Sekonic L-358 Question - Help needed ASAP!! Oh noes!!!!

I just got this lightmeter from someone in the buy/sell section. I was hoping to get it sooner so I could spend some time learning how to use this thing. Anyways I have a shoot in a few hours and I'm frantically searching through the book to find out how to use it!!!!!

I can do the shoot without it but I'd like to be able to get some use out of my new investment!

I have the sync cable hooked up to the back of one of my alienbees lights and when I hit the test button my light doesn't even fire the lights, and where the Aperture value should show up it says Eu.

If anyone could give me a quick few pointers that would be AWESOME!!!!!!!

First thing, the Eu reading means "not enough light".

About triggering your lights. You need to be in "cord flash" mode.

Look along the top of the LCD screen. Hold down the "Mode" button and turn the jog wheel until the symbol with a lightning bolt and a little c is highlighted. Now you are in "cord flash" mode.

Hope this helps.

Regards

i 2nd what markap says. also, dont hit the Test light on the ABees, when in corded flash mode, attach the sync cord and hit the measure button on the sekonic. this will fire the ABees AND measure the flash.

Press and hold in the "Mode" button while rotating the wheel until the Flash symbol with the "c" is boxed in if you are using the meter with the cord.

Not sure about your other question.

edit - dang I'm slow

Ha ha ha, Jason.

Guess I have faster fingers. Not that you would believe it if you saw how many times I have to correct my typing.

roeddel, where do you live in Alexandria? I lived in Fairlington at 395 and King street for 12 years. I really do miss Northern Virginia.

Yeah I'm in the [flash Cord] mode, I just ordered the modulator so no wireless yet.

I read in the manual that the =U= (flashing U) means there's not enough light to get a reading and yes I do believe you're right that E.u also means that it's not getting enough light.

I have ISO set at 100 on the meter since that's normally what I use, and shutter is set at 125. Aperture always says E.u

All dip switches on the back are set to -off-

Sync cable is plugged in snug and correctly. I also used my backup sync cord to make sure the cord is the reason my light meter wasn't firing my strobes. I also hooked up my lightmeter to my pocket wizzards to see if I could fire it that way and still no luck.


I was under the impression that when I press the test button on the lightmeter that it should fire my strobes to get a reading. Maybe the lightmeter is broken??

Just found another post that suggests this link. Looks like it will help out.

http://www.eddiebonfig​li.com/L358.html

Regards

Adaptive wrote in post #2890814
Yeah I'm in the [flash Cord] mode, I just ordered the modulator so no wireless yet.

I read in the manual that the =U= (flashing U) means there's not enough light to get a reading and yes I do believe you're right that E.u also means that it's not getting enough light.

I have ISO set at 100 on the meter since that's normally what I use, and shutter is set at 125. Aperture always says E.u

All dip switches on the back are set to -off-

Sync cable is plugged in snug and correctly. I also used my backup sync cord to make sure the cord is the reason my light meter wasn't firing my strobes. I also hooked up my lightmeter to my pocket wizzards to see if I could fire it that way and still no luck.


I was under the impression that when I press the test button on the lightmeter that it should fire my strobes to get a reading. Maybe the lightmeter is broken??

Adaptive,

So far, it sounds like you are doing it correctly. Not sure what other help we can be, but try the link I just posted a moment ago. It was on another thread that got posted about the same time you started this one. Give it a shot.

Regards

yes, Mark! i live off of Duke Street! sorry, a bit OT.

Adaptive, try changing the batteries. i had a problem with my old L-305 (i have the 358 now) and when it always showed EU, the battery was usually low on juice. after the battery replacement, ITS MONEY AGAIN!

also, just wondering ... is the white dome all the way out? or is it recessed??

MarKap77 wrote in post #2890825
Just found another post that suggests this link. Looks like it will help out.

http://www.eddiebonfig​li.com/L358.html

Regards

Nice link

roeddel wrote in post #2890836
also, just wondering ... is the white dome all the way out? or is it recessed??

all the way out

Any luck yet?

try to measure ambient light first. if it can correctly measure ambient but not flash, then its your battery. switch it out with a fresh one and you'll be good to go.

I just tried something and finally got readings that make sense, but still my strobes didn't fire. I used the sync cable with 2 male ends that I use for my pocket wizzard. I found a inlet on the SIDE of the lightmeter. The sync cable plug-in on the front is what I have previously been trying to use.