Speed of reading, accuracy (.1 stop), larger display, flash & ambient incident/reflective readings, filter exposure compensation, pocketable, multiple flash display

Poor in low light and no light-up display, found it expensive when I purchased in 2001--more so now

Reliable unit if pricey; not good in low light

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Gossen Luna Pro S (analog), which was great in low light

feels solid, simple, to the point. maybe too simple. its bigger than i thought.

Handles and looks like a big pocket calculator. I want better low light capacity and illuminated display. for the price i think they could have included that into the meter.

This is my first "serious" light meter, bought it new, unseen, from a camera dealer in another town. Needed it because i had alot of wrong exposures with my Horseman LF.

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a Leningrad 8 wont compare i guess...

Simple to use, no moving parts ( other than the sliding dome ), accurate, reliable, cheap. Flash multiplier and ambient + flash ratio, ambient contrast feature. Remembers last reading even after auto power off.

no back lit cd, no optional spot attatchemnt, I'd like flash ratio ( ok I'm asking for alot here ). Not as small as the sekonic 308

This was a replacement for a minolta IIIF which needed recalibration and the lcd went. Nothing to special about the meter in general but since it doesn't have a movable head I think it may prove a bit more reliable. No back light for low light ( this is a pain ) and I wish there was a spot attatchment for it. Very simple and easy to understand, nice to use and accurate. Does flash and ambient ( at the same time ) and the flash multiplacation feature is useful but it needs ratio to. The contrast ratio in ambient mode is good. Can chage iso after reading to fine tune it. Mine has been dropped a few times, and still works well. Excellent value for the money, and equal feature wise to other meters in the price range but easier to use and read the lcd ( none have a back light at this price level either ).

Customer Service

not needed.

Similar Products Used:

Minolta IIIF, Sekonic 308B

The Gossen Luna-Pro Digital F is the right size for a pocket or bag. It comes with a very nice case and a shortcut instruction card. It produces a digital value for F-stop, shutter speed, or Exposure Value as well as mimic an analog meter with an additional display. It will also provide Cine readings. The Luna-Pro Digital F helps make a good decision as a photographer by providing these different readings.

The incident light dome is in an awkward position (in the front). I would have preferred it be on the face of the meter like some other meters. Also it would be nice if the dome could be rotated in to different positions. It's a little too easy to change the ISO value by mistake, too.

A Great general all-around accessory for just about anyone. I would not recommend it for a beginner, too much information, but it's a great device for being certain you get the right exposure or even just using it as a "second opinion" for your camera's own readings, no matter what kind of lighting situation, or camera you have. There's little reason to spend much more on a light meter for general all-around usage.

Customer Service

Very good, but terse. It seems like the folks at B & H would rather not be on the phone with you...

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None.

Highly accurate. Provides exposure ranges in tough lighting situations to help you make decisions on exposure.

Does not have a "spot" meter option

The light meter is highly accurate in a wide variety of light settings. It allows you to adjust the settings for filter compensation and is extremely easy to use. Recommended for all levels of photography.

Customer Service

N/A

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None hand held, just meters that are included in cameras (Nikon and Minolta)

Incredibly accurate meter. The large LCD panel is easy to read and very simply laid out. The functions of the meter are simple to set and use, and flash metering is a one button operation.

Only that it does not have a rotating incident dome, but if you want it, just step up to the next higher model. No lumination on the LCD makes flash metering in a dark studio interesting.

This is a great meter for the money. Its very simple to use and has large controls/display which make it easy to see what you are doing. The best feature is that the whole package will fit into a shirt-pocket and weighs almost nothing. All in all a great meter.

Customer Service

None needed

Similar Products Used:

Minolta Flash meter

Very easy to use (in daylight). Most functions intuitive if you know exposure basics. The flash reading is great. Very light weight.

1. No ability to set the meter to the aperture and shutter speed settings that match your camera; my camera, for instance, has many more shutter speed possibilities than the meter, and far fewer aperture settings. It should be noted that one of the more expensive Gossen meters has this capability.
3. Needs a backlight for its display in low light.
2. Would be nice to have some means of mounting (like a threaded 1/4-20 hole) the meter to a tripod or light stand for flash and incident light measurements.

Gets me MUCH closer to the optimal exposure settings than my camera's built-in meter does, particularly when using multiple flashes.

Customer Service

NA

Similar Products Used:

None

Very slim
LOTS of information on LCD
Aperture priority
Quick start-up
Accurate
Contrast range measurement
Compensation setting

The measure button should have been on the side

In terms of features, this meter has the best bang for the buck. What I like most is the display. For starters, it is extra large! In ambient Ev mode, you can see ISO, shutter speed, aperture and exposure value all at the same time. This is much better than having to scroll through menus to get to the different numbers.

The contrast measurement feature is intuitive and useful. All you need to do is to hold down the 'M' (measure) button in 't' or 'Ev' mode, the meter automatically remembers the range of values as you point the meter to various directions. This is quite useful for measuring directional vs. ambient light.

The only minor drawback of this meter is the position of the measure button: right in the middle of the top. It would have been much better if this one button is on the side. On the other hand, because of the small size of the meter, it is still fairly easy to operate the meter using only one hand.

Some may argue the dome should be on top instead of in front. I can see arguments for the dome/photocell in front. This arrangment makes sure the photographer (or whoever is measuring) does not block some of the light being measured.

Customer Service

None needed so far

Similar Products Used:

Sekonic L-308BII

Accurate
Small pocket size
Simple

I can see how it may be easy to accidentally change the ISO setting, but I give a quick glance to make sure when I use the meter. It's probably more unlikely than likely, I think.

Can't beat it for the price. I refuse to spend over $200 bucks for a meter. I think it's terrible how photographic companies charge ridiculously high prices for anything even remotely related to photography. Keep it simple- that's what's nice about the Gossen- simplicity instead of a bunch of complicated buttons and functions. I've used the flash meter also in order to do outdoor fill flash and was happy with the results.

Customer Service

None

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I looked at my friend's Minolta IV and it seemed more difficult to understand right away than the Gossen. I'm sure if I spent a few minutes with the Minolta, I'd figure it out, but the Gossen was fairly quick to learn without the directions.

Small and lightweight
Easy to handle
Lots of info on display
Reasonable ergonomics
Accurate!

Lacks backlight

My first hand-held meter, and I was reluctant. I now find it easy to use, especially when judging a range of contrasts (it displays a range of likely f-stops) and when used with a grey card (a must with any meter, certainly a hand-held). Requires some practice to get trickier situations perfect (side lighting, dusky skies to avoid silhouettes, extremes of light and dark), but with practice and patience, you'll get it right. Not a spot meter, but close enough to get just about every picture perfect.

I wish for a backlight. When I'm shooting in dim light, I lean on the large-ish numbers on the display, but a backlight would make life just that much easier.

A better choice than an old-fashioned dial meter because: 1) it takes AA batteries; 2) it's very accurate and easy to use; 3) it's not bulky; 4) it displays only the information you need, but a sufficiently wide range of data to keep even the most analytical souls happy.

Customer Service

No contact

Similar Products Used:

New Gossen multi-purpose meter (mostly spot)