Anyone Using Handheld Light Meter....

tabl10s · 01-21-2014, 11:04 PM

and color passport checker with their K-3? Noticed any difference in IQ?

Alcazar · 01-22-2014, 03:06 AM

Difference to what? To using them with another camera? To using the K-3 without light meter and color checker?

rawr · 01-22-2014, 03:44 AM

Originally posted by tabl10s

Noticed any difference in IQ?

??

For what purpose and in what usage context?
A handheld light meter and a colour checker are very different tools.

tabl10s · 01-22-2014, 07:58 AM

Saw a lighting video and the guy used his Sekonic instead of the camera's as he thought it was more accurate. Isn't the color checker used in conjunction with meters?

stevebrot · 01-22-2014, 09:14 AM

Originally posted by tabl10s

Saw a lighting video and the guy used his Sekonic instead of the camera's as he thought it was more accurate. Isn't the color checker used in conjunction with meters?

The Sekonic more accurate? I would suggest that it is accurate in a different way and might have been the better tool for the subject. It would take many words to even summarize how a hand-held meter can be used, but it is enough to say that even the most sophisticated matrix TTL metering system is only the camera's best guess as to the photographer's intent.

As for the color checker...never used one or seen anybody using one in nearly 45 years of taking photos. Now an 18% gray card is another matter. That is a useful tool for gauging ambient light with any reflected light meter, including the one in your camera. I always carry one in my bag.

Steve

kenyee · 01-22-2014, 08:05 PM

Originally posted by tabl10s

Saw a lighting video and the guy used his Sekonic instead of the camera's as he thought it was more accurate. Isn't the color checker used in conjunction with meters?

A Sekonic/light meter is usually used for studio lighting.

The color checker is for profiling colors in post for more accuracy photographing clothing.

I've used light meters w/ various cameras (K20D, GX1, LX5) w/ studio lights and it works well.
I've tried the color checker as well, but found I prefered the Pentax colors balanced w/ a gray card better (more accurately matched what I saw w/ my eyes while the CC ones were too saturated).

tabl10s · 01-23-2014, 05:31 AM

Tried using the gray card last year and the results are nothing what I expected and i haven't touched it since.

tzeentchiangod · 01-23-2014, 07:09 AM

I use a hand held meter and color checker passport for just about every set of photos I take. My exposures and colors are more on point than if I didn't.

Such is the nature of those tools. But unless you are shooting for Coca Cola and that red can needs to be the exact color of red... I'm sure you can probably get away with skipping that step. It's a normal part of my workflow and I do it even when I don't need it. Workflow is important to me.

tabl10s · 01-23-2014, 10:05 AM

Are you a Pro?

stevebrot · 01-23-2014, 11:52 AM

Originally posted by tabl10s

Tried using the gray card last year and the results are nothing what I expected and i haven't touched it since.

How did you use the card? It is important that it be illuminated by the same light as the subject. It is also important that it be oriented so that surface glare is not reflected to the meter and that the meter is reading the card and nothing else.

Steve

tabl10s · 01-23-2014, 06:54 PM

I can't remember and the salesman didn't go into specifics.

kenyee · 01-23-2014, 07:23 PM

Originally posted by tabl10s

Tried using the gray card last year and the results are nothing what I expected and i haven't touched it since.

And which gray card was this?
Not all are equal.
I use the WhiBal...it's individually checked for accuracy...

tabl10s · 01-24-2014, 09:36 AM

Originally posted by kenyee

And which gray card was this?
Not all are equal.
I use the WhiBal...it's individually checked for accuracy...

Is this brand sold in most stores?

kenyee · 01-24-2014, 08:16 PM

Originally posted by tabl10s

Is this brand sold in most stores?

The WhiBal is at good stores.

01-21-2014, 11:04 PM	#1
tabl10s Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Sacramento(formerly from B'Ham, England). Posts: 1,424	Anyone Using Handheld Light Meter.... and color passport checker with their K-3? Noticed any difference in IQ?

