Meter recommendations

[oscroft]

Firstly, apologies if a similar question has been asked and answered recently - links to any relevant past threads would be welcomed.

I'm off to Thailand again shortly for a few months, and I will probably take my M6 and M2 with me. I quite fancy heading off with, say, just the M2 and a 35 occasionally, and I'm wondering what might make a decent cheap meter to use. I have a Leningrad 8 which is plenty accurate enough for black and white, but I'd like something accurate enough for color transparency too. (I'm not much good at "Sunny 16" at the best of times, and with the intense tropical sun in Thailand you can get enormous ranges of EVs on the same day, so that's not a viable alternative)

I wouldn't be using it in low light conditions, so I don't need low light sensitivity.

So I want something accurate enough to use for color transparencies in generally bright light, and which is cheap (I'm happy to use eBay to look for bargains).

Suggestions would be appreciated.

[rbiemer]

I have and use the Gossen Pilot2 and a Sverdlovsk 4. The Sverdlovsk is battery dependent but once that is sorted, better at lower light levels than the Pilot. The Pilot is likely to be easier to find--depending how much time you have before your departure this may be important--and smaller. The Pilot may be named differently for the European market?
Rob

[JeffGreene]

I'll put another plug in for the Gossen. I have a Gossen SBC with spot and angle kit that's served me well. It's an excellent low light meter, and they are always available on the auction site. Good luck!

[oscroft]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. There do seem to be quite a few Gossen meters on eBay UK (it would have to be UK - I have about 3 to 4 weeks to get one), with lots of Lunasix models - is a Lunasix worth considering?

It would be a battery-dependent one I'd want, because I think I want the accuracy of a silicon photocell - are there any problems with unavailable batteries for any old-ish meters these days?

[colyn]

A few suggestions can be found at the below link..

http://www.rangefindercameras.net/meters.html

[oscroft]

A few suggestions can be found at the below link..
http://www.rangefindercameras.net/meters.html
Interesting, thanks - it looks like I might have a problem with meters designed for mercury batteries (I won't have time to get one modified, and wouldn't want the likely expense anyway).

[kully]

How cheap is cheap? I have a Sekonic L-308 which has been great with slides. Takes one AA and that lasts ages.

[Spyderman]

I've got a Sverdlovsk-4. It says it needs 3-4V battery voltage, and mine works perfectly with 2 SR44 batteries (but you need something to adapt the size). Despite being CdS it's very precise. Compared to my brother's brand new Sekonic spot-meter it's within 1/3 EV. I think it would be precise enough even for slides.
Only problem with this type is that the LED readout is hard to see in bright light...

[oscroft]

How cheap is cheap?
Good question - I'm probably thinking of up to around £30-40 ish (to be precise ;))

[oscroft]

I've got a Sverdlovsk-4. [...]
Only problem with this type is that the LED readout is hard to see in bright light.
The Sverdlovsk-4 does seem to be well-regarded. But I will be using it in bright light, so an LED may not be ideal.

[tripod]

This isn't what you asked, but if you want to simplify your gear by carrying just one body with one lens, why not take the M6 with its built in meter, so you don't need a separate external meter?

[oscroft]

This isn't what you asked, but if you want to simplify your gear by carrying just one body with one lens, why not take the M6 with its built in meter, so you don't need a separate external meter?
Did that last time, but now I have a nice new old M2 to play with :D

One thing I do like with using a hand-held meter is that it helps me avoid becoming obsessed with metering for every shot, and I think more about getting the shot and less about exposure - and it's sometimes just nice to not have anything distracting in the viewfinder.

What I might do is stick to B&W with the M2 and just take my Leningrad-8, but I want to at least explore the option of taking something good enough for color transparencies instead.

[BillBingham2]

Alan,

I have an old Sekonic L-318 that even has a 5 degree spot attachment that I love for RF work. Like the newer 308 it runs on a AA battery for a LONG time. It's small enough to fit into a pocket without problem and flexiable enough to do everything I want (except for flash).

B2 (;->

[zgauthier]

I love my little Gossen Digisix. Inexpensive, battery seems to last forever(in my case at least), accurate, and tiny. Yes it's all plastic, but I've had mine for almost two years and it works like the day I got it. I usually wear it around my neck inside my coat and take incident readings whenever I notice the light change. Worked beautifully for roaming around with an old III the other day. It also serves as my darkroom timer.

[oscroft]

I have an old Sekonic L-318 that even has a 5 degree spot attachment that I love for RF work. Like the newer 308 it runs on a AA battery for a LONG time. It's small enough to fit into a pocket without problem and flexiable enough to do everything I want (except for flash).
That sounds close to perfect (and I don't do flash), but a quick search of the web suggests they'd be a bit beyond my price range (I saw one on sale for ~$200). Thanks anyway.

[cosmonot]

Small and lightweight award has to go to my Sekonic L308, an older model I picked up used for under $100. Incident & reflected, takes standard AA batteries (which last nearly forever, as others have already said), and will do flash metering if you ever need it. The new one with the illuminated LCD display looks nice, but I don't know what the list price on those is like.

I replaced several older Gossen Pilot meters with the 308. It was definitely an upgrade.

[BillBingham2]

Alan,

Time may not be with you as you're heading out soon. I've seen them on EvilBay from time to time. Keep your eyes open and look for other models like the 328. Some times they get listed funny.

http://www.sekonic.com/images/files/L-318.pdf

The 5 degree goes for around $75.

B2 (;->

[oscroft]

Time may not be with you as you're heading out soon. I've seen them on EvilBay from time to time. Keep your eyes open and look for other models like the 328. Some times they get listed funny.

http://www.sekonic.com/images/files/L-318.pdf

The 5 degree goes for around $75.
Thanks for the PDF. It definitely sounds like one I'd consider longer-term, but for now $75 is about what I'd be hoping to pay for a whole meter ;)

But yes, I'll keep my eyes peeled for any Sekonic meters I can find, thanks.

[oscroft]

I've been doing a bit of research on some of the meters that have been suggested, and I'm drawing towards making do with my Leningrad 8 for now (and maybe just use the M2/Leningrad for B&W while in Thailand this time), and maybe wait until later in the year and spend a bit more and get a Digisix (I was particularly impressed to read that Karen Nakamura put hers through the washing machine and it still worked!)

So thanks for all the help folks.

[PeterL]

Another vote for the digisix here. Stick it in your pocket and you'll never notice you've got it with you. It's that light and compact. Extremely simple to use, except that you need to get used to the readout (for example: "f2.0 8" means 8/10 of a stop added, so it's closer to f2.8). But this is a minor quibble.


Peter.

[oscroft]

Hi Folks,

I've given up on the idea of trying to find a cheap meter for about £40, and I've just ordered a Digisix which I should have in a few days :D

So thanks for all the info and opinions.

[Wahoo]

This is my most recent new meter - no batteries - no messing - no trouble.

Since buying this one I've picked up maybe 3 or 4 used Weston V's.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a276/Suits_Me/lightmeter03-04-06080.jpg

[richard_l]

Sekonic L-308: reliable, accurate, handy size, easy to read, fairly inexpensive, uses a single AA battery.

Richard

[hans voralberg]

Sekonic L-308 or Gossen Digisix, I had both, great meters, cameras2u.com carry both at reasonable price, next day shipping in the UK as well