Light Meter Suggestions

[Kalrog]

Hello all!

My wife is starting to really get into the technical side of lighting and wants to have a light meter to help out with learning and setting things up correctly. We have decided on the Paul C. Buff line for lighting and are going to use their line of wireless triggers - so no Pocket Wizard integration is needed in the meter.

With this in mind, I was wondering what brands and features y'all found helpful in a light meter. I would prefer to buy once and be able to use it for just about everything in the future, but I also don't want to over buy (e.g. the PW trigger).

[Kalrog]

Oh, and if you are going to give specific model suggestions... let's set $300 as the max. If you are suggesting something over that - please state why it is worth the additional $$.

[groovyone]

I use a Minolta V F that works great. It is available as one of the Kenkos now but rumor has it the Minolta version is better.

I use it reliably for ambient and non-corded flash with radio triggers.

[Dobick]

I use the sekonic 308s

if you use the little cord that comes with the cyber sync trigger, you can plug the meter into the transmitter and fire away.

Multiple modes available, such as wait for flash, and pure ambiant reading, as well as flash trigger.

It is easy to use and relatively compact.

Cons are no spot meter, but most cameras have the spot metering capacity covered.

I have not run into a situation to where I wish my meter did more than it already does.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

lightmeters

[engstrom]

I also use a Sekonic 308s. You don't need to use the little cord - it has a flash mode where you can press the "take a reading" button on the 308s and it waits until it senses a flash firing to take the reading. I hold the meter in one hand, press the button to take a reading and with my other hand I use the wireless trigger for my flash to set the flash off.

[aerosolcheese]

I know that a lot of people here recommend the sekonic l-358. It's under $300... and if you ever get PW's you can add that later. I used to have one, but now I have the l-758...(which is sort of overkill) I think the 358 is all most people will ever need. I don't remember the last time I used a light meter, though... I've gotten used to nailing exposure with my eyes.

[Ahh!]

+1 358

[Kalrog]

Thanks all!

For those that got the 358 - why that over the 308?

[utdbear]

I believe the L-358 can handle the Pocket Wizard module.

[photonewb]

358 w/pocket wizard module IF you're using PW's as your remote trigger. If you're not, then the module won't do you any good, and a lower model might be better for you.