A light meter helps you get the right exposure when you’re shooting, which means your photos will have the right amount of light and color.
We researched and tested dozens of light meters, evaluating the accuracy, portability, and ease of use. The Dr.meter LX1330B Digital Illuminance Light Meter is our top pick, thanks to its reliable exposure readings, ease of use, and long battery life.
Here are the best light meters for photographers.
Best Photographic Light Meters: Editor Recommended
Our Editor’s Best Photographic Light Meters Reviews
- Measures luminosity from 0 to 200,000 Lux and ambient temperature
- High accuracy of ±3% rdg ± 8 dgts (<10,000 Lux), ±4% rdg ±10 dgts (>10,000 Lux)
- 4 digital color LCD screen, MIN/Max readings, data hold, auto power off, and low battery indication
- Wide range of application, use lux light meter for set design, factory, office or home use
- lightweight and compact, 2 years long period warranty
- The instruction manual is in both English and Chinese versions. 【Widely used】 Measurement visible brightness, measurement range is wide.Can be widely used in such as schools, hospitals, factories, airports, families and other occasions of brightness measurement.
- 【Unit switch】llumination:200000LUX,1FC=10.76LUX;Unit:LUX、FC.Press MODE key to convert illuminance unit( LUX/FC ).
- 【Measurement time】S
- 【MAX/MIN】Press the RANGE key to measure the MAX ,MIN；
- 【Data HOLD】Press the HOLD key to enable/disable data retention；
- 4-Range Settings: This high-quality digital illuminance/light meter has 4-range settings, 0/200/2,000/20,000/200,000 Lux, for a dynamic metering ability
- High Accuracy: With auto zeroing capabilities, you can be sure you'll always get a reading with pinpoint accuracy, and it will always be fast
- EZ-Read Display: Clearly readable info lets you read Units and Signs easily, and stay informed with the over-range indicator
- Convenient Switches: Get better control over your readings with Data Hold & Peak Data hold for when you're recording information. You'll also benefit from its lower power consumption and short rise and fall times
- Bring Anywhere: From squeezing into tight places to keeping your load light, you can bring the Dr.Meter Digital Illuminance/light meter wherever you need to. Fits easily into a work bag or large pocket and barely adds any weight. It's the ultimate in light-metering convenience
- Non Obstructive
- Package Dimensions: 4.826 H x 12.7 L x 8.128 W (centimeters)
- Package Weight: 0.2 pounds
- Country of Origin : China
- Easy-to-use 35-degree wide-angle metering angle. ±0.1EV metering accuracy. ISO1~ISO3200, 60s~1/8000s, F1~F64.
- Aperture Auto mode (A), Shutterspeed Auto mode (S), Manual Mode and EV mode (A+S). Manual trigger metering (Click M), auto trigger metering (Long-press M). Independent X ISO level can be set to values other than those on the ISO dial scale (1/2/4/6/8/10). Exposure compensation function.
- 3 independent dials for aperture, ISO and shutter speed. Each dial has a tactile and audible feedback. Each dial has a half-stop resolution. Half-stop values can be 1/3 or 2/3 stops. Ability to limit aperture auto mode and shutter speed auto mode to 1/3 or full stops.
- Over 10 "Exposure Indicators" for Manual Mode to choose from! Dual LED cardinal point indicators! Changeable to your favorite colors.
- Strong and durable full metal shell! Ultra-small size! Built-in rechargeable battery, charged with USB-C cable.Comprehensive battery life exceeds 20 hours, and it can stand by for more than 6 months when fully charged and turned off.
- Exposures accurate down to a tenth-of-a-stop for both ambient and electronic flash light readings in full-stop mode.
- At ISO 100 the ambient EV range is 0 to 19.9 flash f/stops range from f/1.0 to f/90.9 with a shutter-speed span of 60-seconds to 1/8000th-of-a-second (1 sec to 1/500th for flash).
- Photo Mode: for still image photographers featuring shutter or aperture priority display of a full range of ambient and flash functions including cord and cordless flash measurement
- HD Cine Mode: perfect for DSLR and mirrorless videographers who need to take exposure readings and control light using shutter speeds and frame rates
- Cine Mode: designed for use with cinema grade cameras, allows users to select from the most useful frame rates and shutter angles for exposure control with one-tenth stop accuracy.
