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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Light Meter! Do I REALLY need it
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11/30/2008 03:10:02 PM · #1
Hi All,

Please don't get me wrong .....i have read a lot about how good they are and I bet lots of people here are using them........

But - what is the difference with going to a studio and taking about lots of test shots tethered to a calibrated laptop until i get the lighting I need ?

I am looking for a reason to buy one - but if the answer is the only difference in test shots and 10 mins then I mat think twice...

cheers all

Tony
11/30/2008 03:26:54 PM · #2
Originally posted by TonyUK:

Hi All,

Please don't get me wrong .....i have read a lot about how good they are and I bet lots of people here are using them........

But - what is the difference with going to a studio and taking about lots of test shots tethered to a calibrated laptop until i get the lighting I need ?

I am looking for a reason to buy one - but if the answer is the only difference in test shots and 10 mins then I mat think twice...

cheers all

Tony


They allow you to "balance" the lights much more precisely than you can by eye alone; if you keep good notes on your lighting ratios, you can replicate successful setups at will, and you can also scale them effectively.

That's a good reason :-)

R.
11/30/2008 06:02:03 PM · #3
Originally posted by Bear_Music:



They allow you to "balance" the lights much more precisely than you can by eye alone; if you keep good notes on your lighting ratios, you can replicate successful setups at will, and you can also scale them effectively.

That's a good reason :-)

R.


I concur.

However, this place I refer too as the "Dream Factories", where I call a career and sinfully wish that I had gone a differant direction,the old time DP's, 20, 30 year veterans don't even pull out a meter. The actually do just eyeball the light, the image through the lens.

Amazingly, the images are pretty darn good.

If you are not using a meter I don't think you need too. Your imagery on your web site is pretty darn good.

However, if you want more accuracy, especially when you have a crew and a lot of toys to play with...

Message edited by author 2008-11-30 18:02:43.
12/01/2008 10:12:32 AM · #4
If you work with manual flashes (strobist), then you'll one.

Otherwise, with digital, I barely use mine. Of course, I'm not a pro either.
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