Light Meters

freecom2

freecom2

Suspended / Banned
Messages
5,326
Edit My Images
No
I currently use a Leningrad 7, and whilst it has a certain commie charm to it, I think I want more. I shot my first roll of slide film on it, and it is obviously that it just doesn't meter accurately enough.

However, I'm finding the search difficult. My budget is probably max. £40-50. I need it to be durable, and not too big (which rules out a lot of flash meters). Awkward batteries are a big no-no, so that rules out most of the Gossen Lunasix range. Anyone have any ideas what I could get?

:bonk:
 
Haha, I just don't want to spend a lot on it full stop to be honest...
 
I spunked out on a 758 but it's really quite overkill. No idea what to recommend fella I'm sure someone will pipe up soon.

Where are your newest shots?

flickr?
 
you might get a Sekonic L-308s come up at around that price - well - maybe at under £100 - have one less night out and put that to your existing budget :shrug:
 
Most people have a digital camera, could you use that for light readings? I always thought that a digital camera would be of some use for something :)
 
That's actually fair comment Brian - my canon G11 is actually smaller than my lightmeter, only marginally heavier, and, as it's got a zoom lens, you can get a decent approximation of the FOV you'd be getting with the film camera.
 
Haven't had a chance to scan anything recently, and a lot of the scans have been very disappointing. I won't be putting up the slide film pictures anyway, it was just out of interest really.

The only digital thing I have is a D7000 - sometimes I do shoot digital & medium format film together, but not often, and unfortunately it's a rather bulky light meter!
 
i downloaded a free light meter app on my android phone (htc desire). Once i tuned it in to get the same settings that my D300 was reporting , or as close as, it works quite well. beeCam Lightmeter its called.
 
TheBigYin said:
That's actually fair comment Brian - my canon G11 is actually smaller than my lightmeter, only marginally heavier, and, as it's got a zoom lens, you can get a decent approximation of the FOV you'd be getting with the film camera.
Click to expand...

I debated doing this and keeping my D200, but it was just too big. I haul the RZ67 round in a big 1600 peli-case as it is :bang:
 
Mahoneyd187 said:
I debated doing this and keeping my D200, but it was just too big. I haul the RZ67 round in a big 1600 peli-case as it is :bang:
Click to expand...

But everyone should have a backup camera, you'll just have to put it in a backpack. :thumbs:
 
If you wa t I have a sekonic l308 which I'm not using (I take my 758 if I need external metering) so you could borrow it to see if you like using them. It's incident/fairly wide view reflective, simple to use and takes normalise batteries I think, and is what I would recommend for normal shooting

Give me a shout if you want to borrow it and I'll get it sent off to you
 
Phone light meters - the light sensor on my Android phone wasn't good enough, I tried it and was disappointed by the results. For some phones it works great, and I completely appreciate that it's incredibly handy, but I think a separate meter is still good for me.

I like to shoot as light as possible - TLRs are near enough the lightest way to shoot medium format, so I'd like to add as little extra minimum bulk as possible.

raathistle - that's a very kind offer (and why I love these fora), and I would happily take it up but I think it's just a case of finding one at the right price - if they were to fit within the price range I specified I'd snap one up in a heartbeat. I've found a L308B for £75 but I currently can't justify it! Thank you though.
 
I used to use my G7 to meter, which was ok but still a bit slow. Then I used an app on my phone, it was smaller but even slower. Now I use a Sekonic L308 and it's fast, pocketable and light. Very easy to get quick readings on it. They also do the L208, which is less expensive but I prefer using a digital readout.
 
excalibur2 said:
But everyone should have a backup camera, you'll just have to put it in a backpack. :thumbs:
Click to expand...

I've got an ME Super for a back up, film arrives for it tomorrow to try it out :)
 
The Gossen Lunasix F used bog standard 9V batteries, it may be a bit outside your budget but i got one with a spot adaptor from ffordes for £90 posted and it was in mint condition so it may be worth seeing if there are any in less good condition without a spot meter to fit your budget
 
robhooley167 said:
The Gossen Lunasix F used bog standard 9V batteries, it may be a bit outside your budget but i got one with a spot adaptor from ffordes for £90 posted and it was in mint condition so it may be worth seeing if there are any in less good condition without a spot meter to fit your budget
Click to expand...

