The best light meters for 2023

Even in a world full of AI-powered smartphone cameras and increasingly impressive mirrorless cameras from every major camera manufacturer, dedicated light meters still occupy a well-earned place in both still photography and cinema shooting. Sure, any modern camera will most certainly have a self-contained light meter of its own–and that’s good enough for most people in most situations. But what if you needed to make absolutely sure that the fill light is exactly 2 stops below the key light? Or perhaps you need to make sure that you’re not accidentally overexposing and losing color information on a product shoot. And of course, there are those of us (myself included) that own vintage film cameras that don’t have a light meter at all. Every model on this list of the best light meters can help you dial in your settings to get the best possible photos and videos.

• Best overall: Sekonic Speedmaster L-858D-U
• Best budget: Sekonic L-308X-U Flashmate
• Best for film: Voigtlander VC Speed Meter II (Black)
• Best for portraits: Sekonic LiteMaster Pro L-478D-U
• Best analog: Sekonic L-398A Studio Deluxe III 

Methodology for choosing the best light meters

The light meter landscape doesn’t change all that often and Sekonic dominates the space, which explains its abundance on this list. The company has been making accurate, reliable meters for decades. We compared features against price, size, weight, and practical usage in consideration of this list. Still photo vs cine modes, field vs. studio usage, and ambient and flash modes were all considered. Form factor, size, and weight were also taken into account, along with each model’s strengths and weaknesses. I regularly shoot with analog cameras that lack a working built-in meter, which has provided ample experience from which to draw.

The best light meters: Reviews & Recommendations

With the jargon sorted out, it’s time to get to our list of the best light meters. While we offer these picks organized by category, there’s a lot of overlap here and any of these options may fit your needs. 

Best overall: Sekonic Speedmaster L-858D-U

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Why it made the cut: This meter has everything you could want and probably a little bit more.

Specs: 

• Weight: 8.5 oz
• Spot meter: Yes, 1 degree
• Type: Incident and reflected
• Digital or analog: Digital

Pros:

• Incident and Spot meter modes
• Cine and still modes with flash
• Radio control of strobes (optional)
• 2.7-inch, easy to read backlit touchscreen
• Runs on two AAA batteries

Cons:

• Most expensive option
• Potentially too complicated for some users
• Wireless radio modules sold separately

If you’re looking for a light meter that covers your needs in every possible situation, the Speedmaster L-858D-U by Sekonic is the one to beat. It can measure a range of nearly 28 stops from -5EV all the way up to 22.9EV at ISO 100. It boasts an extensive range of still and cine settings, incident metering and a 1° spot meter with a viewfinder. It can take readings in both ambient and flash modes, you won’t find yourself wanting for features with this in your bag. You can also get optional radio modules that work wirelessly with systems like broncolor, Elinchrom, and Pocket Wizard.

Sekonic has been the biggest name in light meters for decades and this is the flagship, which makes it extremely capable. This glut of features may be a bit much for beginners or someone who is just starting. But, it’s built tough and will likely survive years in a camera bag.

Best budget: Sekonic L-308X-U Flashmate Light Meter

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Why it made the cut: It’s small and relatively inexpensive, which makes it a great companion for any camera.

Specs: 

• Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Spot meter: No
• Type: Incident and reflected
• Digital or analog: Digital

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Photo, cine, and HD Cine metering modes
• Backlit LCD
• Runs on one AA battery

Cons:

• No wireless radio modules
• No spot meter

From beginner to professional, if you’re on a budget this is likely a clear winner. While it doesn’t have the wireless module capabilities of its more advanced siblings, it does have a host of other features that will cover the needs of most users, such as photo, cine, and HD cine metering modes, flash metering, almost 20 stops of range, and a backlit, easy-to-read LCD screen. It’s also a great model if you want to pack light, as it is relatively light and small. At this price range, don’t expect a spot meter in addition to the incident meter, though. This has become the standard pick for many analog photographers as it’s small, reliable, and easy to use. 

Best for film photography: Voigtlander VC Speed Meter II 

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Why it made the cut: It’s the next best thing to a built-in meter when it comes to convenience.

Specs: 

• Weight: 1.5 ounces
• Spot meter: No
• Type: Reflected
• Digital or analog: Digital

Pros:

• Small and light
• Easy to use
• Batteries last a long time
• Sturdy
• Available in silver or black

Cons:

• Adds bulk to your camera
• Fixed metering angle of 30 degrees is limited
• No cine modes

If you’re like me and have a tendency to collect vintage cameras that either don’t have a meter, or have a broken light meter, this model is an invaluable accessory. A small, shoe-mounted meter, this accessory is especially useful as an always-on attachment that you can still switch from camera to camera, as opposed to a separate piece of gear. Its simple controls and versatile 30-degree angle of view make this a great option for users looking for the smallest, easiest meter possible. Three easy-to-see LEDs indicate under or overexposure. 

I’ve personally used one of these fairly regularly for almost 2-years as of this writing, and I haven’t had a need to replace the batteries once. You can even get them in silver or black to match the aesthetics of your camera.

Best for portraits: Sekonic LiteMaster Pro L-478D-U

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Why it made the cut: Meticulous light metering and ample strobe connectivity options make this great for studio work.

