WPF - World Photography Forum
Home Gallery Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts

Welcome to World Photography Forum!
Welcome!

Thank you for finding your way to World Photography Forum, a dedicated community for photographers and enthusiasts. There's a variety of forums, a wonderful gallery, and what's more, we are absolutely FREE. You are very welcome to join, take part in the discussion, and post your pictures!

Click here to go to the forums home page and find out more.
Click here to join.


Go Back   World Photography Forum > Photography Equipment > Photographic Accessories


Photographic Accessories Discussion on other Photography related Equipment. Tripods, Luggage and suchlike.

light meters

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 08-03-09, 20:04
rorkes drift rorkes drift is offline  
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: south wales, uk
Age: 67
Posts: 7
Default light meters

i have an eos 20d which i like, but was wondering is it worth buying a light meter or do i use the built in light meter, if a light meter is the way to go which ones would you recommend
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-03-09, 20:19
miketoll's Avatar
miketoll miketoll is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7,491
Default

Opinions will vary but I always use the built in light meter which is excellent for normal use and I never need anything else. Perhaps the studio guys use a hand-held for incident light and studio flash metering so they will know more than me but Sekonic springs to mind. My one and only hand-held was an old Leningrad that Noah had no further use for.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-03-09, 21:15
yelvertoft's Avatar
yelvertoft yelvertoft is offline  
Guest
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: North Essex, UK
Age: 60
Posts: 8,486
Default

Unless you're doing pro studio flash work, which I guess you're not, then stick with the built in meter.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-03-09, 22:02
Joe's Avatar
Joe Joe is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
Age: 51
Posts: 1,586
Default

The level of detail and exposure latitude of digital, particularly in RAW file format, is truly amazing. I've only ever used a flashmeter since switching to digital.
__________________
primarily using Nikon film and digi kit, and some micro 4/3rds gear for experimenting with old lenses
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 18-06-09, 12:30
adrian adrian is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: england
Posts: 14
Default

what about outdoor photography using a flash as fill in? I want a seperate meter to help me balance my flash with the ambiant light. My camera's on board meter doesnt actually give me a light level strength - it just tells me if it thinks im a stop or 2 under or over exposed.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 18-06-09, 12:58
Gidders's Avatar
Gidders Gidders is offline  
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 2,795
Default

If you are using the built in flash or one of the Canon dedicated flash guns, you can set flash exposure compensation seperately from the ambient light exposure compensation. I just dial in about 1/2 - 1 stop flash under exposure compensation and let the camera do all the work
__________________
Clive
http://www.alteredimages.uk.com
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 22-06-09, 14:13
cameras cameras is offline  
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Staffordshire
Posts: 11
Default

Sekonic all the way .... it does help and relying on LCD screens which like computer screens vary ( .... calibration, calibration, calibration...) or histograms are a very simple way of controling the light. - will help alot to reduce post production
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 22-06-09, 14:49
craig craig is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Peterborough, UK
Age: 54
Posts: 251
Default

I now use a sekonic L-308S light meter for my studio work which i have found to be absolutely fantastic with perfect exposures every time, but like it has been said above if your not using studio flash the built in meter inside your camera should be perfect for most situations.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 23-06-09, 09:51
adamcoupe's Avatar
adamcoupe adamcoupe is offline  
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 7
Default

Seems to me that use of hand held meters depends upon type of photography and era or origin of training. Studio photographers will largely feel lost without one however for location photography practice using the histogram function rather than the image preview - shooting RAW will provide plenty of post adjustment.

Adam

www.adamcoupe.com
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 11:06.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.