Handheld light meter

I would need some help picking a handheld light meter. I'm looking for

a very portable incident/reflected + flash meter, probably in the

$200-$250 range (new, not used). I narrowed it down to Gossen Luna Pro

Digital F, Polaris, Sekonic Flashmate L-308, and Minolta IVF. Gossen

looked like a very good choice untill I noticed that its flash synch

tops out at 125. If I understand it correctly, this may affect

metering flash+ambient light reading. It also has incident dome

positioned in a not-so-convenient location. OTOH, it has a very cool

bar graph showing contrast range of the scene. Polaris seems to fix

all shortcomings of the Gossen, but it has not contrast range

metering, and has lower sensitivity. Seconic is very similar to

Polaris. Minolta IVF has it all, but comes is physically much bigger.

 

Any help from people with experience using either of this models will

be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

Ed.

Ed, I would highly recommend the Sekonic L308. I have owned 2 of them (the first one was destroyed on a shoot) and it has been equal to any meter I've ever owned. I always travel with 3 meters, but the L308 gets the most use because it's small enough to put in my pocket, very simple to use, and as accurate as any of my larger meters.

 

I have owned Minolta Flashmeter III and IV, and had major problems with both. I'm baffled by the popularity of Minolta meters because I know a couple of other pros who have sworn them off because of the same accuracy and reliability problems I experienced.

 

Gossen makes good meters, but your thoughts about the odd placement of the dome are right on the money...it's very awkward to use in many situations. I had a Luna Pro F for years.

 

I have never used Polaris, so cannot comment on their products.

 

In my opinion, Sekonic currently makes the best meters available.

I don't have anything to say about Sekonic meters, since I've never used their flash models. However, I currently have a Minolta Autometer IV-F and a Minolta Flashmeter III. The IV-F has served me well for several years of professional work. I have had the Flashmeter III in regular use since 1981 and it has always given me the utmost in reliability and precision. It went back to the factory for repair one time, about 10 years ago. I recommend Minolta highly.

<p>The best placement for the dome and sensor depends on whether you most freqently take incident readings (using the dome) or reflected readings (dome moved aside). The Sekonic L-308 has the best setup for incident readings and the Gossen the better design for reflected readings.</p>

<p>I played with the Sekonic L-308 for a couple of minutes in a store. It had exactly the functionality that I use, and no more. The ergonomics and design were excellent. I figured out how to use every feature within 30 seconds without asking questions or reading the manual. It is small and light. It felt comfortable in my hand and would fit easily in a pocket. I was so impressed I almost bought it, even though I do not need another meter.</p>

<p>The Minolta IV F has more features, but I would choose the L-308 over it because it is much smaller and lighter and I can do without the extra features. I find the ergonomics of the IV F good, but the ergonomics of the L-308 even better. I have not tried the Gossen model you mention. It may be as good, I do not know.</p>

<p>I suggest you play a little with each and see which feels most natural to you. Avoid meters with more features than you need.</p>

I've got a Sekonic (408) and have produced perfect exposures with it. Studio flash - with and without cord, outdoors, reflected, incident, spot. I am quite happy with Sekonic. Quite versatile and intuitive. They have a pretty good website for addl info, FAQ, and someone on hand to answer questions.

I own the Polaris light meter and have consistently had good results

with it. Exposures are always right on, it's easy to use, comes

with a better warranty than most other meters, etc.

I have no experience with the Polaris. Once had a Minolta III, which was wonderful but large, and took batteries that weren't normally available late on a Saturday night before a Sunday shoot (which is when they tended to die.) I gather the new ones have fixed this particular problem.

 

Lots of nice things have been said about the Sekonic 308, and for good reason. I have one and agree it's very nice - small, light, cheap (relatively) and intuitive. BUT it has two characteristics nobody has mentioned yet and that cause me to leave it behind more often than not. First, it times out fairly quickly and does not remember the last reading when turned back on. Second, it takes about two seconds to come on (it does a battery check at each turn on.) Two seconds may not sound like much, but I find it very annoying, and forgetting the last reading adds insult to injury (so to speak.) This is not to say the meter's no good, just that it's not perfect for me.

 

If I were in your position I'd probably get the Gossen, based on my experience with an old Luna-Pro SBC and a Multi-Pro, both of which have done yeoman duty when called upon, but are a bit large and heavy compared with the currently available models. The Luna Pro F apparently also takes the Gossen variable angle attachment, a fairly cheap narrow angle (15 and 7.5 degrees) device that allows somewhat selective ambient and flash readings at a price quite a bit less than most true spot meters. I find it quite handy, and you can leave it at home when you don't think you'll need it (although it's fairly small and quite light.)

 

When I don't need flash I much prefer the Quantum Calculight XP, which is also small, light, cheap and intuitive, remembers the last exposure, and has a calculator dial, which I like.

 

Why not try to find a store that has several of the models you're interested in and see which one feels best in your hands?

 

Best of luck.

 

Cheers,

Kip

Have used the sekonic, gossen and currently use a minolta IVF. They are good meters but the minolta proved to be IMHO the more consistent and acurate as it does always read right at the sun test. The others needed some adjustments from time to time.

I just purchased the Sekonic 308BII Flashmate. Works just GREAT!

 

Ray

I have used the Sekonic L-308 for several years and have always had great results. It's pretty rugged too - I've dropped it and stepped on it during shoots and it keeps on ticking.