The Bestest Meter Ever

[steve_782]

My PhotoResearch LiteMate III finally puked after 25 years and I couldn't get it fixed. The new version was $1500 for a footcandle / lux meter. I was having a hard time coughing up the money for a dedicate FC / Lux meter.

I looked at a number of alternatives, and then found a new meter from Gossen - the Starlite. I ordered it as it was 1/2 the price of the new PhotoResearch and would do FC readings to 0.05 FC.

Well, it got here and I'm totally blown away. It will do incident readings, the sphere retracts to do FC/Lux readings, it functions as as a 1 degree or 5 degree spot meter - which by the way, you can use to read foot lamberts or candelas per square meter.

It has cine scales with variable shutter angles, and a Zone system scale that will allow you to measure Zone V and then highlight and shadows - and will show the relationship on a linear scale.

Oh, yeah, it's also a full function flash meter - either incident or spot.

I have a LOT of different meters gathered over the years, (Luna Pro (2), Weston Master V, Pentax Digital Spot, Soligor spot, Gossen UltraPro, and the broken Litemate III) - I'm freaking impressed....

[Bob Gentile]

Dang! And I'm still workin' with an old Weston II and an analog Pentax Spotmeter!

One of these days...

[Alan Davenport]

And here I am, still salivating every time I get my Luna Pro F out of the bag...

[Per Madsen]

And here I am, still salivating every time I get my Luna Pro F out of the bag...

I also have the same Gossen meter. The Luna Pro F was named the Lunasix F in
Europe.

Still works after 25 years.

[evan clarke]

I use Gossen Ultra Spots for zone readings. I also have a Starlite which does zone readings but the good thing is taht it will let you place a hidhlight as the holder or a shadow..EC

[Helen Bach]

Isn't there a difference in the spectral response of the Starlite (for photographic use) and the Litemate (photopic), or doesn't it matter for your application?

Best,
Helen

[Brian K]

I just use "sunny 16".

[Michael Graves]

Light meter? What is that and what do you use it for?

[Alan Davenport]

sunny 16" ////// Light meter? What is that...

I knew it was only a matter of time before the Luddites showed up. There is no facet of photography so low-tech, that someone isn't going to mention that he/she doesn't care to use that new-fangled stuff.

Sunny 16 is great as a backup system if the meter's battery croaks. I sometimes do the calculations as a reality-check after I've integrated a bunch of meter readings, but I see no great advantage in leaving the meter at home.

If light meters were good enough for St. Ansel, I guess they're good enough for me.

[Jim Galli]

Actually the technology of meaningful light meters and the zone system both appeared about the same time. There may be a good reason for that.