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Author Topic: Looking for feedback on the Sekonic l-358  (Read 2902 times)

ashley

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Looking for feedback on the Sekonic l-358
« on: September 23, 2010, 08:11:10 am »

I have a few assorted old light meters but I was thinking about selling a couple of them on eBay and purchasing a Sekonic l-358. Looking on Sekonic's own websites I found conflicting information regarding the specifications and an email sent to their sales team asking for clarification hasn't received any reply. I was just wondering if anybody here has any experience with this light meter and would would care to offer some feedback whether good or bad regarding its accuracy and handling etc.? I saw somewhere that it is 15.5cm in length, making it as large as my ancient Minolta flashmeter III that is like a brick compared to my other meters so I wondered if that was correct.

Thanks

Ashley 
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Lightbox

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Re: Looking for feedback on the Sekonic l-358
« Reply #1 on: September 23, 2010, 08:55:11 am »

I have no experience with the 358, but own an L-558 which I bought for a bargain, and it really is worth keeping an eye out for a good deal on either this or the L-608. Built in spot meter is a great thing to have and its great to have an LED display of the reading in the viewfinder, makes evaluating a scene alot quicker and uninterupted. Yes they are big, bigger than they need to be in this day of micro technology...
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ashley

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Re: Looking for feedback on the Sekonic l-358
« Reply #2 on: September 23, 2010, 09:47:58 am »

The L-558 looks like an impressive beast. I just wonder if I would need the extra features such as the spot meter. There is a used one right now on eBay.

I have a 308B that is a handy little light meter because it is so small that you can slip it in your pocket without a problem even when the kit bag is completely full. I have found it to be essentially just as accurate as the Gossen and Minolta I have but it's a very basic meter and I was thinking that the l-358 might just fill the gap. I am slightly disappointed to hear they are so big because it isn't always that convenient when you are working on location and you have to carry a lot of equipment.
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Rob C

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Re: Looking for feedback on the Sekonic l-358
« Reply #3 on: September 23, 2010, 12:48:33 pm »

 "making it as large as my ancient Minolta flashmeter III that is like a brick compared to my other meters ..."


I still have exactly that meter, and though seldom use it or anything else since the advent of Matrix Metering à la Nikon, as it certainly tells you where to start with flash, I wouldn't dream of dumping it. Why, if it works? Hardly a brick - more like something for the old-fashioned weekend, when men were men and enthusiastic.

Rob C

ashley

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Re: Looking for feedback on the Sekonic l-358
« Reply #4 on: September 23, 2010, 01:19:28 pm »

I must admit that made me laugh. I remember a slight sense of unease when I first received the 1DsII having previously used much lighter cameras and telling myself I had to toughen up a bit  ;D

The size of the meter doesn't bother me at all from a handling perspective and a big screen would be appreciated. It's just a problem sometimes when you have various items fighting for space in your camera bag. I am unclear about the colour of this meter because I have seen it as being grey just about everywhere and just now I saw it on a UK site in black with a lighter grey edge. I would much rather have it like this image in black.


« Last Edit: September 23, 2010, 01:22:18 pm by ashley »
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ashley

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Re: Looking for feedback on the Sekonic l-358
« Reply #5 on: September 23, 2010, 02:10:31 pm »

I've just done some research and discovered that the photos of the black l-358 were taken of a pre-release prototype model... Knowing how long this meter has been in production shows how often that camera store bothers to check the accuracy of their images!!
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ashley

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Re: Looking for feedback on the Sekonic l-358
« Reply #6 on: September 23, 2010, 03:02:26 pm »

I've just bought myself a new L758D at a good price. It's completely over the top but when I looked at the specs I just couldn't resist it... :-[
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Fritzer

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Re: Looking for feedback on the Sekonic l-358
« Reply #7 on: September 24, 2010, 04:07:28 am »

I got the l-358, after my trusty l-318 broke; it's quite a bit larger than the 318, similar to the old Minolta meters you mentioned.

Handling and precision are very good, I just wished they had used AA batteries, and kept the size a tad smaller, but it's no big deal on the shoot really.
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KevinA

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Re: Looking for feedback on the Sekonic l-358
« Reply #8 on: September 24, 2010, 02:57:30 pm »

I saw Sekonic demonstrating their meters at Focus this year, I could not warm to that over enthusiastic Guy with a cure for a problem I never realised I had and according to him I must still have it. I'm sure for getting ambient and artificial light balanced it could be worth it, I just don't see a need for it day to day, I still have my Pentax spot which was pretty good at nailing it with film if I feel the urge. It looked like a lot of money to spend for little return if any over the meter in your camera.

Kevin.
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ashley

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Re: Looking for feedback on the Sekonic l-358
« Reply #9 on: September 25, 2010, 11:48:47 am »

Mine should arrive on Monday so I'll be able to make a more considered judgement in the cold light of day and decide if I feel it will add real value to my work. The purchase was very much an impulse decision born out of temptation from that particular price offer and I figured it wasn't so much more than I had originally planned on spending. It only takes one image to pay for the meter so it's not exactly a fortune to pay out for something which is possibly the best meter on the market today.
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