I just purchased a Sekonic L-308X-U. I have been listening to your tutorial. I have a question. When shooting Shutter Priority, I press the button to obtain a reading. Good. Now there is a little number that appears to the right of the aperture reading. Sometimes a 3, a.6 and, sometimes a 9 What do I do with that number? Is that number the amount by which I must increase or decrease my camera aperture setting? No one seems to explain what to do with that number. Please, answer. Thanks, JV
If you are reading in full stops which it sounds like you are. Those smaller numbers are giving you tenths of a stop. This way you know haw far between lets say F5.6 and F8 you are so you can properly choose an apeture. If you read in half or third stops that number will no longer show.
Hey Chris, I’m also going to be using it for 16mm. Would you normally use it with HD cine mode or just cine mode? Any pointers for how you worked with it?
@@FilmEastCoast Hi Tim, I used the cine mode. I set the right ISO, (right) shutter angle (and I think the shutter is set to 1/50 If I recall it well) and I set the camera lens at f4. Then I measured the scene, if it gave me a F value below of above f4 I increased or decreased the light. We shot in a studio so it was easy to control the light situation. For me this was a test/experiment as well, but I thought this was the right approach. Hope this helps!
Hold down the mode button. Power on the meter with mode button still held down. Scroll down until you see CS2 on the right hand side. Then press the mode button until you see 0.3 and the meter will now read in third stops, or push until you see 0.5 and the meter will now read in half stops.
Hello, thank you for the lovely and clear instructions. Questions: 1. My flashmate isn't triggering the studio flash lights to fire when I press the measure button. Any tips on how to sync it, cordlessly, with my Elinchrom El-Skyport Transmitter Plus? 2. In the video you show a little white disc to cover over the lens(?) at the top when shooting flat artwork. Where can I get one of these here in Sydney, Australia? Thanks in advance
HI Rachel, The L-308X will need to be put in cordless flash mode and then you will need to trigger the flash, and the meter will sense the flash going off. Please visit our Distributor page sekonic.com/distributors/ to find your local dealer in Australia and the piece you are looking for is the "Sekonic Lumidisc for L-308 Series Light Meters"
Hello, I am trying to use it for off camera flash (without sync cord) , I’m using a Sony camera and the flash sync speed is 1/160 however there is only 1/125 and 1/250 for the shutter speed. Is there any way I can choose 1/160? Edit: I figured it out. I have to change it to custom 1/3 stops increments. Is that correct? Would that affect the f stop and light ratios? For eg I need the key to be 1/2 stops brighter than the fill
Hi Bella Boca Yes you can. First power down the meter. Then hold the Mode Button while Powering on the meter. You will enter the customer functions screen. Press the down arrow until you see CS2 on the right hand side. Then press the mode button until you see 0.3 meaning you can now measure in third stops. Now power down the meter and power it back on again, and your all set.
@@SekonicGlobal May I know if I changed it to measure in third stops , will that affect the light ratios? How do I use it for 2 lights(in 0.3stops) For eg I need the key to be 1/2 stops brighter than the fill
With the L-308X you are correct that once you put it in 3rd stops now it will only show shutter speeds and F=tops in the nearest 3rd stop. The L-478 and L-858 have an average functions that shows the exact difference.
@@SekonicGlobal yes I understand that part. I mean when it’s shows- for example f 10 , f 11 , 12.7 , 14 , 16. So does it mean one stop of light below f 16 is f 12.7 in third stops?
you're measuring the light reflecting off of the subject, so face the lens towards the subject from camera distance. You should get a pretty accurate reading. hope this helps
I just purchased a 308x-u. When I use the meter to measure incident light at say, ISO 100, T at 1/125s and get an exposure reading... my question is, do I have to set the camera into Manual and make my settings in the camera as suggested by the light meter or can it be set to Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority? Thanks
When using flash, light meters will tell you the aperture, the light is at, the reason it won't give you a shutter speed is that as the flash power changes, the duration is so short that it will negate your shutter speed. So if you have a really bright flash in a dark room. It will look exactly the same at 1 second as as it does a 1/200th of a second and the only thing that can change in order to affect it is your aperture and iso. In order to calculate shutter speed, aperture or iso you will always need to have two of those values fixed. So if you fix aperture and shutter and your using flash, your shutter speed is negated by the fact it can be over ridden by flash duration of the strobe. Therefore there is no aperture priority when using strobes, but only constant lights.
