Light Meter...

JeffroJeffro Registered Users Posts: 1,941 Major grins
edited June 29, 2006 in Accessories
I just ordered an Alien Bee 800 (Beginner Bee) set up. I will be trying it out, and figuring it out before spending a huge wad of cash on a 4-light set up. I've been tinkering with a 4-light tungsten set up for the last couple of years and decided I was ready to move on.:D

The question I have is does anyone have a recommendation on a light meter?:dunno I was thinking Sekonic, but am open for suggestions.

If anyone has any other tips for using the AB800 with my 20D I am all ears...:ear
Always lurking, sometimes participating. :D

Comments

  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited June 5, 2006
    Sekonic makes great meters as does Gossen ( a litle more expensive).....there are good lower priced meters also such as the Shepards and Polaris meters......My next move up is to be a sekonic L-558 spot meter (flash / ambient - Refelctive / incident)..currently using a shepard FM 1000 & Minolta Flash meter lll......Wein also makes an excellent flash (ONLY) meter, it does calculate in the ambient light ...boxy in looks but accurate...was my first flash meter until I moved into a flash / ambient light meter....

    Link to a few meters on ebay:

    http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&fkr=1&from=R8&satitle=flash+meters&category0=

    and a link to the Sekonic L-558:

    http://www.sekonic.com/Products/L-558.html

    if you have the resources to buy top line then do so and you will not be disappointed.....my reason for moving from the Minolta and shepard meters to the Sekonic L-558 is that I need the spot capability for landscapes and night time cityscapes...the L-558 allows mutil reading and averages them

    hope this helps
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

  • claudermilkclaudermilk Registered Users Posts: 2,756 Major grins
    edited June 5, 2006
    If you can't go for the top-of-the-line L-558, the L-358 is an excellent meter & can have a PocketWizard transmitter added on later. I haven't been able to use mine much yet, but it does appear to have a much more comprehensive feature set than the Minolta AutoMeter IV I used to use.
    Chris
    http://www.chrislaudermilkphoto.com/
  • JeffroJeffro Registered Users Posts: 1,941 Major grins
    edited June 5, 2006
    Thanks for the replies:D . Anyone else?

    Anyone currently using an AB800 20D combo? Likes. disllikes?ne_nau.gif
    Always lurking, sometimes participating. :D
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited June 5, 2006
    I use a Sekonic L-358 with the PW transmitter in it also.

    Works great, and it is so nice to set up the lights and trigger them and get a reading all at the same time.

    Get the PW transmiter for the light meter - you will find it saves you time.
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,938 moderator
    edited June 5, 2006
    I'll agree with pathfinder on this. The PW setup makes everything so much
    easier. Including getting your readings.
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • JeffroJeffro Registered Users Posts: 1,941 Major grins
    edited June 7, 2006
    ian408 wrote:
    I'll agree with pathfinder on this. The PW setup makes everything so much
    easier. Including getting your readings.

    My AB800 arrived tonight:D ....one hour before I had to leave for work :cry . I had a chance to fire off some test shots...using the histogram for exposure. Now I need to decide on the light meter. headscratch.gif I'm still thinking on that one.

    It looks like I won't be stopping at one AB800, and that tungsten lighting may never see the light of day again!!
    Always lurking, sometimes participating. :D
  • JeffroJeffro Registered Users Posts: 1,941 Major grins
    edited June 13, 2006
    claudermilk wrote:
    If you can't go for the top-of-the-line L-558, the L-358 is an excellent meter & can have a PocketWizard transmitter added on later.

    Well I didn't spend the bigger bucks and opt for the meter with the PW transmitter. I knew if I did I would have to "opt" for the PW's as well..:D Not that that's a bad thing (to me) but the wife was like....Come on! I guess I will have to be "on a leash" while metering for awhile. When the time comes to up grade I'll say..I told you so!

