Sekonic light meter? L-758DR or L-358

OK I am just getting my new Elinchrom Style RX's setup and now looking for a light meter. I am down to these two meters. I see the 758 is programmable to the camera sensor and I am sure other cool stuff. I have not even looked at the price difference but which one would/should, you/I buy?

It seems the 758 maybe a little over complicated?? but I do want to buy the best product so I won't be upgrading later. This is a small investment compared to all the other stuff I have bought so far.

get the L-358 with the optional PW module...

I owned an L-358 and I now own an L-758DR. Custom profiling is attractive but far from necessary. I'm not saying it doesn't work but think about it.... look at how long photographers have been doing just fine, nailing exposures with a good quality light meter and they didn't have profiling of any kind. I've done A LOT of experimenting with profiling, both with Canon and Nikon and have always concluded that it's cool but far from necessary and not something to drive yourself nuts over. It does not take the place of good metering technique, which is too often lacking.

Other than profiling you have to look at some other features that differentiate the 2 meters. The L-358 will not transmit to and trigger a Pocket Wizard without the $50 option. The L-758DR has the module built-in.

Next, if you plan on doing critical spot metering the L-358 will only give you a 54 degree angle of view for reflective metering and there's a fairly expensive optional accessory you can add to do spot metering but it's cumbersome and can't be put in the case with it mounted. The L-758DR not only has a built in 1 degree spot meter but it also has a very cool viewfinder with an LED display that makes it very easy to use the spot metering function.

There are other cool features in the L-758DR but the gist of it is that if you are looking at those 2 features and deem them as important then it doesn't make sense to get an L-358 and buy the optional accessories because at that point you're already approaching the cost of the L-758DR.

In terms of measuring and metering light (which is the point of the light meter), either will do the job and neither will do it better.

....Everything that Robert said plus....

The L-358 is a LOT smaller than the L-758DR. I find the L-358 much more convenient to use on a regular basis, though I definitely like the improved spot-meter capability of the L-758DR (and thus may get one in the future).

L-358 works fine for me.

Looks like a 358 for me. I need to keep it simple as I have enough to learn about lighting and I have skyports so the PW option doesn't seem to do much for me.

Makes good sense. The L-358 is an excellent meter with a full set of features.

I just recently bought the L-358 and my exposures are always dead for my strobist type work. The optional module is so convenient.

I have a 558R with the transmitter somewhere.. in a box I think. Shows how much I use it.

Also bought the L-358 very recently, and I've been very happy with it. But if you'll need spot metering, the L-758DR is the way to go... if not, the L-358 is a very good option.

If you need spot metering and radio triggering then go for the L-758DR, if all you want is a simple, compact meter then you may want to consider the L-308S - I recently bought some for a new studio after asking around on here and I've found them to be just as reliable as the L-358 for the work that I do.

I got the 358 and I can hook it up to my skyport TX via 6" sync cord to remote(wireless) fire individual groups(1-4) or all lights!! works great.

+1 for the L-358 Cant beat it for the money and build.

It's always going to boil down to your needs, budget and how you choose to balance the two. There is no one right meter for everyone.

cosworth wrote in post #5749298
I have a 558R with the transmitter somewhere.. in a box I think. Shows how much I use it.

If you have the L-558R, the transmitter should be inside the meter unless you went out of your way to take it out.