The Best Information About Photography Light Meters

Photography light meters help photographers measure light converting it into a reading to achieve proper exposure with correct shutter speeds and aperture settings. Hand-held meters vary, they each have their own specific features. The two types of measurement are incident and reflected. Each are used differently, but the hand-held meter can measure both plus give you features that a camera’s built-in meter can not.

To measure incident light a meter reads the light falling directly on the photo’s subject by aiming at the source. Reflection is not a factor. Incident meters can also measure many levels of light from several sources falling on different parts of the photo. Colors and contrast will be accurate with an incident meter because it measures the intensity not the reflection of light off the photo’s subject. Incident meters give a correct reading in most situations.

 

Measuring reflected light gives a reading of light reflecting off a subject. Reflections from surfaces, background, and other factors can throw the meter off. Hand-held reflected meters and built-in camera meters read the intensity of light reflected, therefore a wide subject area can cause incorrect exposure readings.

 Sekonic L-308X-U Flashmate Light Meter (401-305)

Style: L-308X-U Flashmate

• Exposures accurate down to a tenth-of-a-stop for both ambient and electronic flash light readings in full-stop mode.
• At ISO 100 the ambient EV range is 0 to 19.9 flash f/stops range from f/1.0 to f/90.9 with a shutter-speed span of 60-seconds to 1/8000th-of-a-second (1 sec to 1/500th for flash).
• Photo Mode: for still image photographers featuring shutter or aperture priority display of a full range of ambient and flash functions including cord and cordless flash measurement
• HD Cine Mode: perfect for DSLR and mirrorless videographers who need to take exposure readings and control light using shutter speeds and frame rates
• Cine Mode: designed for use with cinema grade cameras, allows users to select from the most useful frame rates and shutter angles for exposure control with one-tenth stop accuracy.

Sekonic 401-208 Twin Mate Light Meter (Black/White)

• ONLY SEKONIC METERS THAT ARE SHIPPED BY AND SOLD BY AMAZON.COM OR OTHER AUTHORIZED SEKONIC DEALERS CAN ENSURE THAT YOU ARE RECEIVING GOODS THAT HAVE PROPER FCC COMMUNICATION AND ARE COVERED BY A USA WARRANTY. THE AMAZON OFFER MAY BE SEEN TO THE RIGHT. GREY MARKET SEKONIC METERS WILL NOT APPLICABLE FOR A US WARRANTY.
• Perfect for beginners, or as a compact ambient backup meter
• 30-seconds to 1/8000th, f/1.4 to f/32 in half-stop increments
• ISO 12 to 12500 in half-stop increments
• Hold-and-Read mode locks readings for 15-seconds, allows for extended exposure evaluation time

It is all a matter of your own personal preference when it comes to light meters. But, for better exposure in your nature and landscape photos use a hand-held photography light meter.