Camera Labs

Other than for portrait shots how necessary is a light meter?

Anybody here use a light meter? Can you share your knowledge on tech and experience?

I ask because I've been directed to buy one for a course that I am doing in the new year and I just want get a better idea of how versatile it is across the board in different photography fields other than portrait work.

Jay...

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Nikon D80+Nikkor 18-200mm VR f/3.5-5.6, Manfrotto tripod-190XDB/Head-804RC2
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hero_of_the_jay/

Hello Jay!

If you ever used the camera on Auto, you have useda light meter (sort of) light meters can be good is you want to take a picture of a landscape and the foreground is underexposed but the background is exposed well, you meter the foreground, recompose and the results are better exposure and vice-versa.

Other than that and portrait, I know it's good for macro and small products, but anything else? I don't know

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Assistant News Photojournalist
Nikon and Canon Systems
A variety of f/2.8 lenses from 10.5 to 400mm
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Hi Jay, I used one in my dark and distant past, but as Fearless Leader says, I tend to only use the light meter built into the camera these days - they're sufficiently reliable for my needs.

Light meters were only really necessary for older cameras without reliable metering of their own - or indeed with no meteing at all. And also for use with film where you were neber 100% sure if it would work out.

Now we have instant playback and in-camera histograms, it's easy to evaluate exposures and make adjustments if necessary.

But don't let me put you off! It's good to learn the technique and the fundamentals of metering exposure, so do let us know how you get on!

Yeah i agree that with playback nowadays that for general hobby shotting a light meter isn't necessary. However if i were doing paid work then thats a different story. I would imagine having one would increase the success rate. Instead of 3 good shots to a 100 maybe 10 to a 100.

thanx for your views guys.

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Nikon D80+Nikkor 18-200mm VR f/3.5-5.6, Manfrotto tripod-190XDB/Head-804RC2
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hero_of_the_jay/