do i need a light/flashmeter

[HoppyUK]

I use both a light meter and chimping depending on what I am trying to do.
If I want to set up three lights with a known ratio in order to reproduce a known setup I will use a lightmeter as it is just not possible using any other technique.

If I want to blow the background or check how even the lighting is in my hilite I will chimp it and use the blinkies.

If I want to ETTR then I can use either technique. With a lightmeter if I want to ETTR by one stop I can just lie to the meter about the ISO. With the camera you just open up the aperture a tad.

But in front of a client it is about speed and professionalism. They do not want me to take 5 shots to home in on the correct result. I want to be able to move a light/put on a different modifier and just meter the result - for this a lightmeter is perfect.

But as others have said it is up to the individual what they use. My advice is to learn to use all the tools and then pick the right one for the right reasons.

Truth is, that's what we all do

Sorry to bang on about ETTR, but it's not something you can do properly just by adding 'one stop' or whatever as a fixed increase, to the meter reading. The amount that you add depends on the subject and is variable - in my experience, between one and three stops. Which is why you need the histogram/blinkies to tell you exactly where you are with the important highlights.

I an convinced enough to get one to try properly simply to save some time.

Haha!

 

[The23rdman]

 

[AlanSmithee]

I'd say you still need to intervene when using a flash meter. It tells you middle gray for the strength of that flash or combo thereof independent of the subject being hit by the light. Now if you happen to be shooting a person with very dark skin in a portrait, no doubt you're going to want to open the camera up a stop or more from the meter readings, for example. Of course you may still be able to adjust to taste in an image editor if you don't.

 

[lensflair]

In the studio a lightmeter has merit, but on location the eye and chimping is good enough. You soon learn to get a feel for the light required. Relying on a light meter on location just hampers your progress. All IMO of course.

I agree, in a studio a meter makes life easy, but for some location work metering isn't really an option. It really depends on the situation.