    In the mean time, I will spend a little time with my first AB800, then splurge for 3-more lights, some honeycomb grids and another umbrella. I give myself about a week......rolleyes1.gifrolleyes1.gifrolleyes1.gif

    oh yeah....I bought the Sekonic L-308S, from B&H (of course) and it should be here by weeks end!
    Always lurking, sometimes participating. :D
  • JeffroJeffro Registered Users Posts: 1,941 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2006
    My new Sekonic L-308S arrived today. I only had to play with it for about 10-minutes to know it was going to be a huge help in my studio set up. Now.....more Alien Bee's!:D
    Always lurking, sometimes participating. :D
  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited June 16, 2006
    That is a great meter....have loads of fun.
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

  • JeffroJeffro Registered Users Posts: 1,941 Major grins
    edited June 28, 2006
    Art Scott wrote:
    That is a great meter....have loads of fun.

    The Sekonic works pretty good....so good that I just ordered more Bees! Two more AB800's, plus a set of honeycomb filters, another umbrella....good bye tungsten lighting! :D Now I will have something to do on rainy days!clap.gif
    Always lurking, sometimes participating. :D
  • Antonio CorreiaAntonio Correia Registered Users Posts: 6,241 Major grins
    edited June 28, 2006
    I am subscribed to this thread to understand the advantadge of having a light meter when we own a camera which does the same with a small difference.
    Who is kind enought to explain me more about the advantages of using a light meter ? ne_nau.gif
    Thank you.
    I have even read the instrutions leaflet of one lightmeter...
    thumb.gif
    All the best ! ... António Correia - Facebook
  • JeffroJeffro Registered Users Posts: 1,941 Major grins
    edited June 28, 2006
    Antonio Correia wrote:
    I am subscribed to this thread to understand the advantadge of having a light meter when we own a camera which does the same with a small difference.
    Who is kind enought to explain me more about the advantages of using a light meter ? ne_nau.gif
    Thank you.
    I have even read the instrutions leaflet of one lightmeter...
    thumb.gif

    With the light meter I won't have to do a bunch of test shots, in studio, to see if I'm close. I can set up my lights, take a reading, and shoot. One advantage of this is if I'm shooting a client, I don't look stupid. Shoot, look, shoot, look, oh now I have it! And I can compare ratio's of said lights. There are advantages to a handheld light meter. Some may chose not to use one, but I figured I'd give it a try. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!:D I like to learn as much as I can!thumb.gif
    Always lurking, sometimes participating. :D
  • claudermilkclaudermilk Registered Users Posts: 2,756 Major grins
    edited June 29, 2006
    Not only can you compare ratios, you can set the lights to exactly what you want them to be. You want the main:fill to be 3:1? With the light meter it's no problem, without it's guesswork.
    Chris
    http://www.chrislaudermilkphoto.com/
  • Antonio CorreiaAntonio Correia Registered Users Posts: 6,241 Major grins
    edited June 29, 2006
    Jeffro wrote:
    ... I like to learn as much as I can!thumb.gif
    Yes. I like that: "I like to learn as much as I can!" and you are right. There is so much to know that our lifetime is not enought and the more you know the more you realize you know nothing !
    A little bit confusing with the repetitions of the words that it's my english...
    I have this
    53426199-S.jpg
    and another one more sofisticated from Zeiss.
    I used it when my father tought me to photograph with the Rolleicord still in my possession.
    I see no harm in shoot and look, shoot and look, ...
    But if it is very useful, so be it.
    Not for me. I am equipped enought but always curious about these things...
    Anyhow I would like to try to photograph with a light meter to see the results and compare.
    I can not have one bourought because I do not know anybody having it ... The photographer I know - and they are a few - just use the camera.
    Thank you. thumb.gif Have a nice day. :):
    Now I think it is 4 PM in Illinois. Here it is 10.
    My computer is not having net. Yet. Shame.eek7.gif
    All the best ! ... António Correia - Facebook
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited June 29, 2006
    Sorry I'm late on this
    Jeffro wrote:
    My new Sekonic L-308S arrived today. I only had to play with it for about 10-minutes to know it was going to be a huge help in my studio set up. Now.....more Alien Bee's!:D

    I had the same initial issue and I ended up with L-308S (plus PW), too :D
    This little guy has, just like in XTerra add, "everything I need and nothing I don't" thumb.gif

    PS. I'm not affiliated with neither Sekonic nor Nissan, I simply happen to love their products :):
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited June 29, 2006
    Antonio,
    AFAIK, older (analog) devices cannot reliably measure flash/strobes, which is a very common setup in today's digital low-budget garage-or-basement based studios...

    Just MHO...
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
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