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Light meter for manual cameras


5 years 2 weeks ago #638818 by Kid Prodigy
Hey guys, I have a friend who has just shipped me his old film camera.  100% manual.  LOL this will be fun.  So do I need to buy a light meter or something or can I use my DSLR as a light meter or what can I do to get exposure with out buying a light meter?  
Canon EOS 7D|Canon EF 70-200mm F/2.8L USM |
Canon EF 50mm F/1.4 USM |
(2) Canon Speedlite 480EX II
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5 years 2 weeks ago #638820 by Nikon Shooter
If shooting rock in sand — or other static objects — your DSLR
can replace a light meter but that will be a darn big light meter.

A strategy I wouldn't use especially with moving subjects — by
the time you measure and apply the settings, the action is gone!
Light is free… capturing it is not!
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5 years 2 weeks ago #638826 by Nikon Shooter
I have a Sekonic L-308S Flashmate in my bag
for both studio and location work!
Light is free… capturing it is not!
Photo Comments
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5 years 2 weeks ago - 5 years 2 weeks ago #638837 by GaryA
You should be fine with your dSLR meter.  For a bit of precision ... meter off your hand (palm) or better yet a gray card.  Just make sure your hand/card is reflecting the same light as your subject. i.e. if your subject is in shadow make sure your hand/card is in shadow, et cetera.  If you use your hand, open it up a stop to a stop and a half as your hand is lighter than medium gray. 
There are photographs everywhere. It is the call of photographers to see and capture those images.
www: garyayala.com
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5 years 2 weeks ago #638892 by KCook
Old lightmeters are cheap. See Gossen, Sekonic, and Weston.

retroguy
Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/
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5 years 2 weeks ago #638946 by Kid Prodigy
Cool stuff.  Now are these light meters pretty straightforward to use?  I've never had one before.  What's a good used model to look for.  I'm on eBay and holy smokes there are a lot being sold!  

BTW thanks in advance for the help!!
Canon EOS 7D|Canon EF 70-200mm F/2.8L USM |
Canon EF 50mm F/1.4 USM |
(2) Canon Speedlite 480EX II
Photo Comments
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5 years 2 weeks ago - 5 years 2 weeks ago #638948 by GaryA
Look for a light meter that, at a minimum has reflective and incident readings (most meters do both).  If you're lucky you can score a meter that includes reflective, incident and flash meterings or one that reads reflective, incident and spot metering.  (A Spot meter may be all you need.)

Find a few that interest you and within your budget and toss them up here and all us that use/have used handheld meters will give you our collective $.02.
There are photographs everywhere. It is the call of photographers to see and capture those images.
www: garyayala.com
,
5 years 2 weeks ago #638975 by KCook
I started out with an old Weston. But after a few years I switched to Gossen. The Sekonic are probably Ok, I just couldn't warm to them.

Of course check that the thing is actually working Ok. It's now been many years, and the Gossens (at least) were not real rugged.

Kelly
Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/
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5 years 2 weeks ago #638977 by GaryA
Over the years I've had a number of meters.  The Sekonic Studio and the Pentax Spot were the meters I used most often.  Presently I have a Sekonic L-758DR, which easily handles all my needs for a handheld meter.
There are photographs everywhere. It is the call of photographers to see and capture those images.
www: garyayala.com
,
5 years 2 weeks ago #638986 by John Landolfi
I have both a Sekonic L-308 and a Gossen LunaPro. Both are fine, the Gossen perhaps easier to use.
Look on ebay

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2060353.m570.l1311.R3.TR4.TRC1.A0.H1.XGossen+LunaPro.TRS0&_nkw=gossen+luna+pro+sbc&_sacat=0
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5 years 2 weeks ago #638992 by KCook
My collection includes the LunaPro. In my view it has a major problem - needs a battery! The older selenium type meters (no battery) are dead simple to use. Outside of low light of course.

oldschool
Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/
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5 years 2 weeks ago #639256 by Raymond Z
Easy  answer:  there are a number  of light meter apps that work with your smartphone
Photo Comments
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5 years 2 weeks ago #639257 by GaryA

Raymond Z wrote: Easy  answer:  there are a number  of light meter apps that work with your smartphone


^ That too. 

I had a free one, but then they wanted to charge me a reoccurring rental charge and I said no.
There are photographs everywhere. It is the call of photographers to see and capture those images.
www: garyayala.com
,
5 years 2 weeks ago #639279 by Raymond Z

GaryA wrote:

Raymond Z wrote: Easy  answer:  there are a number  of light meter apps that work with your smartphone


^ That too. 

I had a free one, but then they wanted to charge me a reoccurring rental charge and I said no.


I seem to recall seeing one that had a little bulb hanging out of it.  Then others just use the light meter the smart phone uses.  
Photo Comments
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5 years 2 weeks ago #639289 by GaryA

Raymond Z wrote:

GaryA wrote:

Raymond Z wrote: Easy  answer:  there are a number  of light meter apps that work with your smartphone


^ That too. 

I had a free one, but then they wanted to charge me a reoccurring rental charge and I said no.


I seem to recall seeing one that had a little bulb hanging out of it.  Then others just use the light meter the smart phone uses.  


How does that work?
There are photographs everywhere. It is the call of photographers to see and capture those images.
www: garyayala.com
,

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