Hey guys quick question… I have just purchased the sekonic L-308x-U and I’m having issues with it. On cordless mode I would have the shutter speed at 1/125 and getting a reading of f4, when putting the shutter speed at 1/250 I am still getting a reading of f4, how do I fix that ?
how to use it for measurements with fixed shutter speed AND fixed aperture with an iPhone and FilmicPro? The only free parameter here is ISO. ZEBRA and other FilmicPro features are not working under studio conditions which makes a high risk for over exposure.
Does any one know why this light meter doesn’t have a 400 reading for shutter speed. My cameras highest shutter speed is 400 but the L-308X-U skips 400 and goes straight to 500. Shouldn’t effect me too much I guess but I would like to know if there’s a reason for this. If anyone know, let me know. Thanks 🙏🏽
You have the meter set to read in full stop increments, so it goes from 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, etc. If you want 1/400, set the meter into 1/3 stop increments and it will display the intermediate shutter speeds and apertures. See pages 31 and 32 in the owner's manual.
The L-308X only shows Full, Low. Once on low I would keep another batter on stand-buy. But the battery life is very good in this meter. It should last weeks under normal usage.
Any Sekoinc meter can measure flash from any strobe, but the L-858D-U-GX or if you purchase a Good Module for you L-858D-U it will trigger godox lights.
Any more infos for the "reflected" mode and its limits? How narrow is the "focal lenght" of it? Because when the subject is standing 5 meters away from me, isn't it incredibly hard to point it at a subject accurately?
Did anyone comes across this issue. Where once in cine mode you cant change it back to photo mode. Is there any way to reset this lightmetter. I tried the custom part but then when I hit mode it doesnt switch out of cine mode.
Cine Mode gives you full access to shutter angles, as well as lx, and fc measurements, and HD Cine Mode is great for working with the settings of Mirrorless and HDSLR cinema cameras.
If you are measuring flash there is no aperture priority because the apeture is more likely to change when changing flash power, and flash power is not affected by shutter speed unless extremely slow flash durations are used.
Wow, not overly complicated at all... For the price you would guess they could have just added a couple of more buttons to make the navigation on this thing way less complicated - but nada. 230$ for that "plasticy" thing at the time I write this comment, for a device that doesn't do much more and is technically not much more complicated or more expensive in material costs than a cheap pocket calculator. BOLD! I find this device totally overpriced and way too unintuitive to be worth the it, even for the flash and "cine" capabilities. I bought one, and I thought "okay in the pictures it looks like rubberized buttons... surely weather proof and everything, considering the price tag"... and then when I unpacked this made in Philippines piece of garbage and it felt like a toy calculator. Nothing is sealed, nothing is rubberized, the little white dome is flappy AF and doesn't stay in place. Not even a battery was included, but a cheapish leather bag that slips off every other second. This price is set way too high for what you get. I will go for another one after I returned it. You guys just can't be serious with this. This is supposed to be a "pro tool". I understand that you need to live and that the demand for tools like this may be relatively low, but that doesn't mean you can sell me piece of plastic made in the Phillipines with the most simplistic toy calculator chip in it and feel for 230$. 50$ would have been totally fine and reasonable though. Clearly not recommending this.
Wow I just went up a photography level from amateur to intermediate. Lol this is great worth every penny.
Thank you, Great video. Can you tell me how to get the light meter back to it original settings? ex: Ambient and measuring mode icons?
Thank you
I just purchased a Sekonic L-308X-U. I have been listening to your tutorial. I have a question. When shooting Shutter Priority, I press the button to obtain a reading. Good. Now there is a little number that appears to the right of the aperture reading. Sometimes a 3, a.6 and, sometimes a 9 What do I do with that number? Is that number the amount by which I must increase or decrease my camera aperture setting? No one seems to explain what to do with that number. Please, answer. Thanks, JV
If you are reading in full stops which it sounds like you are. Those smaller numbers are giving you tenths of a stop. This way you know haw far between lets say F5.6 and F8 you are so you can properly choose an apeture. If you read in half or third stops that number will no longer show.
