How to Choose a Photo Light Meter
Taking precise light reading before taking a photograph is one of the most important things that you will have to do if you want to take a prefect photograph with accurate exposure. Considering the fact that there is a wide variety of photo light meters available, it is imperative that you choose a light meter specific to your needs and interests. Be prepared to spend about $150 for a basic light meter and about $750 for more advanced models. Here is how you can choose the prefect photo light meter.
Instructions
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If you will be taking most of photographs in a studio where you need to take close-up shots of your subjects, an incident light meter will be best for you. As opposed to built-in camera light meters, an incident light meter will measure the light focused on the subject rather than measuring the light reflected back into the meter off of the subject. An important thing that you need to take care of is that both the subject and the incident light meter should be in the same light. Moreover, incident light meters are best when shooting with a camera on which a flash has been attached.
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If you will be taking the photographs from considerable distance, consider investing in a reflective light meter. These meters measure the light being reflected back into the meter off of the subject being photographed. Reflective light meters are less accurate than incident light meters.
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For photographers who shoot a mix of pictures both in an out of a studio, a combination incident and reflective light meter will serve best. These light meters are attached with a plastic hemisphere that can be slid onto the light sensor when taking incident readings and can slid off the sensor when taking reflected readings.
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Choose a lightweight, compact photo light meter if you plan on shooting outdoors or plan to travel a lot. In order to make sure that you are investing in the correct model, consider reading online reviews about particular model. These reviews are independent opinion of people who have used a particular light meter model in the past. Additionally, in order to get a feel of how much you will have to spend, compare prices of a number of different photo light meter brands.
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Once you are done with the research part, you can visit a camera supply store to purchase the camera. Operate the light meter while you are in the store to make sure that you are comfortable using it.
