How we pick our products
Welcome to our big light meter test 2023. Here we present all the light meters we have tested in detail. We have compiled detailed background information and added a summary of customer reviews on the web.
With this, we would like to make your purchase decision easier and help you find the best light meter for you.
You will also find answers to frequently asked questions in our guide. If available, we also offer interesting test videos. Furthermore, you will find some important information on this page that you should pay attention to if you want to buy a light meter.
Contents
You are a passionate hobby photographer and want to enhance your image skills with good equipment? Among other things, a light meter can help you to do this. Even if cameras are technically equipped with one, an external device offers you many advantages.
Summary
- You can spice up your photography skills with a separate light meter. It will give you better and more accurate results than the fixed meter.
- It will take a while to get the hang of your new light meter, but you’ll save that time later when you’re post-processing.
- Exposure meters differ according to the measuring method and are available at prices ranging from around 20 to 600 euros.
The Best Light Meter in the United Kingdom: Our Choices
Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying a light meter
Why should I buy a light meter?
The meter built into the camera measures the light reflected from the subject to the lens, which is also called object metering. With the external light meter, on the other hand, you can measure the light exactly where it occurs.
Here you get a measurement of the light that actually arrives and not of the reflected light. You have the possibility to measure each individual light source separately. Especially if you use several flashes, this form is better than the built-in one.
The external light meter does not get irritated by too bright or too dark subjects. It also saves you time in post-processing when it comes to exposure correction.
What is a light meter?
Thanks to this metering, it detects how much or, conversely, how little light is hitting the sensor and whether this amount of light is sufficient to expose it adequately. However, if night landscapes are too bright or too dark, manual correction may be necessary.
What should I look for when buying a light meter?
(Source: dein-produktvergleich.de)
However, if you want to measure flash light, it can be more expensive. In addition, you should ask yourself whether you also want to measure at night or whether a relatively insensitive meter will be sufficient for you.
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If you want to have a main subject in the foreground and only scenically important but blurred subjects in the background, you have to go for multi-segment metering. (Photo: JudaM / pixabay.com)
Another question of taste is whether you prefer digital or analogue devices. If you intend to measure objects as well as light, you should consider buying a telephoto attachment.
Decision: What types of light meters are there and which one is right for you?
Basically, you need to know what you are going to photograph so that you can decide on the right light meter. We distinguish the meters according to their strength, which in turn stands for a certain measuring method.
These include:
- Exposure meter for multi-field metering
- Exposure meter for selective metering
- Exposure meter for spot metering
Depending on which metering method is important to you, your preferences in finding the right light meter will vary. Below we explain the most important metering methods.
Multi-segment metering
This is the most complex and the most powerful method of metering. It offers differentiated detection of light and good response. Here, several measuring fields are displayed and the camera determines the exposure values from these measured values of the individual fields.
It is not only about brightness values, but also colour brightness and sharpness are taken into account. The real strength of this measurement is in its cooperation with the autofocus.
With fast-moving objects, the distribution of brightnesses in the motif often changes quickly. This measuring method is ideal for such photographs.
Selective metering
Selective metering is independent of autofocus. It is much more precise in the measurement and in the result than multi-segment measurement, but also more sensitive with regard to incorrect measurements.
You can use this method especially if you want to expose a selected area in the viewfinder accurately, but multi-field metering does not give good results. This may be the case if your main subject is too large but either very bright or very dark in colour.
Spot metering
Basically, spot metering is very similar to selective metering, it just has a smaller measuring range compared to it. The advantage is that this measurement is more precisely limited to one point. However, the required accuracy can sometimes suffer from this.
Spot metering is mainly used in professional photography. For example, in press or reportage photography it is important that the measurement is concentrated on just one point.
Spot metering ensures that the exposure is on the sharpest point!
Facts worth knowing about light meters
How important is light in photography?
The word photography comes from the Greek and means to write with light . Photography is thus interpreted as a technical process in which an expression of light is permanently stored. For photographers, light represents both the brush and the colour palette.
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Image source: Pixabay.com / Fotocitizen
Light does not automatically mean that the photo will be good. Especially with a lot of and special light, it needs a lot of technical skill on the part of the photographer. Sharpen your senses so as not to miss special lighting conditions.
Often a magical moment is over quickly, so make sure you have everything you need at hand.
You can’t force certain situations in nature, the best photos just happen to you. A bit of luck is also needed.
In addition to luck, you need the right equipment and you also need to take care of a few things yourself. Depending on where the light comes from, you have to position yourself differently.
Nothing would be worse than having a great shot and realising when you get home that you can see a bit of your shadow.
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