What flash meter for an semi-old fart?

[JBrunner]

Ok, I'm getting a little studio back up and running here in a month or so, and I will be going back to the packs. I haven't had had a flash meter in a long time. My cine meters have gotten me by outside, the interior film projects I have lit tungsten using OPM, and most of the other stuff I've done inside was D-younowat, so I've got by there with the in camera metering. I'm not going to use it as a meter. The day is coming where I will never have to pick up the damn thing again .

I don't like combi meters. I like simple. Old is fine, new is fine.

I'll be looking mostly for an incident meter, but I wouldn't mind hearing about spots as well.

What do you use? What do you like about it? What sucks?

[Lee Shively]

Hell, I haven't used a flash in years but when I did use flash a lot, I used a Minolta meter. IIIF? IVF? I don't remember the model but any of the Minolta meters were considered really good back back in the last century.

[Pinholemaster]

First choice: Minolta.

Second: Sekonic.

[David A. Goldfarb]

I've been using a Minolta Flashmeter III for years. Haven't found any reason to upgrade to a newer meter, which would only add features that aren't really necessary (averaging, memory, etc.).

[MattKing]

I use a Gossen Profisix with a flash meter attachment. It works great, and I can leave the flash meter with the flashes.

In the USA, I think it is called a Luna Pro SBC.

If I were to buy new, I'd probably look long and hard at a Gossen digiflash, because I like the size.

Matt

[blaze-on]

Beano Brand-semiflash-orama - for semi-old farts

Sekonic for those who won't admit it..

[Michael W]

I have a Sekonic L-358 and it is accurate & easy to use.
The Minoltas are also good.

[TheFlyingCamera]

For incident/reflected only, the Sekonic 308/328. It will of course also do non-flash, but this is a good thing, because when used with a PC sync cord, it will compensate for the mix of ambient and strobe light together. If you want spot in addition, look for a used Sekonic 408. It has a 5 degree spot as well as incident and reflected metering. Another good used option is a Minolta Spotmeter F. It is a dedicated 1-degree spot.

[epatsellis]

My preference is for an older Gossen, the Ascor II, generally found cheaply on ebay, though I've lost a few due to somebody really wanting one. It just works, simple as pie. I have a Multipro and have had an ultrapro, and numerous Minolta's, yet in a studio environment, I fall back to the Ascor.


erie

[Nick Zentena]

A 358 if you're REALLY sure you don't want spot. The 558 if you do. Used prices on the 358 seem high to me. Not much point paying 90+% of new for a used meter. The 558 is so new that finding used would be tough.