Great article! I’ve seen a few of these arguments for and against. Your article has just convinced me to add a light meter to my wish list of gear. I can’t wait for the Toronto workshop.
Thanks for the detailed diagrams and well thought out examples, nicely explained, I use a spot light meter, and don’t often use an incident reading for ambient. Maybe I’ll give it some time as I can see it being a bit faster than spot metering. Maybe your next tutorial could be on shooting straight horizon’s?
Wow. I read the article once…then had to read it agan. I’ve been looking for an in-depth article about light meters for a long time. Thank you!
Jason
on November 4, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Great article. Thanks for this.
Eduardo Frances
on November 4, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Really nice Don great article 🙂 I think this is the most complete guide to using a lightmeter that also adds so many possible scenarios, great work!.
Very useful article! I\’ve been thinking about getting a light meter, because I\’m such a perfectionist when it comes to photography and I\’m finding that chimping and using the histogram alone is not really doing it for me, but having never used a meter before, how to use one is still mystified in my mind; your article has helped to demystify it for me. Thanks.
cliff
on November 7, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Great article. Loving the blog, excellent info! Thanks so much!!
Well done, great explanations, and truly helpful!!
Thank you!
Cindy
on November 21, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Hey Don! Great article. I need to pull out the Sekonic that I’ve had with me at every shoot but neglected. Now I think it will be a great tool in my arsenal! It’s great to see shots so close to home, looks like you’ve even been out here to Maricopa. I may have to come by and visit you when you are in town!
Dermot
on November 29, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Wonderful article, thanks. However, 1 more concept I hear thrown around I do not understand. Isn’t there 1 more reading on most modern meters? What do photographers mean when they talk about the “% of ambient light” reading on their meter? I don’t get it.
Simeon
on December 5, 2009 at 4:45 am
Don, thanks for another great article. I’d used a meter a little in college, but was never actually taught how to use it! Your article has really ironed out the theory and encouraged me to invest in my own meter.
Any thoughts of running a workshop in the UK?! If you do, then I’m there. Cheers.
Emeraldplanet
on December 6, 2009 at 4:55 am
I could’t be agree more as this article is superb! Few things I want to ask: Is it better to use “spot metering” in stead of “center-weight” when measuring the reflected light from the subject? Will it give more accuracy on metering? Thanks!
For in camera metering, I use spot most of the time. This allows me to use the camera as I would a “Spot Meter”. Taking the readings from the places within the scene, I can quickly determine where the ‘Zones’ are and also determine where I want to “place” the exposure. I have used “Center Weighted” only as an option when the scene is rather flat and I am using the camera in some sort of “auto mode” as a sketching tool or snaps of the kids.
Just saw this article July 2010. Thanks for the great article and enlightening information.
After years of relying on the internal meter of digital cameras, I’m convinced a hand-held is the answer to exposure issues. From now on my Sekonic L28c2 and L758DR meters will be “standard equipment”, plus my plan is to study the zone system as well.
Just found this site from the Strobists group on Flickr. Great article..EXACTLY what I have been seeking for so long. Thank you!
Elizabeth
on August 15, 2010 at 6:24 am
Learning to use a light meter via this post and your workshop was the best thing I ever did for my photography. I no longer have to “guestimate” exposure from the histogram. I KNOW what the correct exposure is and how to generate the lighting ratios I want without guessing. Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge!
I really enjoyed reading this post, especially since I still believe a good light meter is an essential piece of equipment for photographers to not only learn about the nature of light but also how they can manipulate it to their own advantage.
In the past I have used Minolta, Gossen and Sekonic, which all delivered identical readings, so I really don’t think it matters what brand of meter you choose as long as you get into the habit of packing it in your bag and then using it whenever possible. Nowadays I have the incredibly handy little Sekonic 308B that easily slips in your pocket and the more professional L-758D that can be calibrated to the individual camera sensor. The latter is a bit special but I would thoroughly recommend the 308 as a good choice for those who are reluctant to use a meter simply because they don’t want to carry around extra equipment.
Great article. I bought a Sekonic L-358 meter and this article proves to me I did the right thing. So far I
haven’t done anything like this, ( I have been using it mostly for flash lit table top photography ) but I can
hardly wait to get out and try something like this.
Thanks a lot, Tony Traub.
Great article Don! Even with today with digital cameras. meters have their place.
Thanks!
Jean
This is a great article. I always encourage the people that ask me about lighting to get a light meter and learn how to use it!
