LIght meters are they essential for todays needs?

Andreascy said:

i am an amateur photographer . i mostly like to shoot portraits indoor and outdoor.

I just ordered a light meter sekonic 308 .

How this light meter can help in general photography vs the cameras built in metering. i know that is different metering but todays cameras are advance cameras. so these days is this an essential tool and is good choice to bought it?

Click to expand...

Leonard Migliore said:

Andreascy said:

i am an amateur photographer . i mostly like to shoot portraits indoor and outdoor.

I just ordered a light meter sekonic 308 .

How this light meter can help in general photography vs the cameras built in metering. i know that is different metering but todays cameras are advance cameras. so these days is this an essential tool and is good choice to bought it?

Click to expand...

They're not essential at all. I only find mine useful when setting up studio flashes (you note that you shoot indoor portraits, but don't specify if you use speedlights). It's easier to balance a number of lights with a meter.

I used to use a meter for outdoor photography but modern cameras have excellent built-in metering. On your camera, you can see the effects of lighting and exposure on your screen. This is, in some ways, better than a light meter.

I still, however, like to walk around with a light meter so that people can mistake me for someone who knows something.

Click to expand...

Andreascy said:

Leonard Migliore said:

Andreascy said:

i am an amateur photographer . i mostly like to shoot portraits indoor and outdoor.

I just ordered a light meter sekonic 308 .

How this light meter can help in general photography vs the cameras built in metering. i know that is different metering but todays cameras are advance cameras. so these days is this an essential tool and is good choice to bought it?

Click to expand...

They're not essential at all. I only find mine useful when setting up studio flashes (you note that you shoot indoor portraits, but don't specify if you use speedlights). It's easier to balance a number of lights with a meter.

I used to use a meter for outdoor photography but modern cameras have excellent built-in metering. On your camera, you can see the effects of lighting and exposure on your screen. This is, in some ways, better than a light meter.

I still, however, like to walk around with a light meter so that people can mistake me for someone who knows something.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Leonard Migliore said:

Andreascy said:

i am an amateur photographer . i mostly like to shoot portraits indoor and outdoor.

I just ordered a light meter sekonic 308 .

How this light meter can help in general photography vs the cameras built in metering. i know that is different metering but todays cameras are advance cameras. so these days is this an essential tool and is good choice to bought it?

Click to expand...

They're not essential at all. I only find mine useful when setting up studio flashes (you note that you shoot indoor portraits, but don't specify if you use speedlights). It's easier to balance a number of lights with a meter.

I used to use a meter for outdoor photography but modern cameras have excellent built-in metering. On your camera, you can see the effects of lighting and exposure on your screen. This is, in some ways, better than a light meter.

I still, however, like to walk around with a light meter so that people can mistake me for someone who knows something.

Click to expand...

Andreascy said:

Leonard Migliore said:

Andreascy said:

i am an amateur photographer . i mostly like to shoot portraits indoor and outdoor.

I just ordered a light meter sekonic 308 .

How this light meter can help in general photography vs the cameras built in metering. i know that is different metering but todays cameras are advance cameras. so these days is this an essential tool and is good choice to bought it?

Click to expand...

They're not essential at all. I only find mine useful when setting up studio flashes (you note that you shoot indoor portraits, but don't specify if you use speedlights). It's easier to balance a number of lights with a meter.

I used to use a meter for outdoor photography but modern cameras have excellent built-in metering. On your camera, you can see the effects of lighting and exposure on your screen. This is, in some ways, better than a light meter.

I still, however, like to walk around with a light meter so that people can mistake me for someone who knows something.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

PhotoTeach2 said:

Andreascy said:

Leonard Migliore said:

Andreascy said:

i am an amateur photographer . i mostly like to shoot portraits indoor and outdoor.

I just ordered a light meter sekonic 308 .

How this light meter can help in general photography vs the cameras built in metering. i know that is different metering but todays cameras are advance cameras. so these days is this an essential tool and is good choice to bought it?

Click to expand...

They're not essential at all. I only find mine useful when setting up studio flashes (you note that you shoot indoor portraits, but don't specify if you use speedlights). It's easier to balance a number of lights with a meter.