Specs: 

• Weight: 4.6 ounces
• Spot meter: Yes
• Type: Incident and reflected
• Digital or analog: Digital

Pros:

• Excellent balance of size, features, and price
• Large easy-to-read touchscreen
• Photo and cine modes
• Ambient and flash modes
• Precise measurement controls

Cons:

• No wireless radio modules
• No spotmeter 
• Screen is hard to read in harsh sunlight

Do you need precise control of studio strobe power within 1/10 of a stop? Are you looking for fast, easy touchscreen control? Do you shoot both stills and video? Are you shooting with ambient, flash, or a mixture of both lights? If you find yourself in a highly controlled studio setting, look no further than the Sekonic LiteMaster Pro L-478D-U Light Meter

With a beautiful 2.7-inch touchscreen, ambient and flash, photo and cine modes, in addition the ability to memorize custom profiles and filter compensation modes, this model is a great balance of both features and budget.

For beginners, this represents a meter that likely has more features than you need, but you can easily grow into. For professionals, it’s got just about all the features you need, with the exception of a view-finder-based spot meter like its bigger sibling, the Speedmaster L-858D-U.

Best analog: Sekonic L-398A Studio Deluxe III Light Meter

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Why it made the cut: It has a classic style and an accurate mechanism that doesn’t require a battery.

Specs: 

• Weight: 6.7 ounces
• Spot meter: No
• Type: Incident
• Digital or analog: Analog

Pros:

• Simple, easy to use
• All analog controls and display
• Cine and photo capable
• No batteries needed
• Reliable
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• Display numbers are smaller and can be harder to read
• No memory functions like digital models
• Heavier than other comparably sized meters

Imagine all the batteries and chargers you own for all your photographic and personal devices. The tangle of wires, charging bricks, incompatible battery types, and USB connector types. Now, imagine a key piece of gear not needing any kind of battery at all and what that might do for all your battery-related anxiety. The Sekonic L-398A Studio Deluxe III Light Meter takes fast, accurate light readings–and needs absolutely no battery. With a silicon photocell to take readings, the incoming light provides all the power it needs.

The analog, needle-based display is simple and easy to read, but certainly not as easy on the eyes as a big, clear LCD screen. A swiveling head helps you maintain full view of all your readings, and the spinning analog controls are a nice change of pace from all the buttons and switches we’re so used to.

If you appreciate a hands-on, tactical, non-digital piece of engineering whose basic design has lasted nearly 7 decades, it’s hard to go wrong with the L-398A Studio Deluxe III from Sekonic.

While not nearly as advanced as its digital counterparts, it offers you just what you need, assuming all you need is a precise exposure reading. At a budget-friendly price, it can be a great starting point for any photographer or filmmaker with both still and cine readings.

Things to consider when choosing the best light meters

Before we dive into our specific picks for the best light meters, there are some basic concepts and specifications you should understand. This used to be basic knowledge for photographers before built-in meters dominated the scene. We’ll define some important terms and outline a few crucial functions.

Reflected vs. incident

Point your camera at a subject and it will measure the light bouncing off of your subject and entering through the camera lens. It’s measuring reflected light. Many dedicated light meters also offer this functionality. Unlike built-in meters, however, handheld units also often measure incidental light. This type of meter measures the light that’s falling on the subject. That means you have to put the incident meter very close to your subject. 

Reflected light meters work fine for most situations, but incident light meters can be very helpful in a studio setting when you’re trying to dial in ratios with strobes or compare the amount of light falling on different parts of your subject. 

Most of the models on this list offer both kinds of measurements, which makes them very versatile.

Spot meters

Some advanced or specialized models will offer spot metering, which allows you to get a precise reading of the light in a very small and specific part of the scene. This kind of meter can come in very handy if you’re trying to expose one part of a frame that’s surrounded by challenging light. Think of a portrait with heavy backlight in which a typical meter would cause the person to come out seriously underexposed. 

Manufacturers usually indicate the angle a reading will cover when measuring reflected light. A typical reflected meter may sample a 40-degree angle while a spot meter will offer a much more narrow view of 5 degrees or even 1 degree. 

Strobe triggering

Strobes are essential for studio work and some meters come with built-in wired or wireless triggers to fire them. If you’re buying a flash meter for wireless use, make sure it’s compatible with your chosen brand of strobes. Some higher-end models offer built-in ports that can accept wireless transmitters from various systems. 

If you don’t mind a wired connection, some models still employ older PC ports, which can come in handy for working with older gear. 

Analog vs. digital

While digital light meters generally rule the market, there are still a few analog options out there. The Sekonic L-398A, for instance, relies on an amorphous silicon photocell that measures light without the need for a battery, so it’s always ready to go. Analog isn’t necessarily the most practical choice, but it provides a different experience that you may appreciate. 

Final thoughts on the best light meters

While many models have both photo and cine modes, make sure that the meter you choose can handle your most common shooting scenarios. You also need to consider if you prefer switches and dials vs a touchscreen option, as the last place you want to be fiddling with controls is an important photo or video shoot. If you need a spotmeter with a very precise angle of view, your number of choices drops considerably. Choose wisely, and your meter will likely be at your side for many, many years.