Top Best Light Meter for Photography in 2020
The best light meter for photography will provide you with unbelievably accurate metric readings of light levels no matter which part of your home you are in. Ideally, a great light meter can help you save on energy bills. It works by allowing you to monitor the level of light falling on any given surface. Well, most photographers think light meters are not necessary until they find themselves in need of one. Given that they work for all skill levels, there is totally no excuse in missing one for your photography. Having said that, check out the reviews we have prepared for you in the next section of this piece.
Lists of the Best Light Meter for Photography
#1. Dr. Meter Digital Illuminance/Light Meter (LX1330B)
One simple reason why people prefer the Dr. Meter LX1330B model is that it works as advertised by the manufacturer. It is designed to be used in the field of scenic design and cinematography. Generally, it makes a great addition in applications where the optimum light level is needed. This is because it works by determining light intensity. The light meter for photography helps reduce the amount of light going to waste. Apart from photography, the Dr. Meter Digital Light Meter works really well at ensuring proper light level for plants. It comes with a user manual that provides directions on how you should use and handle it. It also comes with a carrying case, which makes it easy to transport every time you are on the go. Furthermore, the unit comes with a 9V battery, so you can use it right out of the box.
Its photodetector dimensions are 100 x 60 x 28 mm, while its overall dimensions are 149 x 71 x 41 mm. Well, these are perfect sizes that will not get in your way in the event that you want to store or carry this light meter. The aforesaid 9V battery has an estimated life of up to 200 hours. Having said that, expect this photography light meter to serve you for quite a while before the battery drains out. The ranges of this gadget are 4, and they include 0.1 – 200/2,000/20,000/200,000 Lux. Moreover, this light meter has an impressive photodetector type, which is a silicon photodiode with a filter. And its display is 3-1/2 digit 18mm LCD while its accuracy is +/-3% +/-10 digits (0 – 20,000 lux)/+/-5% +/-10 digits (over 20,000 Lux).
Pros
- Great for assessing lighting conditions at venues for taking photos and videos
- Gives an easy-to-understand Lux corresponding to the brightness in the room
- Inexpensive yet works superbly
- The seller helps out whenever there is a problem
Cons
- The directions for use could be better
#2. URCERI Light Meter Digital Illuminance Meter
With a rating of 4.4/5, the URCERI Light Meter for Photography is no doubt one of the best in the market. It gives accurate measurements and fast response, so you can have a great time using it for your projects. It covers a measuring range of up to 200,000 Lux and delivers perfectly accurate results to make you a happy user. In addition, this light meter boasts twice per second frequency that provides it with a high response rate. This means you should use it with confidence knowing that you will get both fast and quality readings. Its 4-digital color LCD screen is uniquely designed and will let you check readings at any time of the day. The device also features a low power indication function that provides information about battery status.
Another exciting feature of this digital light meter is the auto power off function. It is automatically enabled when the device stays inactive for more than 15 minutes. The device can easily be carried and used anywhere because it is ultra compact and lightweight. Well, its portable design and great functionality make it great for a wide range of applications including school, warehouses, homes, offices, factories, and more. The battery life of this light meter is not as long as the first product on this list. But at 60 hours, it definitely is impressive. The device is powered by three 1.5V batteries. Furthermore, its photodetector is a silicon photodiode with spectral response filter. The light meter measures 174.5 x 56 x 30.5 mm, and its accuracy is +/-3% rdg +/- dgts (<10,000 Lux), +/-4% rdg +/-10 dgts (>10,000 Lux).
Pros
- Fast, reliable, and extremely easy to use
- Units are easy to convert
- Well designed and works great for the price
- It measures Lux, which are lumens/sq cm.
- The range covers from full outdoor sunlight to low and medium levels indoors
Cons
- Not the most accurate
#3. Lumulabs Power Light & Color Meter for Photo and Video
Despite the incredibly high price tag, people still prefer this light meter for photography. It boasts LUMU POWER that will transform your iOS device into a high-performance light meter. All you need to do is to download the included app and you have a versatile gadget that can measure color, flash exposure, ambient, spot, temperature, and illuminance. The manufacturer of this device also provides a user manual in the technical specification tab in the product information. The user manual ensures that your experience with this unit is not daunting. With this power light and color meter for video and photo, you will be able to get excellent exposure every time. This is because it will let you control the balance between the shutter time and aperture to achieve the perfect effect.
This unit also eliminates blind guessing by allowing you to measure flash as well as to control the balance between ambient light and flash. Plus it will let you come up with the correct color temperature regardless of the light situation. It ensures that white stays white and other colors remain just the way they should be. Moreover, its LUMU Light Meter app is a standalone spot meter that eliminates the need for any additional hardware. The Lumulabs Power Light Meter for Photography is convenient, powerful, accurate, and functional. Needless to say, it is definitely a must-have. It is a product of Lumu; a company that is dedicated to helping people come up with better still and moving images. That being said, we are confident you will like this light meter despite its high price point.
