These are the best light meters that have the most commonly used features, without being expensive. 1. Sekonic L-308X-U Flashmate Light Meter Sekonic L-308X-U Flashmate Light Meter However, the best light meters use a digital display to show you the exact details plus the light value or EV. The KFM-2200 is also quite light weight coming in at only 185g without a battery. That’s ends up being about half the weight of the Sekonic L-858D, with batteries.

Spot metering allows you to read the reflective light on a specific part of a subject rather than the whole subject or surrounding space. It uses a 3V CR2032 coin cell which is popular for use in watches. While not as convenient as a AA, they are small, cheap, and easy to find. Cine Mode – This is aimed at cinema camera users, and adds ISO850 readings, the native ISO to many of today’s professional cinema cameras It’s also one of the best light meters due to its range of features and usability in both photography and cinematography. The L-478 has % Flash ( I had one for a short time) The features I mentioned seem to be missing only from the L-308 entry level models.One of the most impressive features of the Speedmaster is adapting it with add-on radio modules. You can use these to trigger wirelessly and control remote flash units within your working space. With the advancement in camera technology, you’re probably asking yourself, ‘why do photographers use light meters?’. Lux Light Meter Pro sets itself apart from most of the other apps as it uses both the front-facing and primary rear camera to conduct light readings. HD_CINE Mode Ambient light 1/8 sec to 1/8,000 sec (in 1, 1/2, 1/3 step) plus 1/24, 1/25, 1/30, 1/48, 1/50,

It’s a little clumsy but just as effective at providing an accurate indication of shooting conditions. Plus, these are usually more affordable than their digital counterparts. Believe it or not, your smartphone already has all the necessary elements to create an accurate light meter. Current generation smartphones have a light sensor and a camera lens (in some cases, four!).It provides an ambient light temperature reading on its display to ensure you finely tune the white balance. For cinematographers, the meter can take readings as low as 0.1 lx of illuminance. This makes it possible to accurately meter scenes lit by candle light. The Twin Mate features a useful ‘hold and read’ button, which allows the meter to read the light for 15 seconds to achieve an average measurement range. The exposure data and related information are displayed using clear icons, which you can read even in low lighting conditions. I chatted to a B&H rep and he said there was also some additional cine capabilities that the X version has, but like the Op I'm mainly looking for Photo usage.

Light meters are incredibly popular and important in video production as cinematographers need to read the ambient light to expose the scene correctly. It meters ambient light from EV0 to EV19.9, and flash from f/1.0 to f/90.9. It has an ISO range of ISO3 to 8,000 in 1/3rd stop increments and also offers ISO850 for cinema camera users. What are your thoughts on the need for light meters? Do you use one as part of your studio kit, or do you always carry one in your camera bag? Power will need to be provided by 2x AAA batteries. Rechargeables can be used, which is convenient if you already own them. Handheld light meters have product features that are not found on cameras. This is important when working with lights that are not part of a flash system made by a camera manufacturer, such as Canon. Incident vs Reflected Light Metersfc to 17,000 fc Measuring Range ISO100 (Ambient Reflected Light): EV0 to EV19.9 Measuring Range (Flash Incident Light): F1.0 to F90.9 Measuring Range (Flash Reflected Light): F1.0 to F90.9 ISO Range: ISO 3 to ISO 8,000 plus ISO 850 Aperture Range (Ambient Light): F0.5 to F90.9 in 1, 1/2, 1/3 step Aperture Range (Flash Light): F0.5 to F90.9 in 1, 1/2, 1/3 step Shutter Speeds Range (Ambient Light): Photo Mode: 60s to 1/8,000s Another key element to using a light meter is to hold it in the right direction to read the light correctly. The more you pay, the more features you get, and the larger the meters are. So paying more isn’t always the best thing to do if you want a small, easy to carry meter. Best Light Meters on an Affordable Budget