Light meter for digital camera.

[Scott]

Can anyone point out a good lightmeter I can use with a Canon XL-1S? I need some sort of light meter I can use with a digital camera.

[Skuzz]

You don't need a light meter with DV. Light meters were created specifically for film. Look in the viewfinder and what you see is what you get. A light meter would be a complete waste of money.

Actually, what I would recommend over the a light meter is a good external monitor. That'll do you A LOT more good than a light meter.

[nooneimportant77]

yes like he said, there is no need for a light meter with DV, beacuse the picture you see is exactly what the footage will look like, and if you dont like the light then you can change the exposure or shutter speed.

an external monitor is always nice, you can just use a small TV .

[Scott]

Well, yeah I guess you're right. I'll have to get a small cheap TV.

[Jason Endurance]

Sorry guys, what you see on the LCD of your camera is NOT exactly what you see when you put it on the tv. The resolution on most camcorder LCD's are garbage.

Now, I'll agree with you. An external monitor would be ideal, but a light meter is cheaper and comes in handy in those, not so sure, situations. Not to mention, more portable. Remember, not enough light is going to give you a gritty picture.

But for the most part, you can get by without either for your home movies.

[nooneimportant77]

ok so its not EXACTLY what you see, but its still close enough that you wont need a light meter.

[Skuzz]

We said Viewfinder, not LCD. The XL1 doesn't even have a built in LCD screen. Well, at least not your typical LCD screen that flips out.

I've never experienced an issue where over or underexposure was undetected with a digital camcorder. It really is what you see is what you get, and sometimes it looks better played back on your TV than you thought. It never looks worse, at least not for me and the camcorders I've used.

[WesScog]

Actually....

Don't rely on the light meter inside the camera. The light meter inside of a camera is accurate MOST of the time, BUT, it's based off of REFLECTIVE light, all of the light that is reflected from the frame is averaged, and it's adjusted to 18% grey.

Most of the time, that's fine, BUT, in certain extreme cases, such as very dark, or very bright circumstances, it won't work. So you'll want a light meter that measures incident light rather than reflected light.

You get a MUCH more accurate reading with a meter that measures incidental light, or the light actually falling on the subject, that averaged frame light.

Also, you want to constantly control the exposure of your camera, don't let it do it itself, never let it auto adjust, ALWAYS keep it as manual as possible.

Do you need an external light meter to get good shots? No.

Does an external light meter allow you more control over your shots and lets you more precisely control it, and by extension make your work look more professional? YES.

Plus if you have ANY plans on working in film eventually, LEARN TO USE ONE NOW, it's not a skill that should be passed over or ignored, LEARN IT NOW.

[nooneimportant77]

^^ yeah but with the type of cameras most people have, the camera can pretty much figure all that out for you. i wouldn't encourage spending 120 bucks just so they can understand the shot a little better

[SPARC]

If you trying to light a background evenly like a green screen you can of course view it through he camera but being ale to read the incident light levels in various areas of the scene can really help you get the light evened out and let you tweak placement of individual lights for best effect.

You'll need a light meter that can read incident light (usually has a diffuser that slides over the photocell) as opposed to reflected light. An incident light meter is not confused (its measurements are not affected) by elements within the scene as a reflected meter can be.

[baron von fogel]

As you can see, there is some debate ove whether or not a light meter is necessary when shooting digital video. Honestly, that decision is up to you.
But, since what you actually asked is if anybody had a suggestion of a good light meter, I can tell you that I've been using the Spectra Cine Professional IV-A digital light meter, and it has been great. I've mostly used it to shoot on 16mm film, but it seems to be a rather universal meter, so I'm sure it would serve you well.
I got mine for about 100 dollars, but I purchased mine used from a friend. You may be able to get a good deal on eBay or something.
Hope that helps you!

[WesScog]

I saw a great Light Meter, the same analog ones we use in our film program sell on Ebay for 25 dollars.

[baron von fogel]

I saw a great Light Meter, the same analog ones we use in our film program sell on Ebay for 25 dollars.

Never quite got the hang of the analog ones. But hey, if it works and it's cheap...

[SyxxGage]

Well, yeah I guess you're right. I'll have to get a small cheap TV.


If you have a laptop, that may work as well. I remember the director on my first film used his laptop rather than carting around a TV to each location.

[Scott]

I guess I would need an S-video cable for that, eh?

[SyxxGage]

Not nessecarily. I purchased a unit at walmart that allows me to plug the Red, yellow, and white AV cables into my PC. I think it was less than 20 bucks.

[fadedxmasfilms]

idk

[Jason Endurance]

S Video is higher quality.

But anyway, that's a good idea. Laptop! Too bad I have a PC.