Key features
Sekonic L-758DR Quick Start Guide: Part 1
Sekonic L-758DR Quick Start Guide: Part 2 - Ambient Light
Sekonic L-758DR Quick Start Guide: Part 3 - Strobe metering
Sekonic L-758DR Quick Start Guide: Part 4 - Metering Tricks
Reflected Light Spot Metering
The Sekonic L-758DR incorporates a precise 1-degree, reflected light spot meter. Reflected light metering tells you about the subject. Different from incident light metering that produces readings only for the middle of your camera’s exposure range, reflected light metering can also show you where the edges are. The key to working with the L-758DR’s spot meter is knowing the dynamic range of your camera. That is, the tonal range your camera is capable of recording. Program this into the L-758DR and you can easily know which details will be properly imaged and which will be over or under the range of your camera. Armed with this knowledge, you can make exposure decisions that take full advantage of your camera’s imaging capabilities to produce pictures with greater tonality and clarity than you have
Incident Light Metering
Incident light readings are, in fact, the simplest and most direct way to determine exposure. And because incident meters measure the light that falls on your subject, they provide camera settings that render the image exactly the way it appears. Blacks are black. Grays are gray. Whites are white.
Retracting the Sekonic L-758’s Lumisphere enables you to quickly judge the brightness of multiple light sources for fast, accurate adjustment of lighting ratios.
Digital Photography: Boundless Possibilities
Today’s High Dynamic Range (HDR) processing enables breaking through the limits to produce results never seen before. Knowing your camera’s capabilities and precise exposure readings with the L-758D will help you make right exposure settings and save you time in processing.
Determining Dynamic Range with Exposure Profile Targets (separate purchase)
Shoot with the equipment you use most. Make tests under daylight and studio lighting. Exposure Profile Target requires an 11-shot bracket (0, +/- 5EV). Exposure Profile Target II requires a 3-shot bracket (-3EV, 0,+3EV). Make a spot reading of 18% reflectance tone and incident reading in front of target and record data. Shoot the bracketed shots based on incident light measurement.
Entering Data
Download test images into computer. If shot in RAW, convert to TIFF for computation. Enter ISO, incident, and reflected light shooting data. Then select images and press OK to watch the Sekonic Data Transfer Software program graph the dynamic range of your DSLR camera. Save the data for transfer to the L-758DR.
Programming Meter
Switch OFF L-758DR. Connect it to the computer with USB cable and switch L-758DR ON. Select up to three camera profiles. Press transfer. Switch OFF L-758DR, disconnect, and switch ON to begin using.
Full information Spot Viewfinder
The 1-degree spot meter has a broad reading range from EV 1 to EV 24.4 for ambient light and measures flash down to an amazing f/2.0. Its large, bright viewfinder with diopter correction and full-information data display give you everything you need to make the right exposure decisions without having to take your eye from the eyepiece.
Memory Mode and Latitude Display
Up to nine readings can be memorized and displayed on the meter’s analog display. Once programmed, the L-758DR’s latitude display mirrors the dynamic range of your camera and is your guide to making exposure decisions that will get you the pictures you want.
Contrast Function
Use the L-758DR’s contrast function to simplify measuring the brightness range of a scene. Spot meter a mid tone or take an incident-light reading and press the AVE/?V button to create a mid tone standard. Then press the measuring button to display the brightness difference between the standard and new reading. Knowing the dynamic range of your DSLR is vital to making the best use of this important feature.
Ambient Light Metering
Take shutter-priority or aperture-priority readings from 30 minutes up to 1/8000 second and f/0.5 to f/128 and display them in full, 1/2 or 1/3 stop increments. Exposure is displayed both digitally and on an analog scale for easy readout. Settings can be changed after reading with automatic calculation to maintain the proper exposure. The extended sensitivity range, EV -2 to 22.9 (Inc) and EV 1 to 24.4 (Ref) for ISO 100, enables taking measurements over a wide range of lighting conditions.
Flash Light Metering
Shutter-priority readings of flash light can be made with a synch cord or cordlessly at shutter speeds from 30 minutes to 1/1000. The L-758DR automatically resets after each reading in cordless mode, to enable fast adjustment of flash brightness.
Built-in Radio Flash Triggering
Simply press the measuring button to wirelessly trigger flash units up to 100 feet away. The built-in transmitter offers 32 digital coded channels and Quad-Triggering Zones and is compatible with PocketWizard radio triggering systems (except ControlTL), as well as the PocketWizard Wireless Freedom partners. Learn more about Radio Triggering.
Flash Analyzing Function
The L-758DR is especially useful for on-location shooting to lighten shadows or reduce background detail. That’s because it measures ambient and flash simultaneously and automatically indicates the percentage of flash in the total exposure. You can easily adjust the ambient flash mix by turning the Jog Wheel. The digital display indicates the camera settings and an analog display shows the relationship between ambient and flash and the total exposure.
Sekonic L-758DR Functions
All controls are instantly available. Positive Jog Wheel operation and clearly marked buttons make for fast and easy handling.
