Sekonic L-358 For Nighttime Photography

[mikenich]

Testing new L-358, unit doesn't register light in extremely low light with aperture priority f1.8 and ASA 1600. I was expected shutter of several seconds or bulb, but meter responds with Eu error. Any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

 

[PhotoWrangler]

Using it in the dark maybe? Perhaps the exposure exceeds the display abilities of the meter. My L308 doesn't have 'bulb'... at least I don't remember that it does.

 

[Helen B]

It sounds like you are below the meter's sensitivity rather than the display range. Eu means 'exposure under'. The meter is sensitive to Ev -2 at ISO 100 - so it is sensitive to Ev 2 at iso 1600.

ISO 100 Ev -2
200 -1
400 0
800 1
ISO 1600 Ev 2

F/1.8 is Av 1.7 approx

f/1 Av 0
f/1.4 Av 1
f/1.8 Av 1.7

Ev = Av + Tv so Tv = 0.3

Tv 0 = 1 s
Tv 0.3 = 0.8 s

Therefore the meter is sensitive only to 0.8 s at ISO 1600 and f/1.8.

By the way 'bulb' has no meaning for a hand held meter.

If you want a more sensitive meter there are a few that will measure down to EV -5 and EV -8 at ISO 100. Let me know if you want more info on those.

Regards,
Helen

 

[PhotoWrangler]

Yeah. What she said. That's what I meant.

 

[Big Mike]

While they are great tools, you don't really need a light meter for ambient light shooting. A simple grey card would do the trick...and if you're shoot with a digital camera, you have instant feedback to help you meter.