Light meter question? questions ?

I have never seen one much less used one.Which brings me to my questions,How do you use one.Is there one that works great that is inexpensive.

A basic light meter works by reading incident light (direct light) falling on your subject as opposed to what your camera meter reads which is reflected light.

An incident meter isn't fooled by the apparent reflectivity of an object. The light falling on a black cat is the same light falling on a white cat so your image is correct either way if you meter with an incident meter.
You can choose a Shutter Speed you want to use and see what Aperture you get. You can choose an Aperture and see what Shutter Speed that yields and you can also adjust the meter's ISO setting as needed.

In flash mode, the 358 can read Flash/Ambient balance, Multi-Flash balance and the best part is once you tell it to make a reading, it will wait until the flash goes off, show you the reading and then reset. The "hold" mode is really handy.

I use a Sekonic L-358 which can work as an Incident Meter, A Reflective Meter or a Flash Meter.

I also recommend the Sekonic L-358.

I use my L-358 far more often than I use the meter built into my 20D camera.

GAH! 358... Sorry

For my studio I LOVE the 358. Worth every dollar I paid from my hard earned wages. LOL!

I have the 358 as well. Great meter. I really like the calculating capabilities. It will calculate the ratio of one light to another. This allows you to put together very consistent lighting set ups.

poloman wrote in post #10856704
I have the 358 as well. Great meter. I really like the calculating capabilities. It will calculate the ratio of one light to another. This allows you to put together very consistent lighting set ups.

how do you do this with the 358?

Are they used outdoors ? I guess you get a reading from the meter and then adjust your F/Stop?

Twhit. wrote in post #10859111
Are they used outdoors ? I guess you get a reading from the meter and then adjust your F/Stop?

I know that...but my question is how does the 358 calculate the ratio automatically. I know that this is possible with the L558 and L758 but i didn't know the 358 is capable of doing this.

It is in the manual under advanced.
Set up your first light
With the incident bulb retracted, read the first light pointing the bulb at the light.
Turn off the first light. Press the memory button and the A EV button.
Turn on the next light. Point the bulb at the second light and press and hold the reading button. The display will show you a number indicating the ratio. There is a chart in the manual. -1.5 indicates the ratio is 2:1 with the main light being brighter.
There is a clear description in the book. You just have to step through it a few times to memorize it. Copy the chart and put it in your meter case or camera bag.

poloman wrote in post #10859740
It is in the manual under advanced.
Set up your first light
With the incident bulb retracted, read the first light pointing the bulb at the light.
Turn off the first light. Press the memory button and the A EV button.
Turn on the next light. Point the bulb at the second light and press and hold the reading button. The display will show you a number indicating the ratio. There is a chart in the manual. -1.5 indicates the ratio is 2:1 with the main light being brighter.
There is a clear description in the book. You just have to step through it a few times to memorize it. Copy the chart and put it in your meter case or camera bag.

Cool! thanks. I never thought this was possible with the 358. I used to do this with the L558.

Twhit. wrote in post #10856027
I have never seen one much less used one.Which brings me to my questions,How do you use one.Is there one that works great that is inexpensive.

There are many on the used market that will work great and give you the correct exposure. I have always used Minolta and Gossen meters in the past and now they can be found for under $100. I just sold a Gossen Luna Pro F for $40 that was just as accurate as my new L-358, just with less features.

poloman wrote in post #10859740
It is in the manual under advanced.
...The display will show you a number indicating the ratio. There is a chart in the manual. -1.5 indicates the ratio is 2:1 with the main light being brighter.
There is a clear description in the book. You just have to step through it a few times to memorize it. Copy the chart and put it in your meter case or camera bag.

And it need not be pure rote memory (or always dragging out the user manual), but simple 'comprehension'. (BTW the ratios in the table in the user manual are about 'source intensity ratios' (incident light) and are not about 'subject contrast ratios' (reflected light) which is influenced by the relative positioning of lights.)

1EV difference is 2x as much light, so source intensity ratio is 2:1
2EV difference is 4x as much light, so source intensity ratio is 4:1
3EV difference is 8x as much light, so source intensity ratio is 8:1