Reviewed by
Christian M Fisker , Professional

Price Paid
$100.00 at photoshop dk

Photography Experience
11-20 years , People

Summary
This is a faboulous pro meter which never fails or let you down.In My case i have brought mine anywhere,travelling around often to help metering my old Nikon F or Praktica or even new Canon EOS equipment ! the meter is always very very precise!
¨What i also like so much is simply that it dont need batteries and that it is so simple to read and understand,It is an absolutely classic and a wonderfull working tool.
Go for it.DONT LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT*****
best regards
Christian Maldonado Fisker

Strengths
All*****
easy to read
needs no batteries
strong built

Weaknesses
a little heavy
can be a little clumsy

Similar Products Used
many from gossen minolta sekonic...e.q

Customer Service
none

Reviewed by
Austin Moore , Intermediate , from New York

Price Paid
$161.00 at B&H

Photography Experience
6-10 years , Fine Art

Summary
This is one kick ass light meter. The great thing about this meter is that it built like a tank and it can go anywhere. Another thing I like about it is that it is easy to use once you get to know it. You can do inciednt and reflective light readings with it. And if you have the set of direct reading slides you don't have to use the dial.

Strengths
This thing is really solidly built, and it doesn't need batteries, and is a nice size that fits comfortabley in your hand.

Weaknesses
Photocell deteroriates over time.

Similar Products Used
Gossen Pilot 2

Customer Service
Non so far, knock on wood.

Reviewed by
joe fazio , Professional , from Pennsylvania

Price Paid
$120.00 at used

Photography Experience
11-20 years , Other

Summary
great studio meter,but not for travel..too touchy for photographers who do not baby their equipment , swivel head comes loose every once in a while,I had mine for 10 years and it took two trips to the local repair shop to fix the swivel head,but exposures were right on..and an novice could figure out how to use it in a day with i.b.

Strengths
interchangeable dome and grid,hi slide,easy to use,no batteries.

Weaknesses
swivel head is weak

Similar Products Used
lots of different meters ...Gossen,Minolta,etc...

Customer Service
none

Reviewed by
T Samuel , Intermediate , from NYC

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Outdoor

Summary
Seeing some of the old, great cinematographers holding this is enough to convince me.

However I much prefer the simplicity of newer digital meters and I think the old greats would too. I knew people (students) using this meter who blew whole days of shooting because they forgot the "hi" slide was in or they were using the wrong line somewhere on the dial. These are silly mistakes but this meter makes you think a little bit and there is the room for human error. Still, the Studio Deluxe is a very capable tool that has been used by some of the greatest photographers/cinematographers ever so I find it hard to fault this classic instrument.

Strengths
Classic, tried and true.
No batteries.

Weaknesses
Can be easy to mess up readings bigtime if you aren't concentrating.

I don't think this meter is all that tough -- the top plastic rotating section snaps off pretty easily at the narrow part. Can be super-glue fixed though.

Similar Products Used
Flashmate II

Customer Service
met them, they are like used car salesmen.

Reviewed by
David N. VanMeter , Intermediate , from Hilliard, OH

Photography Experience
21+ years , Fine Art

Summary
This is an excellent all around meter that will work in almost any situation. Throw it in your pocket amd you can go anywhere. I would not say it is accurate enough for shooting chromes but for print film it is just dandy. I plan on using mine till the cell dies.

Strengths
Swivel Head
Rugged Construction
Variety of info on dial
Small size
No Batteries

Weaknesses
Cell deteriorates over time. Dust gets under dial... hard to clean

Similar Products Used
Pentax Spotmeter V

Customer Service
NA