The best light meter will not necessarily replace the one in your camera, but it will teach you far more about light than your camera can. The best light meters can measure light more precisely than cameras, giving you a clearer picture of how the light is reflecting in your scene.
While the light meter on your camera is obviously useful, when you take a reading, it can only measure the light reflected by the subjects in the frame. This implies that an in-camera light meter will not be able to measure the quantity of light falling on your subject.
Using a portable light meter, on the other hand, allows you to wander around and check the light in different places of your scene to obtain a more precise image of what your exposure should be. Furthermore, most light meters have an adapter for measuring ‘incident’ light. While you probably wouldn’t use a handheld meter when shooting handheld, it’s an excellent utility when your camera is mounted on a tripod.
Studio flash photography is one of the areas of photography where a light meter may be quite useful. Most portable meters can measure both flash power and ambient light — something your camera cannot do. Some photographers choose to spend extra for a TTL flash setup instead, but this may soon add up. Instead, why not invest in a flash meter, understand how light behaves in various situations, simplify your photography setup, and be in complete control during the shoot?
8 Best Light Meter for Photography 2022
1. Sekonic L-308X-U Flashmate Light Meter (401-305)
$229.00
in stock
12 new from $229.00
1 used from $400.00
1 used from $400.00
Free shipping
Amazon
as of September 24, 2022 12:38 pm
as of September 24, 2022 12:38 pm
Features
- Exposures accurate down to a tenth-of-a-stop for both ambient and electronic flash light readings in full-stop mode.
- At ISO 100 the ambient EV range is 0 to 19.9 flash f/stops range from f/1.0 to f/90.9 with a shutter-speed span of 60-seconds to 1/8000th-of-a-second (1 sec to 1/500th for flash).
- Photo Mode: for still image photographers featuring shutter or aperture priority display of a full range of ambient and flash functions including cord and cordless flash measurement
- HD Cine Mode: perfect for DSLR and mirrorless videographers who need to take exposure readings and control light using shutter speeds and frame rates
- Cine Mode: designed for use with cinema grade cameras, allows users to select from the most useful frame rates and shutter angles for exposure control with one-tenth stop accuracy.
2. Gossen Digisix 2 Exposure Meter (GO 4006-2 / H262A)
Features
- COMPREHENSIVE METERING METHODS-incident and reflected light measurement. Made in Germany
- "TIMER FOR TIME EXPOSURES timer is adjustable from 1 second to 30 minutes"
- PRECISION MEASUREMENT AND DISPLAY-exposure value is ascertained and displayed in 1/3 increments
- SUBJECT CONTRAST CONTROL-contrast display in 1/3 f-stop increments
- INDIVIDUALIZED ADAPTION-entry of equipment-specific correction values: ± 3 correction values in 1/3 increments
3. Sekonic 401-208 Twin Mate Light Meter (Black/White)
Features
- ONLY SEKONIC METERS THAT ARE SHIPPED BY AND SOLD BY AMAZON.COM OR OTHER AUTHORIZED SEKONIC DEALERS CAN ENSURE THAT YOU ARE RECEIVING GOODS THAT HAVE PROPER FCC COMMUNICATION AND ARE COVERED BY A USA WARRANTY. THE AMAZON OFFER MAY BE SEEN TO THE RIGHT. GREY MARKET SEKONIC METERS WILL NOT APPLICABLE FOR A US WARRANTY.
- Perfect for beginners, or as a compact ambient backup meter
- 30-seconds to 1/8000th, f/1.4 to f/32 in half-stop increments
- ISO 12 to 12500 in half-stop increments
- Hold-and-Read mode locks readings for 15-seconds, allows for extended exposure evaluation time
4. Sekonic Speedmaster L-858D-U Light Meter (401-858)
out of stock
Amazon
as of September 24, 2022 12:38 pm
as of September 24, 2022 12:38 pm
Features
- Flash Duration Measurements - Understanding flash duration is the first step in freezing fast-moving subjects. Photographers are now able to measure it easily for the first time, demystifying one of photography's most challenging techniques
- Radio Control Modules for Wireless Triggering - Having pioneered wireless exposure measurement, the L-858 Speedmaster Pro expands upon this ground-breaking innovation by adding functionality for Elinchrom Skyport and Phottix Strato II/ Ares II users
- Increased Light Sensitivity - An additional 3-stops of light sensitivity for incident light, 2-stops of light sensitivity for reflected light (spot), and an ability to capture a reading down 0.1 lx of Illuminance
- HSS Flash Measurements - Finally, photographers now have an accurate way of measuring their lights when they want to overpower the sun or achieve a very shallow depth of field through using HSS
- Flash Analyzing Function - Measures ambient and flash simultaneously and automatically indicates the percentage of flash in the total exposure
5. Dr.meter LX1330B Digital Illuminance Light Meter
$32.39 in stock
Amazon
as of September 24, 2022 12:38 pm
as of September 24, 2022 12:38 pm
Features
- ▶【4-Range Settings】: This high-quality digital illuminance/light meter has 4-range settings, 0/200/2,000/20,000/200,000 Lux, for a dynamic metering ability.
