Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/04/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> Need advice on a good but inexpensive hand held meter. I was looking at the > Sekonic incedental versions. Any suggetions? > > jim ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Jim... Gone through the gamut of them; big, small, expensive, cheap, battery, non-battery, you name it. The best experience for me (YMMV) has been with the battery powered Sekonics, but no one single meter addresses all my desires. Closest match for me is the Sekonic L-308BII Flashmate; very good sensitivity (even better than some of it's big brothers); excellent battery life (especially with a AA Lithium cell); ambient, reflected and flash; digital display; small and lightweight; fairly inexpensive ($179 @ B&H). FWIW, Steve LeHuray used a Gossen Luna-Pro Digital and was very happy with it. I wish the L-308 was even more sensitive, had a backlight and longer exposure times than 60 seconds, but to get those features means shortcomings in other areas. I do have a Sekonic L-608 beast, but I rarely use it due to the excessive weight and size it brings to the equation. Also, the small meters are easy to use without bringing attention to yourself, as Steve used to great effect with his street shooting. Many years ago, I was stopped by a curious policeman in Vienna, Austria while using an L-508 (precursor to the L-608); he was concerned about the odd device I was pointing at a government building, but relaxed enough for us to have a friendly conversation when he finally spotted the M3 slung behind my back. His reaction is pretty typical of people not familiar with the big meters. Regards, /Mitch _________________________________ E-mail: mitch.zeissler@verizon.net