Just bought one ...greatful for your video
Thank you for your support! I'm glad the video was helpful.
Great meter! I used this while shooting my 16mm short film.
Thank you.
Hey Chris, I’m also going to be using it for 16mm. Would you normally use it with HD cine mode or just cine mode? Any pointers for how you worked with it?
@@FilmEastCoast Hi Tim, I used the cine mode. I set the right ISO, (right) shutter angle (and I think the shutter is set to 1/50 If I recall it well) and I set the camera lens at f4. Then I measured the scene, if it gave me a F value below of above f4 I increased or decreased the light. We shot in a studio so it was easy to control the light situation. For me this was a test/experiment as well, but I thought this was the right approach. Hope this helps!
Can i use rechargeable bateries, like Enellop? It’s 1.2V instead of 1.5V, and i don’t know if it can affect precision of measurements.
I just tested an eneloop against a fresh alkaline and the readings were the same
Very good tutorial.
Thank you.
My lightmeter only reads full stops when I measure the light. Is there an option to read tenth of stops too?
Hold down the mode button.
Power on the meter with mode button still held down.
Scroll down until you see CS2 on the right hand side.
Then press the mode button until you see 0.3 and the meter will now read in third stops, or push until you see 0.5 and the meter will now read in half stops.
Hello, thank you for the lovely and clear instructions. Questions: 1. My flashmate isn't triggering the studio flash lights to fire when I press the measure button. Any tips on how to sync it, cordlessly, with my Elinchrom El-Skyport Transmitter Plus? 2. In the video you show a little white disc to cover over the lens(?) at the top when shooting flat artwork. Where can I get one of these here in Sydney, Australia? Thanks in advance
HI Rachel,
The L-308X will need to be put in cordless flash mode and then you will need to trigger the flash, and the meter will sense the flash going off.
Please visit our Distributor page sekonic.com/distributors/ to find your local dealer in Australia and the piece you are looking for is the "Sekonic Lumidisc for L-308 Series Light Meters"
Hello, I am trying to use it for off camera flash (without sync cord) , I’m using a Sony camera and the flash sync speed is 1/160 however there is only 1/125 and 1/250 for the shutter speed. Is there any way I can choose 1/160?
Edit: I figured it out. I have to change it to custom 1/3 stops increments. Is that correct?
Would that affect the f stop and light ratios? For eg I need the key to be 1/2 stops brighter than the fill
Hi Bella Boca
Yes you can. First power down the meter.
Then hold the Mode Button while Powering on the meter.
You will enter the customer functions screen.
Press the down arrow until you see CS2 on the right hand side.
Then press the mode button until you see 0.3 meaning you can now measure in third stops.
Now power down the meter and power it back on again, and your all set.
@@SekonicGlobal May I know if I changed it to measure in third stops , will that affect the light ratios? How do I use it for 2 lights(in 0.3stops) For eg I need the key to be 1/2 stops brighter than the fill
With the L-308X you are correct that once you put it in 3rd stops now it will only show shutter speeds and F=tops in the nearest 3rd stop. The L-478 and L-858 have an average functions that shows the exact difference.
@@SekonicGlobal yes I understand that part. I mean when it’s shows- for example f 10 , f 11 , 12.7 , 14 , 16. So does it mean one stop of light below f 16 is f 12.7 in third stops?
One F-stop of light from F16 would be F11, but one third stop from F16 would be F14 and hone half stop from F16 would be F13, on the L-308X
Mine when putting the battery is showing the message "Err", what error is it? I have tried several different batteries and the same error.
Our experienced support team would be happy to help! Please send them an email at support@sekonic.com.