I used to use a meter for outdoor photography but modern cameras have excellent built-in metering. On your camera, you can see the effects of lighting and exposure on your screen. This is, in some ways, better than a light meter.

I still, however, like to walk around with a light meter so that people can mistake me for someone who knows something.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

PhotoTeach2 said:

Leonard Migliore said:

Andreascy said:

i am an amateur photographer . i mostly like to shoot portraits indoor and outdoor.

I just ordered a light meter sekonic 308 .

How this light meter can help in general photography vs the cameras built in metering. i know that is different metering but todays cameras are advance cameras. so these days is this an essential tool and is good choice to bought it?

Click to expand...

They're not essential at all. I only find mine useful when setting up studio flashes (you note that you shoot indoor portraits, but don't specify if you use speedlights). It's easier to balance a number of lights with a meter.

I used to use a meter for outdoor photography but modern cameras have excellent built-in metering. On your camera, you can see the effects of lighting and exposure on your screen. This is, in some ways, better than a light meter.

I still, however, like to walk around with a light meter so that people can mistake me for someone who knows something.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Krav Maga said:

For studio flash work, they make things a lot easier. If you want to accurately recreate a shot, they're almost essential.

Click to expand...

PenPix said:

Before I got my flash meter, I would take at least hour to setup the lights. With the flash meter, 15 minutes. (The location shoots never have the same room layout)

During a shoot, you will move your lights around so having the light meter is an easy way of checking your exposure and fill ratios. This greater consistency in exposure will also reduce your time in post having to adjust brightness.

Using a flash meter outdoors will also help maintain exposure consistency, again saving you time in post.

Not essential.... but a HUGE time saver.

Click to expand...

Andreascy said:

PenPix said:

Before I got my flash meter, I would take at least hour to setup the lights. With the flash meter, 15 minutes. (The location shoots never have the same room layout)

During a shoot, you will move your lights around so having the light meter is an easy way of checking your exposure and fill ratios. This greater consistency in exposure will also reduce your time in post having to adjust brightness.

Using a flash meter outdoors will also help maintain exposure consistency, again saving you time in post.

Not essential.... but a HUGE time saver.

Click to expand...

i guess my question was wrong. not essential but i ordered to keep it in my bag and help me for outdoor shots so i can improve my photography and take the correct exposure without spending 5 shots to each pose for example.

Click to expand...

Andreascy said:

PhotoTeach2 said:

Andreascy said:

Leonard Migliore said:

Andreascy said:

i am an amateur photographer . i mostly like to shoot portraits indoor and outdoor.

I just ordered a light meter sekonic 308 .

How this light meter can help in general photography vs the cameras built in metering. i know that is different metering but todays cameras are advance cameras. so these days is this an essential tool and is good choice to bought it?

Click to expand...

They're not essential at all. I only find mine useful when setting up studio flashes (you note that you shoot indoor portraits, but don't specify if you use speedlights). It's easier to balance a number of lights with a meter.

I used to use a meter for outdoor photography but modern cameras have excellent built-in metering. On your camera, you can see the effects of lighting and exposure on your screen. This is, in some ways, better than a light meter.

I still, however, like to walk around with a light meter so that people can mistake me for someone who knows something.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Andreascy said:

Krav Maga said:

For studio flash work, they make things a lot easier. If you want to accurately recreate a shot, they're almost essential.

Click to expand...

i guess my question was not right. about essential. i was meaning if its the propel tool to help me in different occasions mostly outdoor to use the correct exposure and also if flash needed with softbox outdoor etc to save a time and not to worry taking differen shots.

Click to expand...

Andreascy said:

PenPix said:

Before I got my flash meter, I would take at least hour to setup the lights. With the flash meter, 15 minutes. (The location shoots never have the same room layout)

During a shoot, you will move your lights around so having the light meter is an easy way of checking your exposure and fill ratios. This greater consistency in exposure will also reduce your time in post having to adjust brightness.

Using a flash meter outdoors will also help maintain exposure consistency, again saving you time in post.

Not essential.... but a HUGE time saver.

Click to expand...

i guess my question was wrong. not essential but i ordered to keep it in my bag and help me for outdoor shots so i can improve my photography and take the correct exposure without spending 5 shots to each pose for example.

Click to expand...