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Sekonic bundles L-478D/DR with X-Rite ColorChecker Passport in US

Mar 7, 2013 at 17:03:17 GMT

ACCESSORY NEWS LIGHTMETER SEKONIC X-RITE

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Sekonic's Lightmaster Pro L-478D and L-478DR touch-enabled lightmeters are now available as part a $512 special edition bundle that also includes X-Rite's ColorChecker Passport and White Balance Target. This offer is currently only available for US customers, who will save $50 compared to buying everything individually. The bundle also includes software to calibrate the meters and create exposure profiles for cameras. Current L-478D/DR owners can purchase the ColorChecker Passport and gray card for $49.

Press Release:

Sekonic Announces Bundling of L-478D and L-478DR Series Light Meters with Special Edition X-Rite-Sekonic Color Checker Passport and Sekonic Gray Balance Card

Convenient new bundle provides photographers and cinematographers with the ultimate tools for consistently perfect exposures and colors

North White Plains, NY (March 6, 2013) – Sekonic Corporation, manufacturers of professional photographic light meters, and X-Rite, Incorporated, the world leader in color management, measurement and communication technologies, announce today the availability the LITEMASTER PRO L-478D and L-478DR light meters bundled with the new special edition X-Rite-Sekonic Color Checker Passport with Sekonic Gray balance Card. Using free software from Sekonic and X-Rite, this new bundle enables photographers and cinematographers to quickly and easily create an exposure profile of their cameras, calibrate their meters and create color profiles that deliver the very best images.

"Creating great images and videos just got easier, faster and more fun," states Phil Bradon, Sekonic’s USA Marketing Manager. "That’s because Sekonic and X-Rite have teamed up to simplify the process of getting the best exposures and truest colors – the most challenging aspects for today’s image makers. The new version of X-Rite’s acclaimed Color Checker Passport which includes a Sekonic Gray Balance Card plus Sekonic and X-Rite software takes the complexity out of exposures and post processing allowing imaging professionals to focus more on their creativity."


Sekonic L-478D Bundle	Sekonic L-478DR Bundle

Sekonic’s DTS System simplifies Exposure and Meter Calibration
Using the X-Rite Color Checker Passport with the Sekonic Gray Balance Card with Sekonic’s Data Transfer V3 Software, image makers can create an exposure profile and map out the dynamic range of their DSLR or Digital Video Camera. Transferring this data to a Sekonic L-478 Series meter enables knowing which details of a scene or subject will be properly imaged, and which will be over or under the range of the camera. By using this bundle, today’s photographers and videographers can now take full advantage of their camera’s imaging capabilities to produce pictures with greater tonality and clarity.

Two ways to calibrate the L-478 meters using Sekonic’s DTS Version 3 software
Incident-only calibration of Sekonic’s Data Transfer System enables creating exposure profiles for precise metering without the need for additional accessories. Incident and Reflected-light calibration requires the L-478 series VIEW FINDER 5°, available as a separate purchase, to read the Passport’s Sekonic gray card for calibrated reflected-light readings.

X-Rite ColorChecker Passport simplifies post processing
The ColorChecker Target enables minimizing color differences between cameras and lenses and aids in establishing true color in mixed lighting. It extends the power of Adobe^®photo editing software with a series of one-click warming and cooling enhancements that greatly reduce editing time.

For a limited time, current Sekonic L-478D/DR owners can purchase this special edition of the X-Rite ColorChecker Passport w/Sekonic Gray Balance Card at the special introductory price of $49 by going to sekonic.com/bundle with the serial number of their Sekonic L-478 meter and follow directions located there. Retail pricing is $512 for the Sekonic L-478DR and $438 for the Sekonic L-478D.

Comments

Total comments: 10

I own the Sekonic 758DR and the color checker passport, and they are both worth their weight in gold. I got to play with the 478 at a camera show, and it seems pretty cool, but I'm not used to touch screens, sort of a doubly steep learning curve for me. Gotta say though it would be really nice to have the manual light controls remotely right there in the meter.

If you find yourself wondering, "Do I really need a light meter?", well honestly, no, unless you work in a high volume production studio and need to meter ratios quickly and precisely 'need' is too strong a word. Will a light meter and a color checker improve your photography? Yes, immensely.

0 upvotes

There are FAR more people who can get practical use from a light meter than just "high volume production studio" folks.

How does one use the in-camera meter to figure out the % of flash to ambient light and to keep such constant throughout a shoot when shooting family portraits, glamour or early morning nudes? ... especially when the sunlight is rapidly changing in the morning and evening?

I also use the 758DR (wonderful meter isn't it?) + colour card and being able to quickly dial in a camera setting that gives me, say, 30% flash to 70% ambient is one of my most liked features.

Shooting on location rapidly moving from place to place toting strobes and packs- it's VERY valuable to be able to instantly get an incident reading by having the client hold the meter, trigger the flash & you're done! No client wants to wait for a photographer to fiddle with lighting %ages.

Dedicated meters are useful across the photographic spectrum Pro or novice; they can make a huge difference! :)

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

I agree with you completely, everyone can benefit from owning a good light meter, but I read so many posts asking "Do I really need to buy a light meter?", I think it's hard for some digital shooters to understand how mind-blowingly useful it is. They don't think of it in the same terms as a sharp, fast lens, it's just not as sexy to them. Ironically the light meter will probably do as much if not more to improve the quality of their photography though.

But "need"? No, one can chimp and fiddle one's way to a good photograph these days using the LCD on the camera, and then fiddle and chimp their way though the next shoot and the next. It's not like the days of shooting E-6 film (actually I still do that), where missing the exposure by a stop meant you just cost the bride memories of the happiest day of her life.

I'll put it this way, if I had to sell off my gear a piece at a time to make ends meet, the last thing to go would be my camera and lens, next to last would be my light meter.

0 upvotes

Add a distance finder to one of these and I'm all over it. Being able to spot meter AND calculate DoF with one press of a button would be awesome!

2 upvotes

My tried and true Minolta Meter V is all I need.... No frills, just straight basic info.

1 upvote

Even though iphone app has an adapter there is no way to trigger the strobes from the iphone

0 upvotes

Hey DPReview: How about a shoot-out between these old-school "professional" lightmeters and some of the newer phone app/adapter combinations we see out there?

As shown by the previous comments, this is definitely something on the minds of consumers. Do you really get what you pay for with the new, inexpensive widgets? Or are the traditional meters going the way of the dinosaurs?

6 upvotes

there is already such app: https://itunes.apple.com/pl/app/pocket-light-meter/id381698089?mt=8

0 upvotes

Now if they made an app and adapter to make your smart phone do the same thing, that would be cool. That what i thought it was when i seen it on the main page. (iphone)

1 upvote

There is an adapter:
http://connect.dpreview.com/post/5677030984/luxi-turns-smartphone-to-incident-light-meter

0 upvotes

Total comments: 10


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