01-22-2014, 09:14 AM	#5
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by tabl10s Saw a lighting video and the guy used his Sekonic instead of the camera's as he thought it was more accurate. Isn't the color checker used in conjunction with meters? The Sekonic more accurate? I would suggest that it is accurate in a different way and might have been the better tool for the subject. It would take many words to even summarize how a hand-held meter can be used, but it is enough to say that even the most sophisticated matrix TTL metering system is only the camera's best guess as to the photographer's intent. As for the color checker...never used one or seen anybody using one in nearly 45 years of taking photos. Now an 18% gray card is another matter. That is a useful tool for gauging ambient light with any reflected light meter, including the one in your camera. I always carry one in my bag. Steve Last edited by stevebrot; 01-22-2014 at 09:20 AM.

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01-22-2014, 03:06 AM	#2
Alcazar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Stuttgart, Germany Posts: 210	Difference to what? To using them with another camera? To using the K-3 without light meter and color checker?

01-22-2014, 03:44 AM	#3
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by tabl10s Noticed any difference in IQ? ?? For what purpose and in what usage context? A handheld light meter and a colour checker are very different tools.

01-22-2014, 07:58 AM	#4
tabl10s Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Sacramento(formerly from B'Ham, England). Posts: 1,424 Original Poster	Saw a lighting video and the guy used his Sekonic instead of the camera's as he thought it was more accurate. Isn't the color checker used in conjunction with meters?

01-22-2014, 08:05 PM	#6
kenyee Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Boston, PRofMA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,026	Originally posted by tabl10s Saw a lighting video and the guy used his Sekonic instead of the camera's as he thought it was more accurate. Isn't the color checker used in conjunction with meters? A Sekonic/light meter is usually used for studio lighting. The color checker is for profiling colors in post for more accuracy photographing clothing. I've used light meters w/ various cameras (K20D, GX1, LX5) w/ studio lights and it works well. I've tried the color checker as well, but found I prefered the Pentax colors balanced w/ a gray card better (more accurately matched what I saw w/ my eyes while the CC ones were too saturated).

01-23-2014, 05:31 AM	#7
tabl10s Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Sacramento(formerly from B'Ham, England). Posts: 1,424 Original Poster	Tried using the gray card last year and the results are nothing what I expected and i haven't touched it since.

01-23-2014, 07:09 AM	#8
tzeentchiangod Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 34	I use a hand held meter and color checker passport for just about every set of photos I take. My exposures and colors are more on point than if I didn't. Such is the nature of those tools. But unless you are shooting for Coca Cola and that red can needs to be the exact color of red... I'm sure you can probably get away with skipping that step. It's a normal part of my workflow and I do it even when I don't need it. Workflow is important to me.

01-23-2014, 10:05 AM	#9
tabl10s Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Sacramento(formerly from B'Ham, England). Posts: 1,424 Original Poster	Are you a Pro?

01-23-2014, 11:52 AM	#10
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by tabl10s Tried using the gray card last year and the results are nothing what I expected and i haven't touched it since. How did you use the card? It is important that it be illuminated by the same light as the subject. It is also important that it be oriented so that surface glare is not reflected to the meter and that the meter is reading the card and nothing else. Steve

01-23-2014, 06:54 PM	#11
tabl10s Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Sacramento(formerly from B'Ham, England). Posts: 1,424 Original Poster	I can't remember and the salesman didn't go into specifics.

01-23-2014, 07:23 PM	#12
kenyee Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Boston, PRofMA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,026	Originally posted by tabl10s Tried using the gray card last year and the results are nothing what I expected and i haven't touched it since. And which gray card was this? Not all are equal. I use the WhiBal...it's individually checked for accuracy...

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01-24-2014, 09:36 AM	#13
tabl10s Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Sacramento(formerly from B'Ham, England). Posts: 1,424 Original Poster	Originally posted by kenyee And which gray card was this? Not all are equal. I use the WhiBal...it's individually checked for accuracy... Is this brand sold in most stores?

01-24-2014, 08:16 PM	#14
kenyee Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Boston, PRofMA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,026	Originally posted by tabl10s Is this brand sold in most stores? The WhiBal is at good stores.