Sekonic 508, 558 flashmeters...

[Capocheny]

Does anyone here use either of these meters both indoors (for flash) and outdoors for ambient readings? And, what's your opinion of either of them for use with the Zone System?

I presently have two Minolta flash meters (III and V.) However, I'm tossing the idea around of getting a spot-flash meter such as the 508 or 558 for more accurate readings of shadow areas when using flash for B&W.

The alternative is a Pentax spotmeters... which meter would you go for?

Thanks in advance for any comments/suggestions.

Cheers

[Nick_3536]

Does the Pentax do flash at all?

[Barry F]

HDC,

I've had the Sekonic 508 for some 18 months and am very pleased with it - both ease of use and accuracy of metering.

If I was buying one now I'd opt for the 558 with the digital readout in the spot window - none of this press the button than take your eye away from the viewfinder to see the reading.

Hope this little bit helps,
Barry

[Ted Harris]

The Pentax Digital Spotmeter does NOT do flash.

[Ralph Barker]

FWIW, I've been using an L-508 for a few years, both in a studio environment with strobes (incident) and in the field (reflected spot), and have been quite happy with it. The 558 adds a few bells and whistles, including displaying the readings in the spot viewer. The only drawback, Zone-wise, is you have to do the Zone placement mentally. But, the 3-reading memory capability makes that relatively easy. I do wish it had the display of the discontinued L-778 pistol-grip spot meter, though. The L-778 has an additional 3 tick marks that can be set, and then moved in unison, making Zones a snap.

[Bill McMannis]

I have used a 508 for over four years. It does a very nice job with flash. Its biggest drawback (as you will surely read about elsewhere) is that in low light situations it seems to lack sensitivity. I have experienced such difficulties when trying to meter low light indoors (auditoriums) and night exteriors.

I remain happy with it and have no intention of replacing it.

[darr]

Hi HDC:

I have both meters, but use them for different applications. I actually have the L-558R which if I bought it over again, I would not have the "R" option, but it was all that was in-stock at the time. R means Radio Module if you didn't know. I use the 558 in the studio and also for available light "close to the studio." I do not take it on road-trips. I find it performs wonderfully especially for calculating all the pops my macro shoots demand. My studio lights are older Photogenic heads that are 600W/300W, and when I rack out 50 CM or more of bellows extension and then looking for f/16 with 25 ASA, I find myself popping sometimes 10-15 times. That can be a lot of math to keep track of and the 558 keeps track of it easily. Available light with dome or spot I cannot find it going wrong either.

The Pentax Digital Spot meter is what is in my tool bag for road-trips. I find it to be precise for available lighting, and much simpler to use since it is a basic spot meter; no bells or whistles, but a very effective tool. I use slide film so I generally meter the hottest spot I want to record and open up about 1½ stops and wallah, there you have it, properly exposed film from my experiences with the Pentax. I thought about selling the Pentax shortly after I got the L-558, but I decided I like to keep it simple on the road and use the best technology in the studio. Just my take.

[fotographis]

I have the Sekonic L558r, and have been very pleased. Not having to take your eye away from the viewfinder to glace down at the meter everytime you take a meter reading is very nice! It makes establishing the zone III, V, and VII ranges a bit easier. Though not as easy as with my Gossen Luna Pro with a Zone calibrated dial, but that meter's 3 and 5 degree "spot" attachment is hardly accurate enough to really fuction well as a spot meter. I also shoot a fair amount of flash in my other life as a commercial photographer, I have come really love the meter for what it can do in that realm too, especially the radio release of my strobe packs and remote cameras. The Sekonic is a nice meter, and the only one I carry with me anymore. One note on the down side, the meter does not seam to be as robust as my older Minolta and Gossen meters, even with all the hype from Sekonic about the meter being super well sealed, it just feels kind of well... fragile.

[Ted Harris]

Sorry for the initial cryptic answer. I use a dedicated Sekonic 718 flashmetr in the studio or, on the rare ocassion when I want a flash spotmeter, I use my Sekonic 778 which dooubles as a flash meter. In the field I use either the 778 or Pentax Digital Spot; since the two are calibrated within 1/3 stop of each other I use whihever one I happen to grab first. Generally one is packed in one"ready-to-go"kit and the other in another.

[Jorge Gasteazoro]

even with all the hype from Sekonic about the meter being super well sealed, it just feels kind of well... fragile.

I have had a 508 since they first came out, so we are talking about 7 years, I have dropped it, I have gotten it wet, I have used it in very dusty conditions and the meter is still working like the first day. Maybe I was lucky and got a good one, but IMO they are very reliable rugged meters.....