You could get an Om or T90 camera with spot metering for £90 or less and they are useful for taking pictures as well ;)
 
the Gossen F meters are, small light and apparently pretty Richard Proof
 
It seems there are cheap selenium's to much more expensive large digi meters and not much in between.
I've had quite a few meters in my time but I don't shoot studio much these days so my current meters are a Gossen DigiSix @ about £100 new and a Sekonic L-208 @ about £50.
The DigiSix's are tough to find 2nd hand and they hold their money because they are awesome, the L-208 is a plastic thing, its made of nothing has no features and gives a purely analogue reading, but it is the ultimate travel meter and could be quite cheap at the bay.

TBH, you ought to keep using the Leningrad till you can afford to spend £100 or so on something decent..:)
 
Musicman said:
Ffordes have any number of Weston Master Vs for £35

http://www.ffordes.com/category/Pho...Direction=Ascending&SortExpression=SalesPrice
Click to expand...


Too dear.....I've seen quite a few go from £6.50 to £15 on ebay and gumtree. Anyway any camera say from 1980 is superior to a Weston for reflective light readings, and as for spot readings:- all you need is an ordinary meter (could be in the camera) and experience and common sense as the human brain knows (for example) that taking a spot meter exposure reading for a white sheet in the shadow would give you an incorrect exposure result.
Basically all you have to do when looking at your subject is think/see "Kodak grey" and adjust exposure if different..very green grass and deep blue sky are roughly Kodak grey, a person with a sun tan is roughly kodak grey a person with white skin is not......and so on and so on.
 
joxby said:
It seems there are cheap selenium's to much more expensive large digi meters and not much in between.
Click to expand...

Indeed. The Rolleiflex is currently being checked to see whether the meter repair is possible, and if it is I may just use its primitive meter for B&W/colour negative for now.

Also possibly looking into the Sekonic L-208 as well.
 
freecom2 said:
I currently use a Leningrad 7, and whilst it has a certain commie charm to it, I think I want more. I shot my first roll of slide film on it, and it is obviously that it just doesn't meter accurately enough.

However, I'm finding the search difficult. My budget is probably max. £40-50. I need it to be durable, and not too big (which rules out a lot of flash meters). Awkward batteries are a big no-no, so that rules out most of the Gossen Lunasix range. Anyone have any ideas what I could get?

:bonk:
Click to expand...

I bought my Weston Euromaster new and use it to this very day, I had a Minolta Autometer 1Vf, sold that, and as far as I am aware I am the only one in the UK, to have a complete collection of the Weston meters from the original first one to the last Euromaster 6.
 
The C330 is a humongous exception to the statement. Also, you still get a bigger negative with the C330 over the 645. The rangefinders from Mamiya, Bronica and Fuji (amongst others) are probably the lightest way to shoot medium format, but they are almost entirely plastic bodied and (especially the Mamiya 7II) very expensive still, unlike TLRs which are also a more affordable entry into MF.
 
freecom2 said:
The C330 is a humongous exception to the statement. Also, you still get a bigger negative with the C330 over the 645. The rangefinders from Mamiya, Bronica and Fuji (amongst others) are probably the lightest way to shoot medium format, but they are almost entirely plastic bodied and (especially the Mamiya 7II) very expensive still, unlike TLRs which are also a more affordable entry into MF.
Click to expand...

The ultimate lightweight is the Holga.. but for lightness and portability (and affordability) you really can't beat the folding MF cameras from the '50s. I've not weighed an Ensign vs a Yashica D, but I do know that only the Ensign will fit into a jacket pocket.
 
Alastair said:
The ultimate lightweight is the Holga.. but for lightness and portability (and affordability) you really can't beat the folding MF cameras from the '50s. I've not weighed an Ensign vs a Yashica D, but I do know that only the Ensign will fit into a jacket pocket.
Click to expand...

What he said, My Zeiss Ikon will go into the back pocket of my jeans no problem. May not be the lightest but it is very pocketable.

Has no light-meter though :bonk:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top