Studio Lighting MEGA-101

Hi

Im new to studio photography but I do have some knowledge in lighting

techniques since Ive worked in t.v. and in film. However I have some questions

about equipment. I recently purchased a stobe kit, the sekonic L-358 light

meter, and I?m using the canon 300D camera, with an OLD vivitar flash (I know).

Now before i purchased the light meter, when ever I take a picture the aperture

and the speed settings that I had to use, were displayed in the in-camera light

meter as under-exposed. However the photos came out lid. Is this normal when ur

using a flash and a strobe kit. Will this happen with the light meter.

I?M A MESS Hoping to un messify my self :D

Any help will be greatly apreciated. THANX!

Your in-camera meter will not show the correct exposure, at any time, when using studio strobes. The flash of light happens when the shutter is open so the meter can't see it.

<Chas>

The previous answer is right on.

The other thing you asked about is whether or not your Sekonic will have the same issue. The answer is: No, not if used with a sync cord in FLASH mode. A sync cord does just that, it syncronizes the meter to detect light when the strobes fire and record that reading.

Light meters work in two ways, primarily. AMBIENT and FLASH. The meter in your camera is an ambient meter. Your handheld meter will do this as well, if so equipped. It works just like you are accustomed to with TV work. Meter the scene, make adjustments to the light or to your camera.

In FLASH mode, the sync cable comes in to play. The meter has a little round connection for a PC SYNC cable. Your lights have a connection for PC SYNC as well. With the cord connected, your meter becomes the master. By pressing the READ button, it fires the strobes. It records the scene. Just like any other time you are setting up a shot for TV, meter placement is key to what you are trying to accomplish.