Relatively modern pocket sized light meters

steveo_mcg

steveo_mcg

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I seem to have fallen badly out of practice with my in built meter (mk1 eyeball) and instead of wasting film I need a meter that can go in the bag with the RB. I keep leaving my spot with the 54 kit and forgetting to change over.

The Sekonic 208 looks ideal but is a little spendy, any other suggestions, say ~£30.
 
Weston Master V with invercone. Works very well for me, though keeping the invercone on it means that it's slightly less pocketable unless you're using a large coat pocket. I got mine (mint & boxed with instructions) from ebay for £25 a couple of years ago.

Failing that, I use a lightmeter app on my phone. Good enough for negative films that allow for a stop or so either side of correct exposure plus my phone is normally in my pocket anyway.
 
find a used sekonic 308s I got mine for £65 which was a bargain but I can say its a very nice piece of kit and its all plastic so weighs nowt, also the invercone slides off and on the sensor so cannot be lost.

also 1xAAA battery

I know its a budget blower but its not like we don't waste huge amounts of dosh in F and C
 
Strappy said:
Weston Master V with invercone. Works very well for me, though keeping the invercone on it means that it's slightly less pocketable unless you're using a large coat pocket. I got mine (mint & boxed with instructions) from ebay for £25 a couple of years ago.

Failing that, I use a lightmeter app on my phone. Good enough for negative films that allow for a stop or so either side of correct exposure plus my phone is normally in my pocket anyway.
Click to expand...

I was happy with the meter built into my Galaxy S2 but none of my subsequent phones have had a working meter.

Does the Master V need batteries? I'm happy with that I'd rather it over a degrading selenium cell.

Mr Bump said:
find a used sekonic 308s I got mine for £65 which was a bargain but I can say its a very nice piece of kit and its all plastic so weighs nowt, also the invercone slides off and on the sensor so cannot be lost.

also 1xAAA battery

I know its a budget blower but its not like we don't waste huge amounts of dosh in F and C
Click to expand...

I've got a couple on watch but they do seem to generally blow the budget. If I done more flash work I could probably justify it... Hmm new speedlights...
 
Little bit more than £30 but I use a Sekonic L208 twinmate, tiny little thing but appears to be very accurate.
 
The great thing about the 308 @steveo_mcg is I can't emphasise how light it is, it goes into my front jeans pocket out wandering and I can hardly know its there.

I have always thought that with things how easy they are to carry makes them work for me.
 
I agree and it is so simple to operate even I can get a decent reading...
 
steveo_mcg said:
Does the Master V need batteries? I'm happy with that I'd rather it over a degrading selenium cell.
Click to expand...

No batteries required. Mine's been bang on the whole time I've had it, I don't know if that's because it had very little use before I got it.
 
I have one of these - it's tiny and excellent, but not cheap (unless you can find one S/H):

D3S_6376-1200.jpg
 
steveo_mcg said:
I was happy with the meter built into my Galaxy S2 but none of my subsequent phones have had a working meter.
Click to expand...

What app is good on your Galaxy S2?. I'm interested because every free one I've tried on my S2 has been very inaccurate (as has every selenium meter I've used, including Westons) I've heard that those Sekonics are good but I ended up going for a Gossen Luna Pro, which isn't exactly pocket sized.
 
NickT said:
What app is good on your Galaxy S2?. I'm interested because every free one I've tried on my S2 has been very inaccurate (as has every selenium meter I've used, including Westons) I've heard that those Sekonics are good but I ended up going for a Gossen Luna Pro, which isn't exactly pocket sized.
Click to expand...

The issue isn't the app, it's the implementation of the Android application programming interface. Some manufacturers/models have shipped APIs that don't implement everything - specifically in this case, the function that queries the camera's exposure settings returns junk values. What happens then is that the apps end up using the light sensor that adjusts screen brightness, which understandably isn't up to the job.

(In short: it's the phone, not the app, that doesn't support it)

edit: and if it works on one G2 and not the other, I suspect the version of Android would be different)
 
Strappy said:
No batteries required. Mine's been bang on the whole time I've had it, I don't know if that's because it had very little use before I got it.
Click to expand...

Mine is spot on, too. It's only a guess, but I'd make sure I got one in a case - no matter how crappy the condition of it - because that means it's probably been stored in the dark.
 
NickT said:
What app is good on your Galaxy S2?. I'm interested because every free one I've tried on my S2 has been very inaccurate (as has every selenium meter I've used, including Westons) I've heard that those Sekonics are good but I ended up going for a Gossen Luna Pro, which isn't exactly pocket sized.
Click to expand...

I can't remember which app exactly, pocket light meter I think. The good thing about the S2 is the screen meter is very good so you don't need to mess around with the camera, I managed to shoot velvia using it and some judgment.
 
I am weak... buckled and went for a 308s. £30 over my upper limit but it looks like its in good condition and its relatively new really need to start playing with flashes to justify it.
 
steveo_mcg said:
I am weak... buckled and went for a 308s. £30 over my upper limit but it looks like its in good condition and its relatively new really need to start playing with flashes to justify it.
Click to expand...

They are realy good.
 
Meter arrived yesterday, basically mint. Fairly happy with it just need to learn how to use it to best effect.
 
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