I won’t leave home without my lighting meter – great and invaluable tool for the bag. Great article, Don!
Great article! I’ve seen a few of these arguments for and against. Your article has just convinced me to add a light meter to my wish list of gear. I can’t wait for the Toronto workshop.
FOSLE discount code not working at this time. Aside from that, very cool article.
Thanks for the detailed diagrams and well thought out examples, nicely explained, I use a spot light meter, and don’t often use an incident reading for ambient. Maybe I’ll give it some time as I can see it being a bit faster than spot metering. Maybe your next tutorial could be on shooting straight horizon’s?
Excellent info!!!!
great article thanx
Wow. I read the article once…then had to read it agan. I’ve been looking for an in-depth article about light meters for a long time. Thank you!
Great article. Thanks for this.
Really nice Don great article 🙂 I think this is the most complete guide to using a lightmeter that also adds so many possible scenarios, great work!.
Don, in one short article you\’ve provided more useful information on metering technique than the entire Sekonic website. Thanks.
Very useful article! I\’ve been thinking about getting a light meter, because I\’m such a perfectionist when it comes to photography and I\’m finding that chimping and using the histogram alone is not really doing it for me, but having never used a meter before, how to use one is still mystified in my mind; your article has helped to demystify it for me. Thanks.
Great article. Loving the blog, excellent info! Thanks so much!!
I am SO glad I found this website, very good stuff here…. already bookmarked. Thank you!
Great article ! You mentioned you might consider Raleigh…… well, i’m IN Raleigh and I can tell you that you’d have a packed house here! Please come!
Well done, great explanations, and truly helpful!!
Thank you!
Hey Don! Great article. I need to pull out the Sekonic that I’ve had with me at every shoot but neglected. Now I think it will be a great tool in my arsenal! It’s great to see shots so close to home, looks like you’ve even been out here to Maricopa. I may have to come by and visit you when you are in town!
Wonderful article, thanks. However, 1 more concept I hear thrown around I do not understand. Isn’t there 1 more reading on most modern meters? What do photographers mean when they talk about the “% of ambient light” reading on their meter? I don’t get it.
Don, thanks for another great article. I’d used a meter a little in college, but was never actually taught how to use it! Your article has really ironed out the theory and encouraged me to invest in my own meter.
Any thoughts of running a workshop in the UK?! If you do, then I’m there. Cheers.
I could’t be agree more as this article is superb! Few things I want to ask: Is it better to use “spot metering” in stead of “center-weight” when measuring the reflected light from the subject? Will it give more accuracy on metering? Thanks!
For in camera metering, I use spot most of the time. This allows me to use the camera as I would a “Spot Meter”. Taking the readings from the places within the scene, I can quickly determine where the ‘Zones’ are and also determine where I want to “place” the exposure. I have used “Center Weighted” only as an option when the scene is rather flat and I am using the camera in some sort of “auto mode” as a sketching tool or snaps of the kids.
Thanks again!
Great article about light meter Thanks for sharing Jen
Just saw this article July 2010. Thanks for the great article and enlightening information.
After years of relying on the internal meter of digital cameras, I’m convinced a hand-held is the answer to exposure issues. From now on my Sekonic L28c2 and L758DR meters will be “standard equipment”, plus my plan is to study the zone system as well.
Just found this site from the Strobists group on Flickr. Great article..EXACTLY what I have been seeking for so long. Thank you!
Learning to use a light meter via this post and your workshop was the best thing I ever did for my photography. I no longer have to “guestimate” exposure from the histogram. I KNOW what the correct exposure is and how to generate the lighting ratios I want without guessing. Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge!
I really enjoyed reading this post, especially since I still believe a good light meter is an essential piece of equipment for photographers to not only learn about the nature of light but also how they can manipulate it to their own advantage.
In the past I have used Minolta, Gossen and Sekonic, which all delivered identical readings, so I really don’t think it matters what brand of meter you choose as long as you get into the habit of packing it in your bag and then using it whenever possible. Nowadays I have the incredibly handy little Sekonic 308B that easily slips in your pocket and the more professional L-758D that can be calibrated to the individual camera sensor. The latter is a bit special but I would thoroughly recommend the 308 as a good choice for those who are reluctant to use a meter simply because they don’t want to carry around extra equipment.
Great article. I bought a Sekonic L-358 meter and this article proves to me I did the right thing. So far I
haven’t done anything like this, ( I have been using it mostly for flash lit table top photography ) but I can
hardly wait to get out and try something like this.
Thanks a lot, Tony Traub.