Best Light Meter
- Thread starter DWHJR
- Start date
speedracerlo
Well-known member
Clint Nitkiewiz Hernandez
Well-known member
What are you shooting on, film?
As long as were talking light meters I have a question. Does anyone own the Sekonic l-558r and if so
would the sekonic l-558r be an okay meter? I know it won't change shutter speeds but I got it at a pretty good price and do not really want to go go through the hassle of buying a new one and selling mine. Thanks.
would the sekonic l-558r be an okay meter? I know it won't change shutter speeds but I got it at a pretty good price and do not really want to go go through the hassle of buying a new one and selling mine. Thanks.
jwing
Active member
I have a question. Is a light meter so necessary when shooting on digital? I've used a meter when shooting film still photography, but not so much with digital, where I can fine-tune the image with my eyes on the spot. But I still see a lot of DPs using them. What is their advantage in this case?
10s
Veteran
For video, a light meter is not required, but it's a great tool for setting up lights and getting the proper footcandle and footlamberts/key-fill-back ratios, & for placing tones. I use the palm of my hand, a meter, and then some spun, scrims, flags, dots.... and dulling spray. That often controls light well enough.
A video camera is basically a light meter, and one can use it as such by using the zebras, scopes and wave form meters; so IMO a meter is somewhat redundant. But nevertheless, I use an incident meter, a Spectra http://www.spectracine.com/product_2.ht,ml , for pre lighting (setting lights w/o needing the camera). Its' good for the $chedule to set the lights before hand or when camera crew are messing with stuff, you can set all your levels and know you're good to go. Lighting often kills the $chedule. A meter can help put you ahead.
A spot meter is good for finding hot spots and bringing them down to the right level, but your zebras & scopes will tell you the same thing if the camera happens to be hooked up. For film, a meter is a "must have" until you have a Masters sense about lighting.
A video camera is basically a light meter, and one can use it as such by using the zebras, scopes and wave form meters; so IMO a meter is somewhat redundant. But nevertheless, I use an incident meter, a Spectra http://www.spectracine.com/product_2.ht,ml , for pre lighting (setting lights w/o needing the camera). Its' good for the $chedule to set the lights before hand or when camera crew are messing with stuff, you can set all your levels and know you're good to go. Lighting often kills the $chedule. A meter can help put you ahead.
A spot meter is good for finding hot spots and bringing them down to the right level, but your zebras & scopes will tell you the same thing if the camera happens to be hooked up. For film, a meter is a "must have" until you have a Masters sense about lighting.
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