Sekonic L-398A Studio Deluxe III Light Meter

2018-05-25T04:41:40

This I really like. No batteries needed.

HAROLD P.

2017-06-28T07:20:41

I do repairs for a large equipment center that teaches film. We use these meters with 16mm spring wound Bolex Rex cameras. The analogue battery free setup is ideal. The metering style allows you to see the light changes.

EMERSON C.

2017-04-28T15:29:40

This meter is a very sturdy, we'll built product that is accurate and reliable. All that and it doesn't need batteries. You can't beat it!

SIDNEY K.

2012-05-13T21:00:00

I had one of these a few years ago and sold it because I had no manual lenses at the time. I regretted that so when I got another manual lens I bought a cheaper Gossen meter that uses watch-type batteries. I found, though, that the meter - which never turns off - drained the batteries. I didn't use it very often, and it was annoying, when I did attempt to use it, to find the batteries were dead. So I sold that and bought another Sekonic that uses no batteries. The only problem I had was with the carry case. The meter comes with interchangeable Lumi dome and Lumi disk, and there is nowhere to put them in the meter case. With my previous Sekonic, the case provided the necessary room.

John H.

2012-05-06T21:00:00

This meter consistently reads about 1 stop low. It also gets unreliable in lower light situations.

John M.

2012-01-01T19:00:00

I use this meter primarily for film shoots or when using my RB67 for studio work. The only time I screwed up the exposure when using this was when I didn't set the ISO properly on the dial. Great meter!

SeanMacBride

2011-12-04T19:00:00

This meter's readings are consistent with those from my Gossen Digisix. I like this one better because there is no battery to run out unexpectedly. It is not at its best in low light situations, though.

John M.

2011-11-29T19:00:00

Five out of five for being brilliantly designed (Google 'Norwood Director'), easy to use and consistently accurate; I would say this is probably my favorite analog meter, even edging out my trusty 'Gossen Luna-Pro F', if only because of the Gossen's unwieldy shape and size. The L-398 is ergonomically perfect and, being essentially palm-sized, slips easily into any photo-vest pocket. I use hand-held meters exclusively for measuring incident light when it's appropriate, which is what this meter is designed for, first and foremost. In-camera meters (or the one in my brain) are just fine for measuring reflected light or whenever precision isn't critical. Old-school technology? Well yes, yes it is. But photographers who have the knowledge to employ a meter like this will not be disappointed. And never underestimate the power of looking cool while you're working -- that's money in the bank :) The caveats: People who aren't sure if they need a hand-held meter probably don't, and those who are sure might want to start with something like the Gossen Digisix or Sekonic's L-208. Although this is the best of the bunch, Battery-free designs are never a great choice for low-light work, so select this meter with that in mind.

DaveL

2011-02-12T19:00:00

I'm new to using a light meter, but am very disappointed at its performance. A 15% gray card gives better results and save you [$]. The reading is usually off by -2/3 to 1 stop in shaded areas, but gets worse in direct sunlight or indoor at night; off by as much as -2 full stops. The purpose of paying extra is to get accurate reading. I would consider 2 full stop is way off for something that costs over [$]. Don't waste your money.

SJphoto

2009-02-14T19:00:00

I have been able to rely on this workhorse in all situations except near-dark available light photography. For this, I recommend L-358 or L-758. A bid advantage is the fact that it is very durable. I can take it places where a digital model would be distroyed. (Try dropping a digital model & see how long it works). With the direct reading slides, it is as fast reading as the digital models. Great for a Photojournalist.

thescientist10