Other Features
Dual ISO
Enables instant adjustment or exposure readings for different ISO, filter factors, exposure factors, or exposure biasing.
Swivel Head
Turn to position incident dome properly while
maintaining full view of the data display.
Illuminated Data Panel
Comes on at levels below EV 6.
All-Weather Design
Dust-proof and splash-proof (JIS Standard
Water Resistance Class 4).
Custom Functions
14 custom settings enable setting the display for full,
1/2 and 1/3 stop readout, adjust Latitude display, control
functions, select displayed exposure modes and more.
L-758DR DigitalMaster - Technical Specifications
Type: Digital exposure meter for ambient and flash light
Receptor Head: Rotating Domed Head 90° to the right, 180° to the left, Retractable for Contrast Reading
Light Receiving Method: Incident light and reflected light
Receptor Incident Light: Convertible to flat diffuser (Lumisphere in down position)
Receptor Reflected Light: 1° spot with display in finder
Light Receptor Element: 2-Silicon photo diodes (incident and reflected)
Reflected Metering Distance: 3.3' to infinity/1.0m to infinity
Measuring Range and Modes
Measuring Modes Ambient Light: - Aperture priority metering
- EV metering
- Shutter priority metering
- Measuring Modes Flash: - Measurement using the included wireless flash radio triggering system (cumulative and non-cumulative)
- Without synchro cord (cumulative and non-cumulative)
- With synchro cord (cumulative and non-cumulative)
Measuring Range (ISO 100) Ambient Light: - Incident light: EV -2 to EV 22.9
- Reflected Light EV 1 to EV 24.4
Measuring Range (ISO 100) Flash: - Incident Light f/0.5 to f/161.2
- Reflected Light f/2.0 to f/161.2
Repeatability Repeat Accuracy: (+/-) 0.1 EV or less
Calibration Constant Incident: Lumisphere C = 340, Lumidisc C = 250
Calibration Constant Reflected: K = 12.5
Display Range and Modes
Display Range Film Speed: ISO 3 to 8000 (in 1/3 steps)
Display Range Shutter Speeds Ambient: 30 min to 1/8000 sec. (in 1, 1/2, 1/3 steps) plus 1/200, 1/400
Display Range Shutter Speeds Flash: 30 min to 1/1000 sec. (in 1, 1/2, 1/3 steps) plus 1/75, 1/80, 1/90, 1/100, 1/200, 1/400
Display Range Aperture: f/0.5 to f/161.2 (in 1, 1/2, 1/3 steps)
Display Range EV: EV -9.9 to EV 46.6 (in 1/10 steps)
Display Cine Speeds fps: 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 18, 24, 25, 30, 32, 36, 40, 48, 50, 60, 64, 72, 96, 120, 128, 150, 200, 240, 256, 300, 360 (shutter angle: 180°)
Display Range Analog Scale Aperture: f/0.7 to f/90 (in 1, 1/3 steps)
Display Range Analog Scale EV: EV -7 to EV 7 (in 1/3 steps)
Other
Exposure Out Of Range: Eu (underexposure) or Eo (overexposure)
Memory Function: 9 readings
Average Function: Up to 9 readings can be averaged
Flash Analyzing Function: 0 to 100% in 10% increments
Multiple Flash Function: Infinite number of flash readings (Only one digit is displayed when the cumulated number is ten or more)
Calibration Compensation: (+/-) 1.0 EV (in 1/10th steps)
Exposure Compensation: (+/-) 9.9 EV in 1/10 steps)
Custom Functions: 14
All Weather Feature: JIS Standard Water Resistance Class 4, Splash Proof Type
Auto Power Off: Yes, Selectable in Custom Functions
Battery Power Indicator Display: Icon with 3 status
Second ISO Film Speed Setting: ISO 3 to 8000 (in 1/3 steps)
Tripod Socket/Shoe Mount: 1/4" - 20 thread mount
Battery(Power): (1) 3V Battery, Model CR123A Lithium
Diopter Adjustment: -2.5 to 1.0D
Operating Temperature Range: 14° to 122° F / -10° to 50° C
Storage Temperature Range: -4° to 140° F / -20° to 60° C
Radio Triggering
Radio Triggering Channels: 1 to 16 channels standard, 17 to 32 "Quad Triggering"
Radio Triggering Range: Up to 100 feet from transmitter to receiver
Radio Wave Frequency Europe: - CH1-CH16 433.62MHz
- CH17-CH32 434.22MHz
Radio Wave Frequency USA Canada: - CH1-CH16 344.00MHz
- CH17-CH32 346.50 - 354.00MHz
Dimension and Weight
Product Dimensions: 6.70x3.80x1.90 in./17.00x9.70x4.80 cm
Product Weight: 0.60lbs./0.30kg.
Item Includes
L-758 Case, CR123A Lithium Battery, Strap, Lens cap, USB cable, Syncro terminal cap, Sticker for multi-key and CS Operations, Software in CD-ROM, Quick Guide and Operating Manual