Best Bang for the buck in a light meter?

[Atracksler]

Looking for a light meter, I kind of need one now, but only really want to buy one. I know I can get a decent incident light meter for pretty short money, I know I can spend a lot... I can get a spot meter, but its not going to do it when I'm using strobes (this will probably be off for a while for me).

Will be using it with large format mostly, since my digital rig has it built in....

Looking at minolta, maybe, since I can get a meter now, and get a spot meter attachment....I just really don't know....

Thanks in advance. I don't really have a budget, I can wait to find a good one, but I don't really want to drop $700 on one (I'd rather have another lens and film..)

Thanks in advance, ad

[Eric Biggerstaff]

Best bang is the Metered Light Pocket Spot. You can get one through Alan Ross.

Or, look for good used Pentax 1 degree spot meter.

Both of these have served me very well.

But there will be other opinions of course.

[IanG]

Best bang for Buck is a Lenigrad 4 I have 2 and they are surprisingly accurate and reliable, as well as being small.

I mostly use a Minolta Spotmeter F it's great for Ambient (daylight) and Flash, very accurate and not too large.

Ian

[Jason Greenberg Motamedi]

Best bang is the Metered Light Pocket Spot. You can get one through Alan Ross.

Is this still being produced?

[Oren Grad]

My workhorse is a Sekonic L-308 incident/reflected/flash meter. The latest version, L-308S, is available new at B&H for $199; older versions in the 308 series can sometimes be had second-hand in good condition for less than $100.

[Eric Biggerstaff]

Yes, there are still some available. I believe Alan is your best bet to get one. I love mine, bullet proof and reliable.

[Drew Wiley]

I'd look for something accurate and durable rather than initially cheap, and that kind be serviced or recalibrated if necessary over the long haul. I personally like
Pentax digital spotmeters or the similar (but typically a bit cheaper used) Minolta Spotmeter F.

[Ken Lee]

It's often a good idea to carry two. One of them can be very cheap if you like, but a spare comes in handy in case of battery failure or meter failure.

I have a Pentax Spot meter but rarely use it. I prefer the Gossen Digisix since I use incident 99% of the time and this one is small with a wide range of light sensitivity. I like simplicity.

[Atracksler]

How is the Adorama (Soligor) Digital Spot Meter?

[jp]

I have two as well. A sekonic L208 for simple and light, and a Minolta Flashmeter IV for spare/flash uses. If I misplace one (more likely than battery failure), I've got the other. I don't practice spotmetering so I can't help with that.