Light Meters?

Does anyone have any recommendations regarding an entry level light meter for a hobbyist photographer?

I do mostly indoor macro and still life. I won't ever be doing portraits.

I use continuous light, flashes or strobes depending upon the circumstances.

I'm looking for something reasonably priced that will do both incident and reflective.

Look for a gently used sekonic L358. It's a workhorse and a real bargain. It's been replaced by a newer model but honestly the new version doesn't really add anything

gonzogolf wrote in post #18954525
Look for a gently used sekonic L358. It's a workhorse and a real bargain. It's been replaced by a newer model but honestly the new version doesn't really add anything

Thanks. Ebay?

I will go along with the recommendation of a used L358. The swivel head adds more utility than you might think. Digital controls do not add any utility.

I do like spot meters myself, but setting spot meters aside for a moment, the next practical step up from the L358 would be a meter that reads HSS flash, and that's a big step up.

eBay or the sale forums here would be your best shot. They show up pretty regularly as many strobist type photographers believe they are unnecessary.

gonzogolf wrote in post #18954761
eBay or the sale forums here would be your best shot. They show up pretty regularly as many strobist type photographers believe they are unnecessary.

Yea, I'm in the "why do you need one" camp. I have a couple light meters but haven't used them in years (15 maybe?). It's so much easier, faster, and more accurate to take a test picture, look at the histogram and adjust appropriately. It's not like the old days with film where you had no ides what you had until you developed and printed it. It was so much more important to get it right than with digital today. Set up your shot, click the shutter, evaluate the result, adjust as needed. If your still paranoid, set up and bracketed shot taking several shots with different apertures.

I have owned my Minolta Flashmeter IV for 25 years and will continue to use it on a limited basis. If you use multiple flash head setups, it helps do quick setups and eliminates the need to do multiple shots for chimping. If I were to replace it, the Sekonic L358 or Minolta Flashmeter V would be my choice.

gjl711 wrote in post #18954763
Yea, I'm in the "why do you need one" camp. I have a couple light meters but haven't used them in years (15 maybe?). It's so much easier, faster, and more accurate to take a test picture, look at the histogram and adjust appropriately. It's not like the old days with film where you had no ides what you had until you developed and printed it. It was so much more important to get it right than with digital today. Set up your shot, click the shutter, evaluate the result, adjust as needed. If your still paranoid, set up and bracketed shot taking several shots with different apertures.

Using a light meter still makes setting up multiple lights quicker and more sure.

RDKirk wrote in post #18954906
Using a light meter still makes setting up multiple lights quicker and more sure.

Very true. I design a shoot with multiple lights (on paper) down to the modifier and power - up to a week before a shoot. Set up, tune each light to its power using a meter. Done. Shoot away.

And I keep the design for next time if I need to refer to it.

Angmo wrote in post #18954916
Very true. I design a shoot with multiple lights (on paper) down to the modifier and power - up to a week before a shoot. Set up, tune each light to its power using a meter. Done. Shoot away.

And I keep the design for next time if I need to refer to it.

Yes, that can be done.

Before Minolta decided to withdraw from the light meter business, they were dominant over Sekonic. After Minolta withdrew and Sekonic redesigned its light meter lineup, Sekonic took the role of dominant brand.

IOW, look on the used market not only for meters like the Sekonic, but also the Minolta Autometer IV or V, or the premium priced Minolta Flashmeter V or VI
Most newer photographers today are simply unaware of Minolta brand name because they grew up after the company dropped out of the meter market!

Wilt wrote in post #18956044
Before Minolta decided to withdraw from the light meter business, they were dominant over Sekonic. After Minolta withdrew and Sekonic redesigned its light meter lineup, Sekonic took the role of dominant brand.

IOW, look on the used market not only for meters like the Sekonic, but also the Minolta Autometer IV or V, or the premium priced Minolta Flashmeter V or VI
Most newer photographers today are simply unaware of Minolta brand name because they grew up after the company dropped out of the meter market!

Thanks. My second film camera was a Minolta XG1.

Wilt wrote in post #18956044
Before Minolta decided to withdraw from the light meter business, they were dominant over Sekonic. After Minolta withdrew and Sekonic redesigned its light meter lineup, Sekonic took the role of dominant brand.

IOW, look on the used market not only for meters like the Sekonic, but also the Minolta Autometer IV or V, or the premium priced Minolta Flashmeter V or VI
Most newer photographers today are simply unaware of Minolta brand name because they grew up after the company dropped out of the meter market!

I dunno. Sekonic was "iconic" for cine as I recall 'way back in the late 60s and early 70s. I used a Sekonic Studio Delux back then that I still have, and it still works (although not as light sensitive). I see they're even still available new.

But Minolta was definitely good and worth looking at. My question would be about battery availability.

I still have both a Gossen LunaPro and a Pentax Spot Meter. They were both very popular back in the 70's and 80's and likely in the 60's as well. The battery is a problem for the LunsPro. They have a kit to substitute it but I have not tried.

gjl711 wrote in post #18954763
Yea, I'm in the "why do you need one" camp. I have a couple light meters but haven't used them in years (15 maybe?). It's so much easier, faster, and more accurate to take a test picture, look at the histogram and adjust appropriately. It's not like the old days with film where you had no ides what you had until you developed and printed it. It was so much more important to get it right than with digital today. Set up your shot, click the shutter, evaluate the result, adjust as needed. If your still paranoid, set up and bracketed shot taking several shots with different apertures.

Lol, I have a Sekonic L-328, a very good model I believe, but have not used it in about 20 years.