L-358 & 580EX II Off Camera..Need Help!!

Well, another day. I started with the meter, L-358.

I have the lumisphere all they out (dome). I have it set on ambient. I have the ISO at 100, The Shutter priority (T) at 1/500. So I pointed it outside at an object, bright sunshine, & it gave me an f/stop of2.8.I even pointed it to the sky & it gave me 2.8

Now, taking my camera outside, Iso 100, SS of 1/500 in manual mode it gives me a f stop of 7.1.

Am I doing something wrong, or is my meter faulty?

Thanks, Kath

Your outdoor reading seems about right for a sunny day.

With the dome extended the meter doesn't really "point" in one direction. It meters an entire hemisphere. If you're indoors metering through a window, it will need to be right against the window or it will meter mostly the indoor light level.

In auto reset cordless flash mode, you need to press the button on the side of the meter to make the icon blink, and fire the flash within 90 seconds.

I actually went outside. dome extended, & took the reading.

Yup, inside , flashing icon, set the flash off with-in 90 sec.

All the switches inside the back cover are off. Is this correct?

Just for curiosity's sake, try using corded flash mode with the Skyport transmitter plugged into the meter with the short cord that came with the Skyport set.

At this point I'd suggest getting rid of the Skyports and PC cable for testing. Try tripping the flash with its test button.

Tried tripping flash manually, same results.

O.K. Got rid of the umbrella & pointed flash at model, 4' away. SS set at 1/125 flash icon blinking. Meters f/16. Reduced flash power to 1/2 & now the meter reads 8.0. O.K. so that is good. Meter is working correctly.

I will have to figure out what I am doing wrong with the umbrella. White inside, black outside, flash pointed INTO umbrella.. I did try moving the flash farther in & out, which didn't make a significant difference.

Thanks guys, Kath

sunnybeach wrote in post #5027160
SS set at 1/125 flash icon blinking. Meters f/16. Reduced flash power to 1/2 & now the meter reads 8.0. O.K. so that is good. Meter is working correctly.

That's not right. Reducing the power by one stop should have changed the reading by one stop, from f/16 to f/11.

I don't know if anyone can diagnose this further without being there, but something definitely isn't right. Could you take the meter to a local camera shop or a photographer friend to test it against another meter?

You're right! I guess I was so pleased that it was reading above 5.6 that I didn't do the math. Yes, I will take it in next week & see what the problem is.

Thank you guys so much for trying to help me out. It is VERY frustrating.

I'm curious what your dip switches are set to. In the default position (all off), it will give readings in 1/10 stop increments but you haven't mentioned the tenths (the little number after the f/ stop).

f/8 plus 9/10 is very close to f/11.

All the switches are in the off position. I honestly do not remember what the 10th's were.

After I got frustrated, I took out the AB800 & practiced with that. I am getting what I assume to be correct meter readings because the outcome of the shots turned out pretty good for a beginner. I had to adjust the power of the strobe a tad bit though, which I understand is quite normal.

I am thinking that it is just how I had the 580EX & umbrella set up & positioned. I am going to learn some more tomorrow. I didn't think off camera flash would be difficult, but with the 580Ex it sure is for me.

Thanks again Curtis & Titus213 for be so patient with a beginner.

kath

sunnybeach wrote in post #5029980
I honestly do not remember what the 10th's were.

Starting out, it may be easier for you to move switch 3 and 4 to the on position. That will give you readings in 1/3 stop increments to match your camera.

The 1/10 stop increments are perhaps more useful for determining ratios and such, but you do need to pay attention to them. f/8 + 9/10 is a lot closer to f/11 than f/8.

Thanks Curtis, They have been turned on. I will continue to practise & learn.