The function of a light meter is to measure the exposure of the scene and give accurate reading so as to get a properly exposed picture. There are two types of light metering: camera in-built light meter and handheld meter. The former allows you to meter the scene via through-the-len and does not always give you the most accurate reading due to following factors:
1. When there is a len filter (e.g neutral gradient and polariser) mounted on your len, it will reduce the amount of light entering the camera thus affecting the reading.
2. Because this type metering is based on reflected rays, the camera in built metering will be tricked into thinking that the scene has more exposure and will underexpose (i.e if the object has more white) the picture and vice versa (i.e if the object has more black).
The latter allows you to measure the scene in both ways and this makes it popular. You can choose to measure incident ray which is light coming from the light source or reflected ray which is light bounces off from the object. Measuring an incident ray will give you the most accurate reading as it does not be tricked by the object’s reflective qualities and is used by most photographers to get a proper exposed picture.
Some light meters will have the ability of taking multiple reading from different light source thereby enabling you to average out the reading. There is also this feature in some light meter which enables you to measure exposure from your studio strobe by pressing a button to trigger a studio strobe. However take note that the more features the light meter has, the more you will have to pay. There are some web links available that teach you how to use light meter and the pro and cons of camera in-built meter and handheld light meter.
Guide to using a hand-held light meter
Using a Light Meter
In-Camera vs. Handheld Light Meters
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