Studio Flash Newbie....Do I need a lightmeter ????

hoseman-ade

hoseman-ade

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Ade
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I am totally new to studio work, I have lights backdrops etc, wired and wireless to trigger the heads.
My question is twofold....
Do I need a lightmeter to get my exposures correct ??? if I dont how do I achieve the correct exposure ??

The small pamphlet I got with the set isnt really that helpful :bang:

Cheers

Ade
 
Hi Ade

Are you using the equipment in one location or multiple ones?

stew
 
well initially this may be used at various locations as I dont yet have a home studio.
I am just hoping to move towards studio work, but this could also be portable to include schools, proms etc

Ade
 
Buy a flash meter - I use a polaris one, does not cost a lot. The histogram on the screen will give you an indication but dependant on how much black or how much white is in the photo will control the accuracy.
 
ok.....thats what I needed to know, I will put some hard earneed cash and get a decent one thats going to last and not need to be upgraded in the near future.
I have heard the name Sekonic, they seem to do decent ones, but I will also look at Polaris.
Never know there might be one come up on here, although low post count prevents a posting in wanted yet..lol

Cheers
 
Without a lightmeter you're just guessing at the correct exposure, as said above. It can be done, but why bother, just buy a cheap meter (We use a sekonic L-308s, around £100) to get the exposure bang on, trust me, it'll be worth every penny :)
 
thats just reinforced the point, have you a linky for that Seconic, sounds about the right price for me
 
cheers for that, its a pity I am not at the top end of the UK or I would have come along for some much needed tuition...lol
 
i got the l308, does what it says on the tin and saves a lot of messing to get the right settings. it has a sync port as well for connecting your wireless/wired triggers to so you can test each light individually:)
 
I am still very much learning this side of photography, so from what your saying I can trigger each head individually from the wireless unit, take a reading from each, as well as an overall scene reading to gain aperture and etc
 
not quite, your camera should be set to the main flash, from what i heard, you can then trigger the background lighting etc and set accordingly.

if you wanted a white backdrop for instance, you would set the main light to give bout f8 shutter of 1/200 then plug it into the background lights and set them to f11 f12 ish. you set the camera to f8 1/200 and the background should come out white, while the model is perfectly exposed.
 
lol.....I really do need to start playing with the setup, have just found "strobist" website which apopears to be all about lighting.
I am not yet ready to go off out into the wide world and blind everyone, so I am going to take on the advice giving here and get the flash meter and play

cheers
 
Definitely makes a difference. I picked one up (the Sekonic L-308) - prior to that it was always a case of "test shot.. down a bit.. up a bit.. down a bit.. up a bit.. spot on", where now it's "take a meter reading.. bang on first time". I don't think it matters too much about taking a load of test shots to get your lights right if you're not doing it for someone else or you don't have a model who has come to get her photos taken but if you are, you want to waste less time and crack on with getting good shots.
 
I use a Sekonic L-358 (better than the L-308 ;))which I bought from MPB on here for about £100 2nd-hand

It's only ever used on different set-ups where it can save a few mins (actually I use mine more at Weddings than in the studio)

As CT once said - best thing is you can wave them about and look all 'Professional' :lol:

DD
 
LMAO.....well I am not one for waving my thing around, not that it would make me look professional either...lol :lol:

I have looked at both the 308 and the 358 and am awaiting an answer form someone on this forum who has a 358 for sale.
Not enough posts yet to add a request on the wanted section, even though I have been here a year.

Thanks everyone who has replied to this post

Ade
 
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