Sekonic L208 Twinmate meter - available in the US?

[giles_poilu]

I hope someone can help. I am trying to obtain a Sekonic L208 Twinmate, and seem to remember in a previous 'meter' thread someone having one. I usually use a 308 but am looking for an even smaller, simpler 'Weston' style meter for occasional use.

 

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They don't seem to be imported to the UK, can anyone tell me the price and recommend a helpful US dealer who would export one to the UK by standard airmail?

 

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Many thanks.

[philip_woodcock]

I can't answer the question but I thought I'd just ask you how you're

finding the 308? I bought one a few weeks ago and I've only managed

to use it a couple of times and only as a flash meter and I was just

wondering how it fares as an ambient meter

[sait_akkirman]

This is not an answer to your plea, however, last year, I had the

same thought. Tried the L208 at the dealer and decided to stay

with the L308. In other words I would recommend trying it before

buying it say mail order. It is small but its is also FAT ( in the

pocket). IMO it is also slow to use and feels quite fragile. Happy

hunting.

[sait_akkirman]

Answering Philips question, I bought the L308 several years

ago as a back up meter to a Minolta Flashmeter IV, and it is now

back up for L508. If I am walking the streets with a Leica than it

is the only meter I carry. I have dropped the L308 from belt

height on to asphalt several times (unintentionally) and it seems

to serve without any problems. IMO it can be used confidently for

both reflective and incident readings, either in the studio or on

the streets.

[giles_poilu]

Phillip, The 308 is a handy meter but I miss the 'instant' view of

all speed/aperture combinations that my old Weston Selenium meter

used to offer. In terms of ambient use I have found I need to be

very careful with the angle of the dome to avoid incorrect readings.

A few degrees this way or that can alter the reading by a full stop

or more.

 

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Sait, thanks, how much are they?

[jay_.]

I bought my L208 Twin-Mate from B&H about a year ago. Try their

website www.bhphotovideo.com. It was $169. Great little meter,

narrow reading angle (like a 90mm lens), with a shoe mount and a lock

button so you take a reading at eyelevel and can therefore aim the

meter using the 90 framelines.

[giles_poilu]

Thanks Jay, I thought it may have been you who mentioned it once in a

Voigtlander meter thread. I checked the website and they are $149 -

to be honest I thought it might me much cheaper, the L308 is cheaper

here on the UK!

[sait_akkirman]

Giles, by now you know how much they are, I also thought at the

the time that it was expensive for what it is.

[msitaraman]

Giles,

 

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Sekonic meters (marketed by the same guys as Mamiya) are MUCH more

expensive in the U.S. than in the U.K. I tried looking for a 208 by

mail order in the UK but gave up-in any case, I ended up getting the

308.

 

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The 208, though small, is fat-much fatter than the small selenium

cell meters still marketed by some manufacturers (the ones with the

analog dials and the slide on incident blinds that measure from above

EV 4 or so). It is about the lightest weight meter I've seen, on the

other hand. Pity they did not make it any slimmer.

 

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Try emailing Cathay Photo in Singapore for a non-US price quote.

 

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www.cathayphoto.com.sg

 

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If I can, I'll get you the contact fax numbers of a couple of Hong

Kong retailers. They usually have the lowest prices on the planet for

this kind of stuff.

[giles_poilu]

Thanks very much everyone.