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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Is a light meter a good idea/necessity?
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 02/11/2014 07:49:51 PM · #26
This has all been really helpful!!

So when looking at light meters, the cheaper sekonic (smaller too, which seems nice) only works with setting the shutter. You can't set in the aperture and get a shutter speed.

Is this a big problem? I assumed with portraits, you're more interested in being able to set your aperture because of DOF...
 02/11/2014 07:56:49 PM · #27
Originally posted by vawendy:
This has all been really helpful!!

So when looking at light meters, the cheaper sekonic (smaller too, which seems nice) only works with setting the shutter. You can't set in the aperture and get a shutter speed.

Is this a big problem? I assumed with portraits, you're more interested in being able to set your aperture because of DOF...


I use a Polaris branded one. Don't remember the model, it's been with me for 6 years or so.

With lights you are more times than not you are limited by shutter speed. IE fastest sync is 1/250 or whatever. When I am doing lights indoor or outdoor mixed, I set my shutter speed to max, set my lights to what I want for apeture raising or lowering power of the lights to match what I want to shoot at. When outdoors if my background goes too dark, I can always roll the shutter speed slower.
 02/11/2014 08:04:36 PM · #28
If you are only going to use it for flash lighting I don't think you will have a problem.
As MattO said, you are looking for the corresponding Fstop to match the Shutter and ISO set in the meter.

If you have a constant f-stop lens (e.g. 24-105 or 17-55) you can cheat a bit when you have set up your lights etc

Set the ISO at 400 and f-stop at f5.6
If you want the same light setup but want to shoot at f2.8, drop the ISO down to ISO 100 and you don't have to change the lights.
Couple more people are now standing in the shot and want a tad more DOF, up the ISO to 800 and f-stop to f8. Done

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