Another informative video. I didn’t realise I could preprogram filter compensation values. I’ll have to do some experimentation and measure the values for my filters. That reciprocity failure feature would be good. It would save me from measuring and then getting my phone out to work out adjustments.
Good video. I agree with your take on the touch screen. Even on warm days, it sometimes fails to react to my touch. And, the unreliable battery indicator? What's that about...it does the same thing on my unit. I use the AV/EV button a lot for scouting dynamic range, so I won't switch it to another function. Same for the Tools button. But like you, I'd like more buttons. I'd use one for "Erase Memory" (Now requires four touches) and one for accessing mid-tone settings. What I find most useful in "scape" photography is the ability to see on a scale where my high, mid-tone and low level readings fall in relation to my camera/meter calibration (Found in "Adjust Mid-tone). In your case, this gives you the ability to see exactly where your shadows will block and in my case as a digital shooter, where my highlights will clip. The mid tone is then adjustable to "place" the exposure to where you want it while being able to see where other metered readings that are held in memory will "fall". This is much more informative than averaging an exposure. And even more so in very high contrast scenes. The implication here is that dealing with zones becomes unnecessary for what Adam's called "natural exposures". Sekonic has had this in previous versions too, like your L-758. But, I also do studio and environmental portraiture and the ability to measure HSS flash is a real benefit. I don't do a lot of active portraiture such as dance, or athletics but I have measured a few of my lights for flash duration so that I know which lights and how to set them up "just in case". Overall, it's a great meter. Thanks for putting your impressions together.
Thanks for your helpful information on the mid tones, I will explore it more. If you update the firmware in the light meter you gain memory clear as an option for the custom buttons.
Great video! One quick question from a noob: i use the Sekonic mostly in F mode. Why on earth does it display the required shutter speed as a value + a fraction of that value? For example it will show a required shutter speed of "30-6", which means: 1/30th + 1/6 of a 30th (= 48th of a second). This seems to me incredibly odd and unintuitive and there is no way to change this in the settings to a precise fraction or even a millisecond value. Thanks!
I don’t have my light meter anymore so I can’t check what your mean. I remember that it showed a fractional number. I think I ignored it. However, it depends on if you are exposing correctly. If you find you are not exposing correctly, try rounding up or down to the next shutter setting. If you lenses have 1/3 stop increments, you could try adjusting them too.
Hi Stephen, wanted to ask is there a way / shortcut when loading your ND filters compensations to be able to switch between say a 6 stop 1.8 value to a ND 10 filter instead of manually changing the values in the input compensation value setting. Tried using the 'Filter Pack' option, but don't see a manual way of changing this value when on the home screen? Great video thanks and agree to give the landscape photographers what they want too :)
Stephen, Thanks for an excellent Excellent video on the SEKONIC L-858d! It’s good 😊 to see photographers trusting light meters today. You cannot imagine the number of people that I have come across to tell me that a light meter is not needed if I am using a DSLR…🤩 TWO QUESTIONS: 1. How did you load the CirPL into the filter pack? I am having loading mine in there… 2. You have Filter Compensation set to +1.5 in your Input Filter Window. How does it work for you since you have the Filter Pack set which includes the CircPL which typically measures 1.5 Stops?🛑 I would appreciate your response… Cheers! 🥂
Thank you 🙏 You can add custom filters and edit filters in Menu > Edit Filters using the meter. Or, you can do the same using the Sekonic Data Transfer App. My CPL is set to -2.
@@StephenMilner I have used the DTS Application for the 758 and currently for the 858 to load my NIKON Profile. But I have never thought of loading my Filter Pack directly from the DTS software. AWESOMELY Stephen! 😎👌
Lots of reviews mention the touch screen as being poor, but you seem to be blazing through the menus in the first part of this video with very few missed finger presses. I'm not sure what to think now. Is it possible that some folks have defective units?
The great variety of features are enabled in this meter because is CPU/software based. It may offer a few unique features any one photographer might appreciate, but in the end it is a collection of features which will largely go unused by most photographers. Given its price, $600-650 US, potential buyers would have been better served by Sekonic if they offered a more basic spot meter without all of the relatively useless bells and whistles at a price more in line with what a good meter could cost, being at least half as much. The problem is that Sekonic offers the only new spot meter sold today, if you discount a $2,500 Gossen or Spectra. So the better option left is to buy used, perhaps an excellent Minolta Spot M or F, or a Pentax Digital Spot, offering the basic functions needed without covering them up with techno bullshit.
I have this meter , Whats the best way to setup a profile for Bronica for B&W, it seems easy enough for my digital, but somewhat confused with film.. Great video's as always.
Thanks for the video, yeah this meter is not for me, so much menu diving to do anything. Also the whole point of a meter is having it figure out the zone system for you, yet there's no way to dial in exposure compensation while seeing where your measurements land... lol
The Battery compartment have a Deep hole in the corner . and if the battery leaks to the Hole . you have to spend $300 for the mother board . happened to me . and i don't like it. 👎👎👎
Another informative video. I didn’t realise I could preprogram filter compensation values. I’ll have to do some experimentation and measure the values for my filters. That reciprocity failure feature would be good. It would save me from measuring and then getting my phone out to work out adjustments.
