Sekonic reflective query. What is the metering coverage?

myshkin_

myshkin_

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I'm using a Sekonic L-308S for some outdoor film shots. I'll be taking a reflective reading of the background followed by a flash incident reading.

Does anyone know what coverage the meter has when taking reflective readings? Will it average out a whole scene? Is it better to get as close as possible to the mid-tone in the background?
 
Just a question rather than an answer*, with an incident meter in your hand, why take a reflected reading? I'd be taking an incident reading. Or using the cameras meter reading (which I know and trust)

*i have no idea what the angle is.
 
There are often situations where you don't have a solid background you can reach to take an incident reading, perhaps a cityscape in the distance and you're on a tower with the subject in the shade. I'm not saying I wouldn't consider using the incident reading, but I'm curious to how the reflective reading meters.

I'm using a camera without a built-in light meter, hence using a hand-held light meter.
 
They are not really designed for what you are trying to do. In reflective mode they have a "spread" similar to a weston... which is not far off what a 50mm lens covers. so at a large distance as you suggest it averages about everything in view. so not especially useful.

Outside one can usually mimic what a distant object would give in incident mode, as it will be little if any different to an incident reading near to where you are.
If the subject is in the open shade, simply shade the meter with your body and point it in the direction the camera will be. The sun and sky will be illuminating both in almost exactly the same way. Deep shade with almost no skylight needs the services of a spot meter.
 
Thanks, I thought it would be something like that. I know it's not the most practical option in most cases, but I wanted to bear the coverage in mind if I ever had to use it.

Example: flash-lit subject indoors with view through window being exposed to exposure of choice.
 
Easy enough to test the angle of coverage with a bright light against a dark background, and see when the readout changes.

Sekonic make spot reading attachments of course. I suspect that's the only way to get precise readings.
 
myshkin_ said:
Thanks, I thought it would be something like that. I know it's not the most practical option in most cases, but I wanted to bear the coverage in mind if I ever had to use it.

Example: flash-lit subject indoors with view through window being exposed to exposure of choice.
Click to expand...



The best way to do that is go outside and take an incident reading.
The aperture for the indoor should be the same, for an equal exposure. however it usually looks better if the out side light is slightly brighter looking.

Use incident readings for both. (in each case the meter should face the camera position.)
 
HoppyUK said:
Easy enough to test the angle of coverage with a bright light against a dark background, and see when the readout changes.

Sekonic make spot reading attachments of course. I suspect that's the only way to get precise readings.
Click to expand...

I just did a very quick and rough test with a Sekonic 308. And not that helpful really, as in reflected reading mode it has quite a wide acceptance angle, but is heavily centre weighted. I was getting a two stops drop in the reading at 20 degrees off-centre, and it falls away quite steeply after that. So maybe about 40-45 degrees is the zone of most significant sensitivity.
 
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