Are you using a light meter these days?

6 years 8 months ago #536311 by Red Tail
I'm shopping deals on Craigslist and came across a L358 Sekonic light meter.  Does anyone actually use these still these days?  After all, most decent cameras have pretty solid light meters built into them already.  


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6 years 8 months ago #536314 by garyrhook
Um, no. The meter in the camera is looking at the entire scene, no matter the mode (it can't help it). A meter, on the other hand, will measure the light at the point of interest, and that will get you the exposure you should want. Thanks to the inverse-square law, all the light that is away from the subject quickly becomes less relevant.

Google the subject. Lots of information about it. But I think that a meter is handiest when you have time.


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6 years 8 months ago #536321 by effron
Yes, the meter in my cameras....

Why so serious?
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6 years 8 months ago #536328 by Red Tail
Well that's what I thought.  But it's a forum, so I figured it can't hurt to ask you all.   BTW thanks for the answers.   


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6 years 8 months ago - 6 years 8 months ago #536329 by Shadowfixer1
Most use a hand held meter only for flash and strobes.
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6 years 8 months ago #536406 by clbryant1981
I use one when using my strobes. Like was already said, the in camera meter looks at everything, when I'm using a strobe I'm on,y interested in one focal point usually.


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6 years 8 months ago #536493 by effron

clbryant1981 wrote: I use one when using my strobes. Like was already said, the in camera meter looks at everything, when I'm using a strobe I'm on,y interested in one focal point usually.


You can tell most cameras what to look at and how much. I have three hand held meters that still work, haven't used any of them in decades!

Why so serious?
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6 years 8 months ago #536610 by Joves
My meters are pretty much delegated to shelf art, like film bodies. I use Spot Metering, and it actually works quite well. If I am feeling really lazy then it is Matrix. I have learned how to interpret how the meter behaves in various lighting. For flash the good old fashioned Guide Numbers still work.


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6 years 8 months ago #536619 by One Wish
Just the one built into my camera


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6 years 8 months ago #536700 by ThatNikonGuy
I don't use anything other than what my camera spits out at me. 


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6 years 8 months ago #537060 by Red Tail
Yeah, I passed.  Thanks guys.  In terms of accuracy, is the camera metering system on the same page as independent?


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6 years 8 months ago #537070 by srubio77
When I'm working with strobes, yes - but I don't bring it out on location with me or use it outside of that, frankly.


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6 years 8 months ago #537161 by Roman Omell
Just the one in my camera's.  No need for anything else for the work I do.  


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