the dreaded light meter

digitalfailure

digitalfailure

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Does anyone know if you can get a light meter that actually shows the F value in a straight forward way?

i.e not 5.6 and 2/3rds :bang: whats wrong with showing f7.1

I can never remember the full f stop scale and find it a pita trying to work it all out when I'd rather be concentrating on other aspects of the shot.

currently using a polaris meter but the sekonic ones I've seen seem to have the same bar graph along the bottom too. :(
 
digitalfailure said:
Does anyone know if you can get a light meter that actually shows the F value in a straight forward way?

i.e not 5.6 and 2/3rds :bang: whats wrong with showing f7.1

I can never remember the full f stop scale and find it a pita trying to work it all out when I'd rather be concentrating on other aspects of the shot.

currently using a polaris meter but the sekonic ones I've seen seem to have the same bar graph along the bottom too. :(
Click to expand...

At uni Ive always used a sekonic one, couldn't tell you the model number, but that never did quarters and the such. Just said the rounded up f stop. :bonk:

P.s, can't you use your digi camera to meter it instead? I know its more hassle though. Or are you shooting film?
 
squizza said:
At uni Ive always used a sekonic one, couldn't tell you the model number, but that never did quarters and the such. Just said the rounded up f stop. :bonk:

P.s, can't you use your digi camera to meter it instead? I know its more hassle though. Or are you shooting film?
Click to expand...

Good question. Unless you're metering flash of course.

Jayst84 said:
My Sekonic 308s (I think that's what it's called) shows you the proper f number, or you can set it to show Ev.

@Sarah, if your uni one is the same, hold down the mode button as you turn it on, and you can select increments of 1/3 1/2 or full stops.
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Yeah, Sekonic can be set to read out to the nearest third stop - eg 6.3, 7.1 etc, half stop, or 1/10th stop shown as eg 5.6 decimal 3 which is 6.3.

What I would really like is a proper analogue dial so you can instantly see exactly what you've got without even having to read the actual numbers, if you see what I mean. Save all that mental gymnastics.
 
Hoppy, what you want is what I'm after!

The Polaris meter I use reads out as f5.6 and a 1/3 of a bar graph to signify f6.3 and it's a pain in the !!!!!
 
Brian., I have a sekonic 308b laying around here if you want to try it. They have no graph and are easy to read.
 
WOW I must say that i'm bowled over by the generous offers of a loan of a meter both in here and via PM, I'm amazed at the generosity of you all.

At the moment I'm just after thoughts / comments about the ease of reading of a meter, but I will keep you in mind :D
 
HoppyUK said:
What I would really like is a proper analogue dial so you can instantly see exactly what you've got without even having to read the actual numbers, if you see what I mean. Save all that mental gymnastics.
Click to expand...

In addition to the (properly displayed) numeric display, the Sekonic L-358 has a scale along the bottom of the screen that shows either the shutter speed or the aperture, depending on which mode you have it set in. About as close as you're going to get to a needle with an LCD.
 
The 308 is very easy to read, can set to read to tenth, third or whole stops. The offer is open so no problem, even if you just want a play with it.
 
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