Opinions on new Sekonic meter

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Frank Pittel - 25 Dec 2003 18:42 GMT

This only on topic since no LF camera that I know of has a built in light
meter so we all have a handheld meter of some kind.

I've finally decided that my trusty old Sekonic 508 needs to be replaced.
After years of reliable service looseness<SP?> in the spot angle adjustment
ring has me questioning it's accuracy and reliability. (still works fine
as far as I can tell and I'll likely get it repaired as a backup)

Right now I'm looking at the possibility of an upgrade and debating getting
the Sekonic 608 or their new 558. As far as I can tell they're comparable meters
with the difference being the price. I'm interested in hearing opinions on both
meters with actual comparison to the 508.

The only complaint I have with the 508 is the low light sensitivity. Reading the
specs for the 508, 608 and 558 I see that Sekonic claims a measuring range in reflected
mode for the 508 and 608 being EV3 - EV24.4 while the 558 has a range of of EV1 - EV24.4.
It sounds like for low light situations the 558 is the meter to get!!

Opinions??

Signature

Keep working millions on welfare depend on you
-------------------
fwp@deepthought.com

Reply to this Message

~BitPump - 26 Dec 2003 10:28 GMT

> Right now I'm looking at the possibility of an upgrade and debating getting
> the Sekonic 608 or their new 558. As far as I can tell they're comparable meters
> with the difference being the price. I'm interested in hearing opinions on both
> meters with actual comparison to the 508.

I used to use Sekonic 508, but indeed low sensivity and lack of scanning
(immediate results in the eye finder) made me to change to another meter.

I was playing with the new Sekonic meter, which I was told has scanning, but
even with that you have to press the button each time you want to take a
measurment.

So, finally I end up with Minolta VI and I am happy with that.

Regards,

~Andrzej

Reply to this Message

Jim Phelps - 30 Dec 2003 08:54 GMT

> This only on topic since no LF camera that I know of has a built in light
> meter so we all have a handheld meter of some kind.
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> --

Frank,

I got a L-558 about a month ago. I find it to be a very accurate,
intuitive and helpful meter. I haven't used it for low light, but in
'playing with it' (as my wife calls it), it seems to be capable of just
about anything I've thrown at it. Experience shows it's fairly rugged
(dropped from a table one and it shrugged it off). I really like the in
viewfinder display when spot metering. I'm not sure there's much of a
feature advantage in the L-608. The L-558 has the lower light capability,
so in my mind, had the advantage over the L-608.

Check out some of the offers on E-Bay. Right after I placed my order
with B&H, I saw it there for about 350 (Edmund Photo in Hong Kong, seems to
be reputable).

Jim

Reply to this Message