Are you going to use it in a studio (perhaps with strobes)?

Incident light meter:  typically meter the light "incident to" (falling
on the subject) that is reflected towards the lens.  Set aperture/speed
accordingly.  Some versions have flash incident metering also
(indispenible for studio flash lighting).  In the most simple case you
stand near the subject with the meter dome pointing at the subject to
take the reading.  One of the benefits of incident metering is that you
don't need to worry about the reflectance of the subject.

Spot meter: peer through the meter and meter the reflected light from
the subject.  This is generally the same as using the camera TTL in spot
metering mode.  And of course the color of the metered area needs to be
taken into account.  Some meters will spot meter flash as well.

Minolta, Sekonic and Gossen are the most common brands, though I'm not
sure if Minolta are in the game (as Konica-Minolta) any more or if it's
gone to Sony.  (Per the K-M pages, the products have been discontinued,
and there is no mention on the Sony pages that I can see).

I have experience with both Minolta and Sekonic and they both make great
meters, though there is a slight difference in readngs for the same
light.  I know people who swear by Gossen.  Another pro I know loves his
Pentax spotmeter.

The question begs: What do you think you need a meter for?

Cheers,
Alan

On Sun, 29 Oct 2006 19:05:39 +0000, sferguso wrote:

If all you're going to read is continuous light -- sunlight, skylight,
incandescent, etc. -- and not electronic flash:  Sekonic L-398 Studio
Deluxe. (http://www.sekonic.com/products/products.asp?ID=109) Doesn't
need batteries; small, simple, analogue, incident reading type, but will
read reflected, too; very accurate; relatively inexpensive when compared
to those all electronic, do-it-all meters; a perfect "first" meter
suitable not only for the amateur or the pro as well.

And when you need something more, it's the perfect backup meter.

Stef

For what purpose do you want a light meter?  This will tell you what
capabilities you need.