Helpful video, just got mine looking forward to having more control over light
Good video. I agree with your take on the touch screen. Even on warm days, it sometimes fails to react to my touch. And, the unreliable battery indicator? What's that about...it does the same thing on my unit. I use the AV/EV button a lot for scouting dynamic range, so I won't switch it to another function. Same for the Tools button. But like you, I'd like more buttons. I'd use one for "Erase Memory" (Now requires four touches) and one for accessing mid-tone settings. What I find most useful in "scape" photography is the ability to see on a scale where my high, mid-tone and low level readings fall in relation to my camera/meter calibration (Found in "Adjust Mid-tone). In your case, this gives you the ability to see exactly where your shadows will block and in my case as a digital shooter, where my highlights will clip. The mid tone is then adjustable to "place" the exposure to where you want it while being able to see where other metered readings that are held in memory will "fall". This is much more informative than averaging an exposure. And even more so in very high contrast scenes. The implication here is that dealing with zones becomes unnecessary for what Adam's called "natural exposures". Sekonic has had this in previous versions too, like your L-758. But, I also do studio and environmental portraiture and the ability to measure HSS flash is a real benefit. I don't do a lot of active portraiture such as dance, or athletics but I have measured a few of my lights for flash duration so that I know which lights and how to set them up "just in case". Overall, it's a great meter. Thanks for putting your impressions together.
Thanks for your helpful information on the mid tones, I will explore it more. If you update the firmware in the light meter you gain memory clear as an option for the custom buttons.
How do you move from the spot metering to the metering with the lumisphete?
In the settings, have a read of the manual. If you don’t have the manual, try and find an online pdf version.
Great video! One quick question from a noob: i use the Sekonic mostly in F mode. Why on earth does it display the required shutter speed as a value + a fraction of that value? For example it will show a required shutter speed of "30-6", which means: 1/30th + 1/6 of a 30th (= 48th of a second). This seems to me incredibly odd and unintuitive and there is no way to change this in the settings to a precise fraction or even a millisecond value. Thanks!
I don’t have my light meter anymore so I can’t check what your mean. I remember that it showed a fractional number. I think I ignored it. However, it depends on if you are exposing correctly. If you find you are not exposing correctly, try rounding up or down to the next shutter setting. If you lenses have 1/3 stop increments, you could try adjusting them too.
Hi Stephen, wanted to ask is there a way / shortcut when loading your ND filters compensations to be able to switch between say a 6 stop 1.8 value to a ND 10 filter instead of manually changing the values in the input compensation value setting. Tried using the 'Filter Pack' option, but don't see a manual way of changing this value when on the home screen? Great video thanks and agree to give the landscape photographers what they want too :)
No shortcut available that I am aware of
Great! Thanks, Stephen.
Stephen, Thanks for an excellent Excellent video on the SEKONIC L-858d! It’s good 😊 to see photographers trusting light meters today. You cannot imagine the number of people that I have come across to tell me that a light meter is not needed if I am using a DSLR…🤩
TWO QUESTIONS:
1. How did you load the CirPL into the filter pack? I am having loading mine in there…
2. You have Filter Compensation set to +1.5 in your Input Filter Window. How does it work for you since you have the Filter Pack set which includes the CircPL which typically measures 1.5 Stops?🛑
I would appreciate your response… Cheers! 🥂
Thank you 🙏 You can add custom filters and edit filters in Menu > Edit Filters using the meter. Or, you can do the same using the Sekonic Data Transfer App. My CPL is set to -2.
@@StephenMilner Thank you 🙏 very much for the prompt response…I was unaware of a DTS APP…
Yes, you can download it from the Sekonic product page.
@@StephenMilner I have used the DTS Application for the 758 and currently for the 858 to load my NIKON Profile. But I have never thought of loading my Filter Pack directly from the DTS software.
AWESOMELY Stephen! 😎👌
Lots of reviews mention the touch screen as being poor, but you seem to be blazing through the menus in the first part of this video with very few missed finger presses. I'm not sure what to think now. Is it possible that some folks have defective units?
I only noticed touch issues with the screen in cold temperatures. Apart from that, it worked great.
The great variety of features are enabled in this meter because is CPU/software based. It may offer a few unique features any one photographer might appreciate, but in the end it is a collection of features which will largely go unused by most photographers. Given its price, $600-650 US, potential buyers would have been better served by Sekonic if they offered a more basic spot meter without all of the relatively useless bells and whistles at a price more in line with what a good meter could cost, being at least half as much. The problem is that Sekonic offers the only new spot meter sold today, if you discount a $2,500 Gossen or Spectra. So the better option left is to buy used, perhaps an excellent Minolta Spot M or F, or a Pentax Digital Spot, offering the basic functions needed without covering them up with techno bullshit.
Did he pronounce Cine as Cyne?
I have this meter , Whats the best way to setup a profile for Bronica for B&W, it seems easy enough for my digital, but somewhat confused with film.. Great video's as always.
By doing a controlled dynamic range test with the film
@@StephenMilner what's that's?
i have the 478d and pretty happy with it so far. i dont need the spotmeter function
Nice! :)
Thanks for the video, yeah this meter is not for me, so much menu diving to do anything. Also the whole point of a meter is having it figure out the zone system for you, yet there's no way to dial in exposure compensation while seeing where your measurements land... lol
I have one for sale
The Battery compartment have
a Deep hole in the corner . and if the battery leaks to the Hole . you have to spend $300 for the mother board . happened to me . and i don't like it. 👎👎👎
Sounds unfortunate. It’s not issue I experienced
this is a terrible light meter because no reciprocity feature!