Light meter recommendations?

[Kholi]

One that won't break the bank but still be usable?

 

[Erik Olson]

Spectra and Sekonic meters are standard on most sets. You really want incident for metering at the subject and then checking ratios. Some people like to carry a card and use the reflective mode. I've never had the time to mess with this on any set where a camera was present.

However, lighting for ILM, we would use it for pre-lighting on-set prior to the VistaVisions arriving because the background plate illumination ratios were so critical.

The Standard DP and Gaffers Meter
Footcandles, Lux and Lamberts for the Real CineGeeks
A Spectra I've Never Used, But With A Lot of Features You Only Find In Higher-End Meters

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[Kholi]

Thanks for the quick response, Erik.

I think I'm not a REAL CineGeek... probably because 700.00 for that thing is way too much for me right now. LoL.

I'll take the standard. =)

 

[Leo Versola]

I use a Spectra IV-A that I picked up used for a few hundred a while back. Works great...

 

[Erik Olson]

Just know that the Standard was designed when slide-rules were the way people did things before the advent of computers.

There is a curve to learning it and there are "discs" that you must change depending on your application. Contrast this with the second and third one, which most operators can pick up and get readings on in moments.

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[PDX_DVX]

Minolta Auto Meters are good too. I use a Sekonic Studio Delux also...

 

[Chris Santucci]

One that won't break the bank but still be usable?

The Minolta IV is rock solid. I've been using one of these for many, many years.

I hear the Sekonic meters aren't very consistent especially in spot mode.

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[Kholi]

I'm looking at a digital Sekonic Light Meter at the moment, I'll also check into the Minolta one.

 

[Chris Santucci]

A friend of mine has the L-758 Sekonic and noticed his spot readings were all over the place and another DP friend of his said he was having the same issues with the same meter.

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