Pros
- Very easy to use
- The app is intuitive and easy to navigate
- The settings get rid of all the guesswork
- Eliminates the need to do any post-processing, thereby, saving time
- Very portable and requires no battery to work
Cons
- Could be more reliable
#4. Sekonic 401-208 Twin Mate Light Meter (Black/White)
If you are a beginner and you are looking for a light meter for photography, the Sekonic 401-208 Light Meter should be a frontier for you. It also works great as a backup meter. It is small and stylish, so you can carry and use it virtually anywhere. It is designed to bring together incident and reflected light measurement. Ideally, this light meter is incredibly light; hence, it can be effortlessly mounted on a bracket or camera. Well, the manufacturer provides a hot-shoe adapter, which ensures quick and camera-positioned reference readings while using this light meter for your projects. Although this device is primarily designed for beginners, experts can rely on it because of its accuracy and convenience. Besides, this gadget can really be important for owners of rangefinders because of the aforesaid shoe mount.
Its sliding lumisphere will help you get accurate incident readings every time. And the lumisphere can be retracted in order to take reflective readings. The light meter for photography also features a silicon photodiode, which receives light at an angle of 33 degrees. Well, this is a little narrower compared to the angle-of-view of a normal lens. What’s more, it uses a CR2032 lithium battery that lasts long enough to allow you to power the show as expected. Another important feature this unit comes with is the hold-and-read function, which maintains the reading for 15 seconds once the measurement button is released. By so doing, the hold-and-read function will give you time to evaluate your settings. Sekonic provides a 1-year warranty, which can be extended up to 3 years (applies to the USA only) after registration.
Pros
- Very small and light; thus, easy to carry around
- The hot-shoe attachment is adjustable to fit into any hot shoe
- Comes with a cool pouch that you can hang around your neck
- The price is fair
Cons
- For some reasons, the manufacturer tends not to include a battery as stated
#5. Sekonic 401-474 LiteMaster Pro L-478D-U Light Meter
Most manufacturers focus on accuracy so much that they forget to make their light meters for photography ergonomic. Nonetheless, that is not the case with Sekonic. It has designed this unit in such a way that it is instantly familiar and comfortable to use. That being said, all you need to do when you want to make settings is touch icons or slide a finger on the screen. Ideally, the color LCD screen of this light meter is large, and it displays cine, ambient, flash, and other information in an understandable and clear way. It comes in very handy when you want to use flash to reduce background detail or lighten up shadows. That is because it measures flash and ambient at the same time. Plus it automatically indicates the percentage of flash in the total exposure.
Furthermore, this model boasts two motion-capture modes to fit the camera in use. Since light sources and effects can push the settings of a standard camera to their limits, this gadget will let you create unique frame rates and shutter angles to .000 to ensure precise lighting and exposure. It measures brightness in FC or Lux and Cd/m2 or FL, making it a great addition to movie sets across the globe. The L-478D-U might be expensive but considering its features, it is worth it. It is packed with lots of features, so you can have the best experience using it for photography. It works great for still photographers, considering the unique, highly functional features it is loaded with. Well, it is time to take convenience during photography to another level. And a unit you need to achieve that is the L-478D-U.
Pros
- Eliminates guesswork when you want to create correct settings
- Very practical, fun to use, and accurate
- The construction of the light meter is outstanding
- It helps to make shots perfect
- Makes a great gift for a photographer
Cons
- You need to spend an extra amount on accessories to get a basic calibration
Buyer’s Guide for the Best Light Meter for Photography
Before buying a light meter for photography, take a look at the following factors.
Versatility
Consider a light meter that can measure a lot of things such as temperature, illuminance, color, flash exposure, etc. This is because such units help improve convenience and results.
Portability
Your light meter for photography should be light in weight and small. In other words, it should be very portable to let you use it anywhere.
Accuracy
If you want your light meter to provide you with the best results ever, it is important that it be as accurate as possible.
Battery
The battery that comes with your light meter for photography should be high performance and long-lasting. This helps improve convenience and even saves time since you will not need to recharge the battery every now and then.
Screen
The screen of a light meter provides a lot of information. It is, therefore, important that you go for a unit with a fairly large screen. This is because such screens display information in a clear and understandable way.
Ergonomics and Ease of Use
You are buying a light meter to help perfect your shots – not to learn how to use it. For this reason, be keen to only spend money on those models that are ergonomically designed and super easy to use.
Conclusion
A light meter for photography is a great purchase for any photographer. It determines light intensity, thereby, helping improve your shots. It is really handy where optimum light is required. However, there are lots of them in the market. So, before you buy one, make sure you visit this page.
Leave a Reply