FS: Sekonic Speedmaster L-858D-U Light Meter - $500

$500 includes shipping. Add $15 for PayPal. Local pickup in Houston, TX avoids PP fees.

If you're looking at this you most likely know what this Light Meter is capable of. This is Sekonic's top of the line meter. I'm an event photographer, but thought I would see use for this meter with the more studio work I've been doing. However, I have not used it enough to justify keeping it. Basically brand new, has barely been taken out of the box. $599 new, but you get it $100 off just because of my impulse buy. Price includes shipping. Besides the normal light meter functions, Here's some of the main specs over that the 858 can accomplish over other meters:
- Flash Duration Measurements - Understanding flash duration is the first step in freezing fast-moving subjects.
- Radio Control Modules for Wireless Triggering - The L-858 Speedmaster Pro expands upon ground-breaking innovation by adding functionality for Elinchrom Skyport and Phottix Strato II/ Ares II users
- Increased Light Sensitivity - An additional 3-stops of light sensitivity for incident light, 2-stops, for reflected light (spot), and an ability to capture a reading down 0.1 lx of Illuminance
- HSS Flash Measurements - Finally, photographers now have an accurate way of measuring their lights when they want to overpower the sun or achieve a very shallow depth of field through using HSS
- Flash Analyzing Function - Measures ambient and flash simultaneously and automatically indicates the percentage of flash in the total exposure

Full specs can be found here: https://www.sekonic.co​m …ts/l-858d-u/features.aspx

I bought the same one. It's very good.

Not to talk you out of it but I was told by many buy the best you can afford and then keep it forever.

Great price too... I paid retail for mine.

Talley wrote in post #18692621
I bought the same one. It's very good.

Not to talk you out of it but I was told by many buy the best you can afford and then keep it forever.

Great price too... I paid retail for mine.

If there isn't interest I may keep it. I know at this price it would go in a heartbeat on Ebay. Just haven't found the need to use it. I don't find myself getting any better exposures than when simply eyeing it.

Do you have any resources for learning some of the more advanced features? I would like to at least look those over to see if I'm using the meter correctly. YouTube hasn't been very helpful.

I use it less now that sony has the preserve highlight function. I would use the incident to hit areas I wanted to expose properly. Some people are better using their eye than others but I seem to always have difficulty because I like my LCD screens bright so my eye balling always seem to be underexposed. I found it helps me balance lights and I don't have to guess. For a 2 light setup for main/fill I get it perfect with the meter without even guessing. Unfortunately I work a ton of hours and so when I do shoot I don't have time to be playing around with settings and chimping.

Talley wrote in post #18692635
I use it less now that sony has the preserve highlight function. I would use the incident to hit areas I wanted to expose properly. Some people are better using their eye than others but I seem to always have difficulty because I like my LCD screens bright so my eye balling always seem to be underexposed. I found it helps me balance lights and I don't have to guess. For a 2 light setup for main/fill I get it perfect with the meter without even guessing. Unfortunately I work a ton of hours and so when I do shoot I don't have time to be playing around with settings and chimping.

That makes sense. I have my screen and EVF set right in the middle, which seems to mimic my monitor pretty well and work with the built in meter. Right out of the box they were both turned up to the max and I found myself missing a lot of exposures. But since turning them down I haven't had any issues eyeing it.

Good luck with your sale! I had mine up here and on Craigslist. I got some many ridiculous offers and annoying "buyers" that i ended up taking the ads down and keeping it. One dude was asking all sorts of questions then said that it was out of his budget but for $250.00 (with the Pocketwizard module) he would take the meter and show me how to use it properly and that his knowledge would pay me back way more than the loss... LOL. Why would I need someone to show me how to use something that I am selling and won't have anymore?

PJJ205 wrote in post #18692703
Good luck with your sale! I had mine up here and on Craigslist. I got some many ridiculous offers and annoying "buyers" that i ended up taking the ads down and keeping it. One dude was asking all sorts of questions then said that it was out of his budget but for $250.00 (with the Pocketwizard module) he would take the meter and show me how to use it properly and that his knowledge would pay me back way more than the loss... LOL. Why would I need someone to show me how to use something that I am selling and won't have anymore?

haha. he was probably just trying to distract from his low ball offer.