- ▶【High Accuracy】: With auto zeroing capabilities, you can be sure you'll always get a reading with pinpoint accuracy, and it will always be fast!
- ▶【EZ-Read Display】: Clearly readable info lets you read Units and Signs easily, and stay informed with the over-range indicator.
- ▶【Convenient Switches】: Get better control over your readings with Data Hold & Peak Data hold for when you're recording information. You'll also benefit from its lower power consumption and short rise and fall times.
- ▶【Bring Anywhere】: From squeezing into tight places to keeping your load light, you can bring the Dr.Meter Digital Illuminance/light meter wherever you need to. Fits easily into a work bag or large pocket and barely adds any weight. It's the ultimate in light-metering convenience!
6. New Sekonic L-478DR-U Pocket Wizard Lightmeter
Features
- Instantly familiar and comfortable to use. Make settings by touching icons or sliding a finger on the screen. The large color LCD displays ambient, flash, cine and other information in a clear and understandable way.
- The L-478-Series meters are especially useful when using flash to lighten shadows or reduce background detail. That's because they measure ambient and flash simultaneously and automatically indicate the percentage of flash in the total exposure.
- The L-478-series has two motion- capture modes to fit camera in use. Touch to set shutter speeds for HD SLR cameras or quickly select frame rates and shutter angles for Cine.
- Special effects and light sources can push standard camera settings to their limits That's why the L-478 also allows creating unique frame rates and shutter angles to .000 to enable precise exposure and lighting.
- Brightness measurement in Lux or FC and Cd/m2 or FL will make the L-478 a major player on movie sets around the world. Display brightness along with exposure measurements or simply by itself.
7. New Sekonic L-478D-U Lightmeter With Exclusive 3-Year Warranty
Features
- Instantly familiar and comfortable to use. Make settings by touching icons or sliding a finger on the screen. The large color LCD displays ambient, flash, cine and other information in a clear and understandable way.
- The L-478-Series meters are especially useful when using flash to lighten shadows or reduce background detail. That's because they measure ambient and flash simultaneously and automatically indicate the percentage of flash in the total exposure.
- The L-478-series has two motion- capture modes to fit camera in use. Touch to set shutter speeds for HD SLR cameras or quickly select frame rates and shutter angles for Cine.
- Special effects and light sources can push standard camera settings to their limits That's why the L-478 also allows creating unique frame rates and shutter angles to .000 to enable precise exposure and lighting.
- Brightness measurement in Lux or FC and Cd/m2 or FL will make the L-478 a major player on movie sets around the world. Display brightness along with exposure measurements or simply by itself.Display Range Film Speed:ISO 3 to 409600 (in 1/3 steps)
8. Sekonic L-398A Light Meter Studio Deluxe III (401-399)
$220.00
in stock
10 new from $220.00
2 used from $195.00
2 used from $195.00
Free shipping
Amazon
as of September 24, 2022 12:38 pm
as of September 24, 2022 12:38 pm
Features
- ONLY SEKONIC METERS THAT ARE SHIPPED BY AND SOLD BY AMAZON.COM OR OTHER AUTHORIZED SEKONIC DEALERS CAN ENSURE THAT YOU ARE RECEIVING GOODS THAT HAVE PROPER FCC COMMUNICATION AND ARE COVERED BY A USA WARRANTY. THE AMAZON OFFER MAY BE SEEN TO THE RIGHT. GREY MARKET SEKONIC METERS WILL NOT APPLICABLE FOR A US WARRANTY.
- Ideal prime or back-up meter for still photography and cinematography use
- Amorphous photocell requires no batteries or external power source.
- ISO range 6 to 12,000 in 1/3 step increments
- 60-seconds to 1/8000th, f/0.7 to f/128, 8-fps to 128-fps