Anyone use lightmeters these days?

I couldn't agree with you more!
A light meter is an essential tool IMO and saves lots of time when you learn how to use it. No histograms or zebras can tell you how much light goes to the face of the model/actor, nor if the rim light i too bright and so on.

Just bear in mind to set your light meter according to the camera you use. I do stock photos and videos on the same shooting using different cameras (GH2 for footages, 5DII or PhaseOne for stills) and I noticed that the GH2 is actually brighter that the other cameras. Not a big issue, since the lighting ratio stays the same....
 
I have shot a lot of video without using a light meter, and yes you can do it very well. For me though, coming from a film background, it has always seemed that with fully knowing the amount of light that was falling on the elements in the scenes I was shooting, in a measured reference I was familiar with, foot candles, I was working with one hand tied behind my back. Now that I use a light meter regularly, that geek side of my filmmaking brain has a more full picture of what is going on, light wise, in the scenes I am shooting and that helps me out immensely. I would never say that using a light meter is essential to a video shooter, but it helps me out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top