- ☀【HIGH ACCURACY】+/- 4% of readings for 10000 Lux, 1000 FC; +/- 5% of readings +/- 10 digits for 400000 Lux, 40000FC
- ☀【0.4 SECOND RESPONSE】2~3 times sampling per second, Instantly to measure out how much luminosity intensity you’re getting, No more guessing
- ☀【WIDE MEASURE RANGE】 This light meter can measure luminance at 0.01~400,000 Lumens, (0.01~40,000 Foot Candles), Which is much wider than the others. Resolution 0.01
- ☀【EASY TO USE】The light sensor can be rotated 270º, so you don’t need to turn around the light meter to measure luminosity intensity from different angles. Just rotate the sensor, and you can still read the illuminance at front
- ☀【MEMORIZE THE LIGHT READINGS】This Lux Meter can help you record 33 sets of readings,Temp Testing, The RELATIVE measuring mode will show you the difference between current / recorded data. Ideal lux meter to measure light intensity for LED grow lights,garden, plants, school, office, state, LED lights, indoor and outdoor
- UNI-T professional digital illuminance meter UT383BT. Effectively measures light intensity and display results in units of Lux or FC. Range: 0 - 199,900 Lux / 0 - 18,500 Fc. High accuracy of +/-(4 %+8)
- IOS/Android APP & Free download. Breeze through data recording, export, storage and analysis. Measurement data is transfered through Bluetooth to iENV App
- Compact & easy to use. Large 4 digital LCD screen with backlight. 0.5 s sampling time. Overload indication. Max/Min. Data hold. Low battery indicator. Auto shutdown for power saving
- Effective & Versatile. Widely used in lightening enterprise, agriculture and animal husbandry, mining enterprise, laboratory, office, household, street lights construction, camera & studios, photography, etc
- Portable value pack. What you get: 1 x UT383BT mini light meter, 1 x App, 1 x paper manual, 1 x e Manual (free download)
- USER-FRIENDLY LIGHT METER: Easily monitor light levels with our simple-to-operate light meter
- ACCURATE MEASUREMENTS: Measure light in both Foot Candles (FC) and Lux for comprehensive lighting analysis
- AUTO AND MANUAL RANGE: Enjoy flexibility with auto and manual range options, covering 4000 FC and 40,000 Lux
- CLEAR DISPLAY: Backlit LCD display with a 40-segment bar graph ensures easy reading of light measurements
- CONVENIENT FEATURES: Benefit from data hold, Max/Min readings, and Auto Power Off for enhanced usability
- 180° Rotating Probe and 2.25" Backlit LCD: TopTes TS-710 Light meter with 180-degree rotating sensor ensures precise light measurements from multiple angles. The fast-responding sensor samples every 0.5 seconds, providing continuous measurement data. The backlit 2.25-inch LCD screen allows easy reading even in low-light conditions
- LUX/FC Measurement Units: TopTes TS-710 Luxmeter with Wide range: 0.1 to 200,000 lux and 0.1 to 20,000 foot candles, 3%rdg+5dgt accuracy. Optimize your plant's growth with our light meter for plants to find the suitable lighting area
- Versatile Applications: TS-710 lumen meter measures various visible light sources like LED grow room lighting, fluorescent lamps, metal halides, high-pressure sodium lamps, and incandescent bulbs. Ideal for homes, schools, offices, workshops, stages, farms, and factories. With the light meter foot candles, you can easily diagnose and fix issues such as dim car headlights or uneven LED bulbs in your home
- Multi-Functional Design: TS-710 foot candle light meter measures ambient ℃/℉ temperature and humidity, with the temperature sensor adapting to new environments over time. Features MAX/MIN value recording and data-hold for extensive data logging. Auto shut-off after 10 minutes of inactivity. Low-battery indicator for timely battery replacement
- Package Contents: A TS-710 digital light meter with sensor cover, a soft case, three AAA batteries, and a user manual
Best Photographic Light Meters Buying Guide
Before choosing the best photographic light meter you should consider the following options:
1. Battery: The first step is to check the power source of the light meter. You can find light meters that use two types of batteries.
You can find light meters that use standard alkaline batteries and others that use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
Standard alkaline batteries are affordable and widely available in the market. However, you will have to replace the batteries quite often.
On the other hand, rechargeable batteries are more expensive. However, you will not have to keep buying new batteries, which makes them a more cost-effective solution.
2. Accuracy: The accuracy of a light meter is determined by its ISO rating. ISO stands for International Standards Organization, which is the international standards body for the photography and imaging industries.
The ISO rating is expressed in a number between 1 and 4096. The higher the ISO number is, the more accurate the light meter is.
You also need to consider the ISO rating of the light meter based on the film or sensor speed you use.
For example, if you use a 400 ISO film, you will need a light meter with an ISO rating of at least 512. If you use a faster film, you need a light meter with a higher ISO rating.
3. Type of Application: You need to consider the type of application you want to use the light meter for.
You can find light meters that are designed for spot metering, incident metering, and sometimes both. You can find light meters with different degrees of sophistication.
You can also find light meters that have built-in exposure modes for different types of photography, such as portrait, landscape, and wildlife photography.
4. Modes: A light meter can have different modes that can help the photographer in the field. For example, you can find light meters that have a spot mode, which is useful for determining the exposure for a specific area.
You also can find light meters with a combination mode, which gives you the option to measure incidents as well as a spotlight.
You can also find light meters with a linear guide, which gives you a visual representation of the exposure.
What else you should know about the best photographic light meters
What is a photographic light meter?
A photographic light meter is an instrument that measures the amount of light in a scene and gives an exposure reading to help photographers determine the proper shutter speed and aperture settings to use for their photos.
How does a photographic light meter work?
A photographic light meter is a device that measures the amount of light in a scene and then translates that information into an aperture and shutter speed value for a given film speed.
What are the benefits of using a photographic light meter?
A photographic light meter can be used to measure the amount of light in a scene, and can be used to determine the correct exposure for a photograph.
What are the different types of photographic light meters?
There are several types of photographic light meters, the most common being built into the camera. Other types of light meters include handheld, incident, and spot meters.
How do I choose the best photographic light meter for my needs?
The best photographic light meter for your needs will depend on the specific features that you are looking for. Some factors to consider include the type of camera you are using, the range of the light meter, the accuracy of the light meter, and the price.
Conclusion
On the market, there are numerous best photographic light meters. Hopefully, the list of the top ten best photographic light meters will save you time researching and deciding on the best one for you.