent results. After testing with the Photovision exposure target, I was getting consistent results with the 7D and a 50mm f/1.4 lens at -5.4 adjustment. I switched to a Lastolite grey card and used the -5.4 adjustment to get my reading. I then shot with the 7D and the 50mm and then tried the same settings with the 5D and a 135L lens and got similar results. I've included images showing the shot, the settings and the histogram.

Because of the much better lighting today, I think the -5.4 is probably a better adjustment than the 7.2 I was getting last night, but that still seems very high to me. Does anyone know if these can be re-calibrated and if so, would you try to get it corrected for this much of a difference?

Did the iso s match?

Yes, the light meter was set to the same ISO setting and you can see the camera settings in the above images. I was hand holding the camera and the target was in the shade, so I used an ISO400 setting.
Since the meter can be calibrated for 1 stop (mine was set to 0) and then manually adjusted for another 9.9 stops, I'm not sure if this much adjustment is within specs, but it just seems high to me. Since I haven't gotten much response to my questions, I sent an email to Sekonic to see if they could help.

Can't say as I have. Checked the battery? I see it shows good on the display, but . . .

What were your Meter Settings?
What were your Camera Settings?

The battery was replaced recently.

The Loft Studios wrote in post #17083028
What were your Meter Settings?
What were your Camera Settings?

They were the same - 1/125s f/8 ISO400.

Just an observation, the image in the OP of the meter shows it in EV mode... You're not misreading EV for F stop?

I'm only familiar with the L-758, but with my meter that image would be indicating under exposure (the U in the Aperture scale under the shutter speed and EV reading).

TerminalCity wrote in post #17083615
Just an observation, the image in the OP of the meter shows it in EV mode... You're not misreading EV for F stop?

I'm only familiar with the L-758, but with my meter that image would be indicating under exposure (the U in the Aperture scale under the shutter speed and EV reading).

I think that this may well be the answer.

DIP switch #1 in the battery compartment, if turned ON, allows the selection of EV mode with the mode button and jog wheel. If the DIP switch #1 is turned on, then a mistake could be easily made setting the mode.

Hi, I had a simillar issue with my L-358 and my 7D look at this thread:

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1216322

Oh, I just noticed 7.2, my adjustment was only by 0,7 ...

bob_r wrote in post #17083439
They were the same - 1/125s f/8 ISO400.

Then why are you showing us the Meter's screen showing ISO 6400 @ 1/40 sec with an EV of 2.7
I'm thinking that's your problem… You seem to have your meter set for Cine measurement. At least that's what it seems via your illustrations. A proper meter reading should be "EXACT" as your camera.

Meter shows ISO 6400 / Camera should be set at ISO 6400
Meter shows 1/60 sec. / Camera should be set to 1/60 sec.
Meter shows F/5.6 / Camera should be set to F/5.6

TerminalCity wrote in post #17083615
Just an observation, the image in the OP of the meter shows it in EV mode... You're not misreading EV for F stop?

I'm only familiar with the L-758, but with my meter that image would be indicating under exposure (the U in the Aperture scale under the shutter speed and EV reading).

You are so right! I was trying to squeeze in a few studio shots when I had a little time and didn't even notice that I had inadvertently switched the meter to EV. Then when I did have time to look at it, I was just looking at the numbers.

I haven't been shooting at all this summer because of the heat (heat index has been staying well over 100) and didn't take the time to check out my equipment. I'll chalk this up to another senior moment and I've been having a lot of them since I turned 70 a number of years ago.

Thanks for your help, guys and I promise to be more careful in the future.