Hi, when using "reflected" technique, do you face the lens facing the subject or facing the light?
you're measuring the light reflecting off of the subject, so face the lens towards the subject from camera distance. You should get a pretty accurate reading. hope this helps
@@JaysonPollard thanks. mate
Great investment for my photography 🙌🏿
Thank you.
hello Can I set shutter speed to 200? I can only set to 125 or 250 but my flash sync is max to 200. Thanks
Look at 7:48 that's how you change the increments, and it's also mentioned in the user manual, you can download it form their website
I just purchased a 308x-u. When I use the meter to measure incident light at say, ISO 100, T at 1/125s and get an exposure reading... my question is, do I have to set the camera into Manual and make my settings in the camera as suggested by the light meter or can it be set to Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority? Thanks
Hi John,
You are correct. You will have to put your camera into Manuel mode and, and put in the recommended settings given by the meter.
@@SekonicGlobal Thanks
👍
Can you tell me how to set "aperture priority" in flash mode (without cord)? THANKS
When using flash, light meters will tell you the aperture, the light is at, the reason it won't give you a shutter speed is that as the flash power changes, the duration is so short that it will negate your shutter speed. So if you have a really bright flash in a dark room. It will look exactly the same at 1 second as as it does a 1/200th of a second and the only thing that can change in order to affect it is your aperture and iso. In order to calculate shutter speed, aperture or iso you will always need to have two of those values fixed. So if you fix aperture and shutter and your using flash, your shutter speed is negated by the fact it can be over ridden by flash duration of the strobe. Therefore there is no aperture priority when using strobes, but only constant lights.
Sekonic 308x US version how to dfference ?
Hey guys quick question…
I have just purchased the sekonic L-308x-U and I’m having issues with it.
On cordless mode I would have the shutter speed at 1/125 and getting a reading of f4, when putting the shutter speed at 1/250 I am still getting a reading of f4, how do I fix that ?
I replied to the same question on a.different video you posted on. Please let my know you have recived it with no issues. Thank you.
What's the difference among 308B, 308S, 308X?
We have a comparison tool on our website pulse.ly/ni6q0n8pwb it has the L-308X and L-308S
how to use it for measurements with fixed shutter speed AND fixed aperture with an iPhone and FilmicPro? The only free parameter here is ISO. ZEBRA and other FilmicPro features are not working under studio conditions which makes a high risk for over exposure.
The L-308x doesn't have iso priority, only the 478 and L-858D have that.
thank you very much!!!!
Am I missing something here because I can't seem to find the other quick start videos for the L308x
ua-cam.com/users/SekonicGlobalplaylists. follow this link and you will see a playlist for the L-308x quickstart videos. There are two.
@@SekonicGlobal I can't seem to find the second video
Check the playlist section for all the 308X vidoes on our youtube page.
@@SekonicGlobal I did this but only see this video and little short promo video...
What does mean the little number on the right of the F number? Thanks
When you have the meter to measure in full stops this are tenths of a stop.
Does any one know why this light meter doesn’t have a 400 reading for shutter speed. My cameras highest shutter speed is 400 but the L-308X-U skips 400 and goes straight to 500. Shouldn’t effect me too much I guess but I would like to know if there’s a reason for this. If anyone know, let me know. Thanks 🙏🏽
You have the meter set to read in full stop increments, so it goes from 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, etc. If you want 1/400, set the meter into 1/3 stop increments and it will display the intermediate shutter speeds and apertures. See pages 31 and 32 in the owner's manual.
2:35 I won't be able to tell if the battery is half way drained or completely empty apparently.
The L-308X only shows Full, Low. Once on low I would keep another batter on stand-buy. But the battery life is very good in this meter. It should last weeks under normal usage.
Does this light meter support for godox ad200 pro?
Only our Sekonic L-858D-U Supports the Godox module.
@@SekonicGlobal I would like to ask if this model takes light readings of Godox Ad200 Pro
Any Sekoinc meter can measure flash from any strobe, but the L-858D-U-GX or if you purchase a Good Module for you L-858D-U it will trigger godox lights.
@@SekonicGlobal thank you
How do I switch from shutter speed to aperture. In the photo mode?
If you press the mode button it will cycle through to shutter and apeture priority.
Any more infos for the "reflected" mode and its limits? How narrow is the "focal lenght" of it? Because when the subject is standing 5 meters away from me, isn't it incredibly hard to point it at a subject accurately?
It really for taking an average measurement of the scene and should not be used instead of a spot meter.
