Sekonic L-758DR Light Meter

[PicturePerfect1]

Hello, I am a college student and am looking to purchase the Sekonic L-758DR light meter. I am shopping around and am not in any big hurry (being a college student I am broke and looking for the best possible deal). So far I am finding a price around $500, does anyone know of any student discounts, deals etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated... also if anyone has used one I would also be interested in any feedback on if you liked it, and/or if you have found something cheaper that you feel is just as good.

Thank you,
SMG

 

[elsaspet]

I don't know of any discounts, sorry. Are you a member of PPA or WPPI? They most likely would have one.
You could also do a seach for "discount codes Sekonic". It just might just come up. I've lucked out a few ways that time.
Anyhoo, I have the same unit, and it's super. You will love it.
Good luck and happy clicking!

 

[Helen B]

I’ve had one since they came out about a year ago, and it has become my most used meter for still photography. I wrote a brief review of it here, and mentioned other aspects of it in a few other threads: link; link; link; link, including comments on sensitivity in low light.

Whether or not it is the ideal meter for you, and whether or not a cheaper meter would work just as well (or better) depends on exactly what you want to do with it.

Here is a picture of it beside a Profisix and a Color-Pro 3F (which is the same size as a LunaStar, for example).

Best,
Helen

 

[Big Mike]

I agree with Helen. There are plenty of cheaper light meters that would probably suffice. Like the Sekonic L-358

 

[PicturePerfect1]

As for how I will use it: I specialize in portrait photography, I have a small in-home studio so i will use it to set my flashes there, I do also do a few weddings so it would be used in a variety of different settings measuring both flash and ambient light.... and/or a mixture of both

 

[Helen B]

The L-358 might be perfect because you don't really need spot metering for the cases you mention. The L-308 is also a very nice little meter for incident measurements, but the L-358 has a few more features that would be useful to you.

Best,
Helen

 

[jstuedle]

Do you need the spot feature of the 758? I use a L-358 and think it's great. I also use a Gossen Digital-F and find it just as accurate and a lot smaller and portable. (shirt pocket size) The 358 triggers my pocket wizards or I may not have upgraded from the Gossen. All will give you the correct reading, just depends on if you really need the extra features.

 

[PicturePerfect1]

I don't really know if I will be using the spot meter... I plan on making this the only meter I buy (if possible) so i want it to take me through the changes/developments in my business as it grows? ... I would be interested to know if any wedding/portrait photographers find themselves needing the extra features of the 758

 

[Big Mike]

I'm sure that some do. On the other hand, I'm sure that fewer and fewer photographers are using light meters because digital cameras off instant feedback...the histogram being especially valuable.

I find that I use my light/flash meter to get a base reading but then I just go by what the histogram is telling me.

 

[cowboyfranko]

mamiya actually does a discount service. If you go to maconcampus.com and register you will be able to search through tons of photo supplies for a pretty good discount. That is, if your school offers that.