light meter recommendation?

[Saltwater Servitude]

Budget under $300. I've seen the Sekonic (or however you spell it) 358L pop up quite a bit in the gear for sale section. The company that bought out Minolta's line seems to get pretty good reviews as well.

I'll be using it for portrait and glamour work.

Thoughts?

[rhoffart]

I have the L-358 and love it. I have the chip that fires my PW's

[tc95]

I have an older Minolta IV which has never let me down...but I tend towards my Gossen Luna Pro..which is about $50 to $75...

[groovyone]

I have a Minolta IV F That I really like. I think I got it used for $130.

[Dobick]

the 308s does everything that I need it to do.

It has a pc-port to attach a radio trigger (or pc sync cord) for triggering of lights, and will do ambient incident or reflective metering, as well as "wait-for-flash" metering.

It has been a very reliable and accurate little meter.

[firenut]

Originally Posted by rhoffart

i have the l-358 and love it. I have the chip that fires my pw's

+1

[Saltwater Servitude]

First, thanks everyone for the input so far.

Originally Posted by rhoffart

I have the L-358 and love it. I have the chip that fires my PW's

Do you consider having that chip a major advantage? Say you didn't have it, tried one that did, and then bought it subsequently, would you say "Damn, should have bought this years ago"?

I suppose I'm trying to gauge how convenient it really makes everything since it'll put me 25% overbudget.

[firenut]

Originally Posted by Saltwater Servitude

First, thanks everyone for the input so far.



Do you consider having that chip a major advantage? Say you didn't have it, tried one that did, and then bought it subsequently, would you say "Damn, should have bought this years ago"?

I suppose I'm trying to gauge how convenient it really makes everything since it'll put me 25% overbudget.

I bought the L-358 with the chip knowing that I would later purchase the Pocketwizards. So, at first, I was hooking the strobe cable to the meter....hitting the button....checking my reading.....unhooking the cable from the meter.....hooking the cable to the camera....taking a test shot.............................................. .................................................. .................rinse and repeat!

So yes, having the meter with the chip is highly convenient if you have pocketwizards.

[Saltwater Servitude]

Originally Posted by firenut

I bought the L-358 with the chip knowing that I would later purchase the Pocketwizards. So, at first, I was hooking the strobe cable to the meter....hitting the button....checking my reading.....unhooking the cable from the meter.....hooking the cable to the camera....taking a test shot.............................................. .................................................. .................rinse and repeat!

So yes, having the meter with the chip is highly convenient if you have pocketwizards.

That's the exact practical advice I was looking for. Appreciate it.

[billbunton]

I'll second having the PW trigger in the meter. It's just _so_ much more convenient, plus you don't risk damaging that little PC socket on the meter. If you're even thinking you might get PWs, get the trigger chip!

[SergeiR]

Originally Posted by billbunton

I'll second having the PW trigger in the meter. It's just _so_ much more convenient, plus you don't risk damaging that little PC socket on the meter. If you're even thinking you might get PWs, get the trigger chip!

What you have to do to this socket to actually damage it?! Unless you putting things in there with hammer i mean.

Plus you dont really need to hook via socket. Just put meter in "flashy" mode, and it will be reading once flash triggered by whatever you choice is.

--

To OP: it is entirely depends on your directions in shooting. If you planning to shoot or shooting landscapes of any nature - you will really want spot meter . For most of other applications - usual incident one is fine. Do you need PW module? Minor convinience. You can buy module later on for "higher" sekonics, if you really need it. Do you need calibration capacity to get true readings? Then your only choice 758DR/Cine. If not - then 358 is fine. But whole lot of people doing ok with 308 Sekonic, memorizing offsets from "true ISO" or just not caring enough.

[billbunton]

Originally Posted by SergeiR

What you have to do to this socket to actually damage it?! Unless you putting things in there with hammer i mean.

Using it. They hold contact by friction. Repeated insertion/removal eventually wears them out.

Originally Posted by SergeiR

Plus you dont really need to hook via socket. Just put meter in "flashy" mode, and it will be reading once flash triggered by whatever you choice is.

Right. Put the meter in "flashy" mode, and prop it up somehow so it's facing the camera. Walk over to the powerpack and trigger the flash. Walk back to the flash, look, decide I want a small adjust. Walk to light, adjust, walk back to meter, set in flashy mode and prop it up again, then walk over to powerpack. All that vs. pushing the button on the meter.

You don't like/don't want the trigger, fine. I have it, I like it, and there are advantages to it.

[SergeiR]

Originally Posted by billbunton

Using it. They hold contact by friction. Repeated insertion/removal eventually wears them out.

I can honestly say that i did shot a lot with pc contacts since i was 8 years old. Never had actual contact to break. Cable bit with jack - yes, it does become loose a bit, but its fixeable in like 1 minute (if you just replace head - they are less than buck) or less if it just "push together with pliers..

But then i might be extra careful.. not sure.

Originally Posted by billbunton

Right. Put the meter in "flashy" mode, and prop it up somehow so it's facing the camera.

hell no. I will never ever meter like that ;)

Originally Posted by billbunton

Walk over to the powerpack and trigger the flash. Walk back to the flash, look, decide I want a small adjust. Walk to light, adjust, walk back to meter, set in flashy mode and prop it up again, then walk over to powerpack. All that vs. pushing the button on the meter.

point is. You can use any trigger. It doesnt have to be PW.
I use elinchroms. So i dont have to walk to do anything - they adjusting right from the trigger.

Originally Posted by billbunton

You don't like/don't want the trigger, fine. I have it, I like it, and there are advantages to it.

Correct. But it doesnt mean you need to have it. When you on the budget - its compromise between "want/need/have money for". Question above was for budget.

[billbunton]

Okay, I'll butt out then.