Handheld light meter

[scott1120]

Guys/Gals,
I am in a discussion on a forum associated with my Photog school. They are discussing light meters - handheld type. Most of the users on the other board along with the instructors think they should be a "every" type of shot thing. I think they seem kind of old school (film days). Does anybody use these in real life situations? What situations would you use one?

Can anyone help me understand?

[BCD]

I meter in studio shots, multiple lights, shooting digital. Gives me an idea of exposure as a starting point and adjusting for shadows and highlights. I will also meter ambient light in situations with different types of light sources.

Funny, but I've had a lot of people I shoot ask me why in the world I need that little meter, with a digital camera. Old school it may be, but it helps me get the shot I want.

[Spec A!]

I think it depends on the type of shooting. If you are in a studio environment and are able to take your time, you can meter every light source, every subject, etc to get the best possible exposure then sure, why not? But outside, I wouldn't think it as necessary. You have a pretty good meter inside the camera, even if it's only center weighted. And chances are you also have spot and a matrix/evaluative style too. The internal meters in most camera's are very capable- if you have an good understanding of light and how metering works. Just because it's film vs. digital shouldn't even play into the equation. A meter is there to evaluate the light and help you make the best possible exposure on whatever medium you use.

[cnoise]

I thought measuring for ambient lighting instead of reflective(which is what the camera does) is more accurate. Your measuring for the light coming at your subject instead of the light reflecting off your subject.

[The Loft Studios]

Originally Posted by scott1120

......I think they seem kind of old school (film days). Does anybody use these in real life situations? What situations would you use one?

OMG.....

[RGWeber]

Light metering is even more critical with digital than film. If I remember right, film is about 3 times as forgiving as digital and can be corrected by a couple of F stops by the lab. Digital is closer to 1/2 stop max.

The meter in your camera is reflective metering whereas the hand meter is measuring the light at the subject. In outdoor shooting the hand meter helps when you have a bright background and are using a fill flash to light the subject. Even with spot metering, the camera has a hard time with this. All the portrait and lighting seminars and classes I have attended stress the importance of the meter.

Rick

[CobyPhoto]

Light meter = MUST HAVE. 20+ years professional photographer and it is always in my bag and in use in the studio. If you use strobes, you need a light meter. Try setting two or three strobes and getting the exposure spot on without alot of trial and error and wasted time.

Depending on the light meter you have, you can get both incident (light at the subject as Rick called it) and reflective measurements, via spot metering. Light meters give you very specific, most commonly, 1 degree spot reading and you can nail down exposure very easily. There are many situations where subject matter and specific lighting situations will "fool" an in camera meter. Having a decent light meter and knowing how to use it will prevent problems in these situations.

I don't know any professional photographer that doesn't have a decent light meter...and that knows how to use it. My cameras STAY on Manual. I rarely use AV mode and never program or TV.

CJ

[Tapper]

Originally Posted by cnoise

I thought measuring for ambient lighting instead of reflective(which is what the camera does) is more accurate. Your measuring for the light coming at your subject instead of the light reflecting off your subject.

Metering incident (ambient) light measures the illumination your subject gets. Metering reflected light, measures the illumination your camera gets. Which is more important?

I'm still learning my way around metering, which is made more difficult because I shoot both digital and large format. But it took me no time at all to learn, that using your dSLR's matrix metering and chimping are way faster, and produce better results, than metering and trying to evaluate all the factors in your head. Where digital is concerned, I use a meter when initially setting up strobes, and that's about it. The Cheetah meter owns me.

I watched a pro recently setting up a shot. He metered hell out of it, set to manual, and took a shot. Then, promptly chimped, adjusted, and started shooting for score.

On large format, different story. meter/zoneify meter/zonify meter/zonify, decide final stop, bellows factor, filter factor, set shutter, go through it all again in head, lose confidence, repeat whole process, etc. Being new sucks. Chimping rules.

[NoLight]

What are some good not too expensive meters?

[d2creative]

I think the "digital" thinking comes down to laziness. Both in using the light meter and LEARNING how to use one. I know I'm guilty of both. With digital you are not worried about wasting film or polaroids so you can adjust your lights and snap the shutter all day long, checking your screen and histogram. Not only does that take longer but it's still not an accurate way of knowing what you've got.

[venchka]

Originally Posted by NoLight

What are some good not too expensive meters?

Sekonic & or Gossen. They both offer a variety of meters. Cost depends on what you want to meter. A pocket size reflected light meter or a full featured reflected/incident/flash meter? They even come used here and KEH and ebay.

[CaptainTom]

I use my meter in studio. If shooting outside with refelctors I will meter. Strobes require metering unless you have all day to test.

With a histogram you can get a really good idea of the exposure. In the film days we did this by using a polaroid.

Whether you use a meter or not depends on whether you want to control the light balance, or just get along with whatever happens.

[venchka]

Originally Posted by Tapper

Metering incident (ambient) light measures the illumination your subject gets. Metering reflected light, measures the illumination your camera gets. Which is more important?

I'm still learning my way around metering, which is made more difficult because I shoot both digital and large format. But it took me no time at all to learn, that using your dSLR's matrix metering and chimping are way faster, and produce better results, than metering and trying to evaluate all the factors in your head. Where digital is concerned, I use a meter when initially setting up strobes, and that's about it. The Cheetah meter owns me.

I watched a pro recently setting up a shot. He metered hell out of it, set to manual, and took a shot. Then, promptly chimped, adjusted, and started shooting for score.

On large format, different story. meter/zoneify meter/zonify meter/zonify, decide final stop, bellows factor, filter factor, set shutter, go through it all again in head, lose confidence, repeat whole process, etc. Being new sucks. Chimping rules.

I hate to suggest this...but

You could meter, test, chimp, adjust, test, chimp, etc. with the digital camera and set the exposure on the LF camera accordingly. It would be no different than the polaroid "chimping" folks have done with LF & MF for a long time. OK, you will have to figure the bellows factor. Filter factor is easy-put the same filter on the DSLR.

That said, using a Weston Master V and LF camera isn't exactly punishment.

[scott1120]

So, the meter is most useful in portrait type photography whether studio or location. But what about "photojournalist" style portraits?

[venchka]

Originally Posted by scott1120

... But what about "photojournalist" style portraits?

Why should they be any different? Oh, ok, I get it. Use the built in meter? Auto exposure mode? Probably. Assuming you know your equipment. Of course you still might get underexposed backlit faces on occasion.

There are folks in this world who can shoot B&W film indoors & out, day in and day out, and never use a meter. Mere mortals such as I need a meter of some kind, in camera or in hand, to get me in the ballpark.

Then there is the case to be made for having an all mecahnical, non-battery operated meter in your bag "just in case STUFF happens."