How to keep the display lit blue after power on?
The light will always auto turn off when the meter is not in use.
💥 2:35 what’s the difference between low and empty.?? 🤔
On Empty the meter will turn off although they are visually the same. When it reaches low you should've another battery on standby.
On empty the indicator flashes. On low it is steady.
Can this Sekonic L-308X trigger Godox Flash?
The 308X does not have a radio triggering system built in.
@chezaray photography , INtersting,
@chezaray photography , interesting, Even in Manual MOde is also Good for me... How to configure? Thank you
@@SekonicGlobal , Now I own L-478D...
Did anyone comes across this issue. Where once in cine mode you cant change it back to photo mode. Is there any way to reset this lightmetter. I tried the custom part but then when I hit mode it doesnt switch out of cine mode.
You held the power button mode button down and then mode, this should allow you to change between modes.
@@SekonicGlobal I LOVE YOU SEKONIC IT WORKS NOW... LOVE YOU SO MUCH
Difference between cine and hd cine?
Cine Mode gives you full access to shutter angles, as well as lx, and fc measurements, and HD Cine Mode is great for working with the settings of Mirrorless and HDSLR cinema cameras.
Still unclear. I use a red komodo and a canon r5c for feature films. Which should I use?
Cine mode as both use shutter angles instead of shutter speeds. Although the R5c can be put into shutter speed mode I believe.
Mine won't switch to aperture priority, just goes straight to shutter speed after flash with C. Any ideas anyone?
If you are measuring flash there is no aperture priority because the apeture is more likely to change when changing flash power, and flash power is not affected by shutter speed unless extremely slow flash durations are used.
What does mean E.u on the metter?
Approved for sale in the European Union.
Are you getting that reading in low light? I’m trying to shoot in low light and it tells me E.u for aperture. I’m guessing there was NoT enough light
I guess I'm stupid. This just gave me a headache. Sounds complicated.
Hell 23codez do you own an L-308x? How can we simplify this for you.
@@SekonicGlobal i think i was tired lol I get it now. Thank you! I'll be picking one up this week.
👍
No hss ??
It shoots 8k raw to SD.
Why turn off and on and off and on.... everytime I need to change settings? Who designed such a concept?
It has an auto off feature to same battery.
OOHHH That's how you insert the Battery.. I had no Idea.
We are glad we could help.
Im stuck on the battery part.
Sorry we aren't sure how we can help. Can you be more specific?
Is Tom Hanks talking ?
No LOL!
Wow, not overly complicated at all... For the price you would guess they could have just added a couple of more buttons to make the navigation on this thing way less complicated - but nada.
230$ for that "plasticy" thing at the time I write this comment, for a device that doesn't do much more and is technically not much more complicated or more expensive in material costs than a cheap pocket calculator. BOLD!
I find this device totally overpriced and way too unintuitive to be worth the it, even for the flash and "cine" capabilities. I bought one, and I thought "okay in the pictures it looks like rubberized buttons... surely weather proof and everything, considering the price tag"... and then when I unpacked this made in Philippines piece of garbage and it felt like a toy calculator.
Nothing is sealed, nothing is rubberized, the little white dome is flappy AF and doesn't stay in place. Not even a battery was included, but a cheapish leather bag that slips off every other second. This price is set way too high for what you get. I will go for another one after I returned it.
You guys just can't be serious with this. This is supposed to be a "pro tool". I understand that you need to live and that the demand for tools like this may be relatively low, but that doesn't mean you can sell me piece of plastic made in the Phillipines with the most simplistic toy calculator chip in it and feel for 230$. 50$ would have been totally fine and reasonable though. Clearly not recommending this.
totally agree....my first ever light meter...and truly there is a difference between Quality & Junk...way overpriced junk.
Who hurt you?
@@ThaGhettoBlaster Sorry?
só lê a até a velocidade de 1/1000?
It goes to 1/8000th of a second.
DIMENSIONS??
Hear is link to the product specifications on the website sekonic.com/sekonic-l-308x-u-flashmate-light-meter/
Thank you.
This guy sounds like Tom Hanks.
LOL! He kind does.