My flash meter doesn't work

[celeborn]

Ok, I probably just don't know how to use it yet. My work around is to use my (gasp!) digital camera to find a proper exposure and then switch to my medium format. I tried this for the first time tonight but it will take a while to get the film back. I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience doing this and how well it will work. I'm hoping my digital camera will turn out to be a nice flash meter with a preview mode. Thanks for any comments.

[David H. Bebbington]

Originally Posted by celeborn

Ok, I probably just don't know how to use it yet. My work around is to use my (gasp!) digital camera to find a proper exposure and then switch to my medium format. I tried this for the first time tonight but it will take a while to get the film back. I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience doing this and how well it will work. I'm hoping my digital camera will turn out to be a nice flash meter with a preview mode. Thanks for any comments.

To make any comment, we REALLY need to know what kind of flashmeter it is and how you are operating it! Does it measure ambient light as well? Does this function work? Does it not work as a flashmeter in both cordless and corded mode? Is the battery OK? Please let us know! Yes, a digital camera will probably give a reasonably accurate exposure guide for slide film.

Regards,

David

[celeborn]

The flash meter is a Sekonic L558r. All other meter functions work fine. I am not very familiar with the meter yet so it's probably operator error. At this point I am more interested in other people's experience with my work around. Its nice to be able to see the image as you adjust the flash. Wondering if they were able to just take the exposure factors from the one camera and transfer them to the other without having to add some conversion factor. Richard

[Nick Zentena]

First you have to put it into flash mode.

Corded uses a sync cable from the meter to the flash.
Wireless uses the module but then the flash needs a pocket wizard to receive.

Then you need to make sure you're in the right flash mode. Incident or reflected. Incident is likely the simplest when starting out. You need to put the meter in the scene. Then take a reading.

If you don't have a manual you should be able to download it from the Sekonic website. The meter has quite a few modes so without the manual you'll waste plenty of time.

[BrianShaw]

Nick,

Great suggestion about the manual. L-558 has lots and lots of modes, so manual is essential to have read.

http://www.sekonic.com/images/files/L-558Eng.pdf

In fact, it is such a complex meter (or is that "fully functioned"?) that I just noticed (after using one for a year or so) and having read the manual several times that it will do reflected flash metering. Go figure! Thanks for pointing out that feature.

[BrianShaw]

Originally Posted by celeborn

At this point I am more interested in other people's experience with my work around.

I've used your workaround method in the distant past for non-flash exposure determination. It worked well. Knowing nothing about digital cameras, I don't know if it works well with flash exposure or not. Since you already own a full-featured flash meter, I can't imagine how using a digi-cam as a meter would be any more convenient or desireable... unless it is considerably smaller/lighter than the L-558.

[celeborn]

Thanks for the responses. The link to the manual helped a lot. The flash meter is working now. I've taken the film in and should get it back next Friday, so I'll see first hand how the work around worked. I'll also take in some film exposed via the flash meter which should work even better.