sekonic L-208 twinmate vs Gossen digisix for hasselblad

[paul_leung3]

hi, im a newbie in medium format photography.

and i just bought a 500c/m from the bay.

im not really a "sunny f/16" fan so i plan to buy a simple and affordable

light meter for some street photography with my hasselblad.

which one do u experts think is better?

sekonic L208 twinmate or gossen digisix?? or any other recommedations?

i want a small light meter that can fit in my pocket and with incident and spot

(reflection) functions.

thanks in advance!!

[leicaglow]

I use Sekonics but they are both superb meters. Either will work. Another alternative is the Hasselblad knob meter. It is pretty darn accurate and nothing else to carry, but then you lose the winding crank.

[friedemann_pistorius]

The Gossen Digisix is better in low light conditions (according to the specs, I actually don't have one).

<br>I own a Sekonic L-208 and use incident readings in almost every situation (landscapes). Until now, EVERY single shot was exposed properly.

[bob_eskridge2]

I have the Digisix. Unfortunately it eats batteries. I don't trust it unless I carry an extra battery with me. Wish I had purchased the L208 Twinmate.

[patrick_umlauf2]

I own the Digisix. But I don't like it. Battery drain really is a problem. My biggest concern is its digital design. ISO? Press one button long, then press another button several times short for increasing ISO. Pressed wrong button and it displays temperature? Grrr! For a new measurement press a button and it will answer with a digital EV number. Now turn the disc to the according number and read the aperture/shutter combinations. The L-208 should be far easier to handle. ISO? Short adjustment of a disc. Measurement? Press the button and adjust the match needle via disc. Purely intuitive. Get the Sekonic.

[john_mitchell3]

I have to reluctantly agree with Bob and Patrick. Plus, the Gossen reads out in 1/3 f-stops...the f-stop number plus one or two dots to indicate 1/3 and 2/3 f-stop. I always ponder with a lens like the Hasselblad's, with its 1/2 f-stop detents, which way to go...over or under, especially with transparency film. Do others have the same problem, or am I alone in this? I think I'd opt for the L208. With its style of readout, you can see more clearly just how over or under the 1/2 stop mark you really are.

[q.g._de_bakker]

Not saying anything about the suggested choice (my apologies Paul), but the 1/3-to-1/2-stop conundrum isn't the problem it may seem.<br>The 1/3 stop readings get rounded up to the nearest 1/2 or whole stop, producing an underexposure of 1/6 stop. So you're never 'off' more than 1/6 stop. Not nearly enough to worry about.

[paul_leung3]

thx for the quick reply guys!

for the gossen digisix, how much battery does it eats?

one per month?or it last up to half a year?

thanks! and does the digisix have spot capability?

sorry for so much questions. :)

[ilkka]

Problem with Digisix is that the meter is always on. Thus it eats batteries even when not in use. I suppose it uses more when used often. I need to change about once in a few months. The button is a bit prominent as well and easily presses down in a snug bag. Maybe this adds to its appetite for batteries. If you may need a flash meter, the Digiflash may be a better choice. Same size and features as the Digisix but with a simple flash meter as well. There is no spot option. It does incident and normal wide area reflective.

[dimitri_kalakanis3]

My digisix has been running for 2 months now with the factory battery... no problem, yet. I agree its interface is not the best, but, how else can one put all these futures on 2 buttons (exposure, time, stopwatch, temperature)?

[paul_neuthaler]

Paul, hetre's an alternative without batteries: get a working Gossen Knob meter made for the 500CM. Easy, pretty damn accurate except in very low light -- never change a battery.<div></div>

[paul_leung3]

wow.. kool

but i never seen one b4 on the bay.

whats a reasonable price for that?

THANKS paul

[peter_evans4]

The L208 is great. I have one, I love it. And the battery lasts ages.

 

That said, it's crap in low light. Also, mine has developed a fault whereby the green needle somehow pushes the red one around. (I mean, as I get the green one to line up with the red one, the red one moves out of its way.) One of these months I must get Sekonic to look at it. In the meantime, it works fine (I used it just this morning).

[ulrik]

My Digisix takes about one battery a year. It is a very convenient meter for Hasselblad as it's readout are EV-values. Has always worked perfect for me.

 

Ulrik

[gary_watson]

If it's not a huge stretch for you financially, look into the little Sekonic 308B(II) meters. These do it all, including flash, in a deck-of-cards sized package for not much $.There always seem to be several on offer used on the big auction site. Love mine. It always talks me out of buying a bigger, over-featured Sekonic to replace it. It's no accident that it's one of Sekonic's longest running(and I assume one of their best selling) models.

[paul_neuthaler]

Paul -- a mint one can be had on Ebay for $75-$90.