Recommended Flash Meters?

capitoljayhawkcapitoljayhawk Registered Users Posts: 121 Major grins
edited January 26, 2011 in Accessories
I am taking a studio portraiture class at the Smithsonian, and the instructor recommended buying a flash meter. I'm game for the investment.

What would you recommend? I'm looking in the $300 range, not the $800 range --- unless someone convinces me that the extra investment is absolutely necessary.

I have heard this one recommended (Sekonic 358). Thoughts?

http://www.penncamera.com/SEK-L358-FLASH-METER-Prodview.html
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Comments

  • lfortierlfortier Registered Users Posts: 237 Major grins
    edited January 25, 2011
    Check eBay for a Minolta IV or IV F. You should be able to pick one up for under $200.00. Thery're still one of the best. Save your money.
    Lee F

    www.leefortier.com
  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,940 moderator
    edited January 25, 2011
    If you plan on using pocket wizards, the 358 can trigger them with an add on module. This allows you to work w/o wires which is nice. Otherwise, the 308 will do the same thing for a bit less money.
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • capitoljayhawkcapitoljayhawk Registered Users Posts: 121 Major grins
    edited January 25, 2011
    ian408 wrote: »
    If you plan on using pocket wizards, the 358 can trigger them with an add on module. This allows you to work w/o wires which is nice. Otherwise, the 308 will do the same thing for a bit less money.

    I'm not in the pocket wizard game yet, but it's likely a future pickup.

    I always hate buying on EBAY, since I don't know how a meter has been used/handled/treated. I typically buy most things new.
    ____________________

    http://www.gaslightphoto.com

    Beginning smugmugger.
  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited January 25, 2011
    I would recommend the Sekonic L358 ......I have used Wein meter (large square boxes but extremely accurate), Sheppard FM1000 (similar to Sekonic L308), Minolta Flash meters (1st swivel head meter I had ever used....and now I won't go back to a standard meter)....my current meter is no longer being made Sekonic L558 Cine - a lot like the L77 ...here are some links to ones I would highly recommend off ebay:

    http://tinyurl.com/6jaa7l7

    http://tinyurl.com/5rhg834

    http://tinyurl.com/6dbuv2j

    These are all Sekonic, meters.....I did a simple ebay search for : flash meters and these 3 were on the 1st page, there was also the wein 5oo's (new... great large box meter) and tons of outdated meters (by out dated I mean no one supports them any longer....minolta meters, cambron, shepard just to name a few...I would only buy Minolta meters if I personally knew the person I was buying from). Many of the outdated meters might be in perfect condition or the seller may not realize that old batts were left in and corrode the contacts on the pc board....all kinds of hidden dame could be in there......at least with newer models support is till there...My L558 lost a rubber grip and even tho it is no longer made I could get parts for it.......I only buy from people I can pay with standard PAYPAL payments, so I have some recourse if I get a misrepresented item.......
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

  • capitoljayhawkcapitoljayhawk Registered Users Posts: 121 Major grins
    edited January 25, 2011
    Art Scott wrote: »
    I would recommend the Sekonic L358 ......I have used Wein meter (large square boxes but extremely accurate), Sheppard FM1000 (similar to Sekonic L308), Minolta Flash meters (1st swivel head meter I had ever used....and now I won't go back to a standard meter)....my current meter is no longer being made Sekonic L558 Cine - a lot like the L77 ...here are some links to ones I would highly recommend off ebay:

    http://tinyurl.com/6jaa7l7

    http://tinyurl.com/5rhg834

    http://tinyurl.com/6dbuv2j

    These are all Sekonic, meters.....I did a simple ebay search for : flash meters and these 3 were on the 1st page, there was also the wein 5oo's (new... great large box meter) and tons of outdated meters (by out dated I mean no one supports them any longer....minolta meters, cambron, shepard just to name a few...I would only buy Minolta meters if I personally knew the person I was buying from). Many of the outdated meters might be in perfect condition or the seller may not realize that old batts were left in and corrode the contacts on the pc board....all kinds of hidden dame could be in there......at least with newer models support is till there...My L558 lost a rubber grip and even tho it is no longer made I could get parts for it.......I only buy from people I can pay with standard PAYPAL payments, so I have some recourse if I get a misrepresented item.......

    Great. Thanks.
    ____________________

    http://www.gaslightphoto.com

    Beginning smugmugger.
  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited January 25, 2011
    Any time......
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

  • CuongCuong Registered Users Posts: 1,508 Major grins
    edited January 26, 2011
    Another vote for the Sekonic L-358.

    Cuong
    "She Was a Little Taste of Heaven – And a One-Way Ticket to Hell!" - Max Phillips
  • BloodyMessBloodyMess Registered Users Posts: 4 Beginner grinner
    edited January 26, 2011
    +1 for the Sekonic L-358. Had mine for a few years now and it has never let me down.
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