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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

So I bought this Sekonic L-758C for dirt cheap... did I get ripped off?

I bought a Sekonic 608 (I think) several years ago, same deal - deep discount. I think it was a "grey market" sort of thing. Worked fine.
 
It's certainly grey market and possibly even b-stock, which means it may not have passed all steps of the QA process. What really amazes me is that we often see b-stock items such as computer components, lenses, <cough> light meters, cameras, etc.. still hit the market in retail packaging.

Anyway, with the grey market item, you'll have no warranty and it may not even have the paperwork and same packaging as it would if being sold in the USA. If b-stock, it may not be properly calibrated or could have other issues. Buyer beware, sometimes you get what you pay for. Sometimes you get a smoking deal...
 
Jeff Kilgroe said:
It's certainly grey market and possibly even b-stock, which means it may not have passed all steps of the QA process. What really amazes me is that we often see b-stock items such as computer components, lenses, <cough> light meters, cameras, etc.. still hit the market in retail packaging.

Anyway, with the grey market item, you'll have no warranty and it may not even have the paperwork and same packaging as it would if being sold in the USA. If b-stock, it may not be properly calibrated or could have other issues. Buyer beware, sometimes you get what you pay for. Sometimes you get a smoking deal...
Click to expand...

Hmm, I've never heard of this term "grey market". What does that mean exactly? And how do you guys think I'd be able to tell if it was a good one or a bad one? This has me worried, obviously the slightest spec is important when dealing with a matter like this.

Thanks a bunch for your responses.
 
Grey market means it was imported for a different country so the cost difference is due to duties/taxes.
Bottom line is no warranty, otherwise no difference.

Regarding B-Stock- this has nothing to do with QC...it means it was used as a demo unit by manufacture. For example a trade show. Don't fear b-stock items.
 
Believe there's a US version and another that are actually different at a hardware level (in terms of the transmitter for strobes, maybe)? But irrelevant if you're using with hot lights.

Nice meter, not "pro" level like a spectra incident or pentax digital spot, but a nice amateur product for fun. Love mine!
 
Matt W. said:
Believe there's a US version and another that are actually different at a hardware level (in terms of the transmitter for strobes, maybe)? But irrelevant if you're using with hot lights.

Nice meter, not "pro" level like a spectra incident or pentax digital spot, but a nice amateur product for fun. Love mine!
Click to expand...

Could you explain why it is not "pro level"?
 
You bought the CE version not the fcc version. It is not compatible with the fcc sekonic module for pocketwizards. If you want to use pocketwizards you will have to buy European models and the CE compatible module.
 
Peter Strietmann said:
Could you explain why it is not "pro level"?
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Yeahm seems strange to me considering this is the same exact meter that Hurlbut and many other bigger DPs have recommended and claimed to have used.

dan shay said:
You bought the CE version not the fcc version. It is not compatible with the fcc sekonic module for pocketwizards. If you want to use pocketwizards you will have to buy European models and the CE compatible module.
Click to expand...

Oh I see, thanks so much. Is this going to be a hassle? And can someone please explain what this pocketwizard is? I keep hearing about it a lot...

Also, do you think downloading Camera profiles for my meter will still be applicable, even though it's the CE and not the FCC version? Are there any other serious concerns I should be worried about?
 
Frank Hague said:
Oh I see, thanks so much. Is this going to be a hassle? And can someone please explain what this pocketwizard is? I keep hearing about it a lot...

Also, do you think downloading Camera profiles for my meter will still be applicable, even though it's the CE and not the FCC version? Are there any other serious concerns I should be worried about?
Click to expand...


Pocketwizards are radio triggers for off camera flashes. No real use for cinema, unless you want to film flashes or take photos. The CE and FCC models are exactly the same, they just use different radio frequencies for radio triggering.
 
Peter Strietmann said:
Could you explain why it is not "pro level"?
Click to expand...

Less accurate than a Spectra and just not taken seriously to the same extent. These do show up on big sets so don't go returning it, but do get it calibrated, especially if you're shooting film. There's a guy in LA who calibrates them for $100 as they're often as much as a 1/3 stop off...

But you can use whatever you want. Deakins uses a $100 meter apparently and I know some A list DPs are using dual meters for convenience....

I see a lot of these on set, often the gaffer, DP, and op will have a Sekonic dual meter but again these aren't high end sets. They are about as low end as it gets. (Not the stuff in my reel, that's just my hobby... that's truly as low end as it gets lol... mostly craigslist jobs and no-pay.)

If you get the Sekonic calibrated it will be good enough but it's not as reliable as a Spectra and the spot meter isn't as precise as the old Pentax.

Mostly, it's just inelegant. Swiss army knife, not a honed blade.

I love mine! But if you know what you're doing chances are it's a bit "over-kill." The real stigma against it is that it's such an "all-in-one" unit with a million billion functions. The Spetra and Pentax are more elegant and aren't considered newbie swiss army knife light meters.

Nothing against anyone who owns one. I own one lol, I just don't claim to be someone who has the skill to make a living as a shooter. It gets the job done, it's just a bit overkill for an experienced DP and less accurate than cheaper models. But for me I don't always trust my eye so I'll use the spot and incident to double check, and having the strobe capability for stills is cool, too. It's a great light meter for learning, and (once calibrated) is useful all the way up. It's just that, if you know what you're doing, you're set with just an incident or a spot meter. And there are better, cheaper ones.

As a first light meter for a beginner, I think it's great. It has served me well in that regard. I'm assuming this is your first serious light meter (if it weren't you'd be buying something more specific to one task) and I think it's a great choice for first light meter. I use it for shooting 4x5 slides, too... and it's good for strobe photography... good in general, just jack-of-all trades type thing... and, fairly, regarded as such by those in the know. :)
 
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dan shay said:
Pocketwizards are radio triggers for off camera flashes. No real use for cinema, unless you want to film flashes or take photos. The CE and FCC models are exactly the same, they just use different radio frequencies for radio triggering.
Click to expand...

Awesome, sounds like I got lucky with this deal then.

Thanks for assuaging my concerns, guys
 
Strange, I've seen gaffers and DP's (some with ASC after their name) with 20-30 years experience using this meter on set.
Of course you should get it calibrated.
Guess they haven't made it to out of the amateur market yet...
 
I bought a cheap 758c off ebay - it works great but came from China. The downside is like mentioned above is that you need to get the pocket wizards triggers for the European market in order it for the triggers to work, you can order them through B&H but you have to call them. Other than that it works perfectly fine.
 
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