Light meters
Sekonic L-308S User manual
User manual for Sekonic L-308S. 29 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Sekonic
- Model / document
- Sekonic L-308S
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 29
- File size
- 0.9 MB
- Category
- Light meters
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 3 · Read text
I SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
This manual uses the following safety labels for WARNING and CAUTION
that you must follow.
WARNING Indicates hazards or unsafe practices that can result in severe
personal injury or death.
CAUTION Indicates hazards or unsafe practices that can result in the personal
injury or damage to your L-308S exposure meter.
NOTE: Indicates a caution or limitation that accompanies operation. Please
read the note to avoid incorrect operation.
REFERENCE: Provides the reference information and related functions that are
useful in operating the L-308S. We recommend that you read these
reference.
WARNING G Please place in a location where an infant cannot reach and
accidentally get the strap wrapped around his or her neck.
There is danger of strangulation.
G Keep the Lumidisc and synchro terminal cap out of reach of
young children, as swallowing such objects can cause
suffocation.
G Never place batteries in fire, short disassemble heat or charge
them. The batteries might break down, and cause an accident,
injury or pollute the environment.
CAUTION G There is a danger of electric shock if the meter is handled with
wet hands, during rain, in areas splashed by water or where
there is a lot of moisture, if you use cord flash mode. Also,
such action may damage the product.
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2. Explanation of the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
* For explanation purposes, the display illustrated here shows icons and
readouts simultaneously. Actual display will never appear like this.
q Measuring Mode icons
Ambient (See page 10)
Auto Reset Cordless Flash (See page 16)
Cord Flash (See page 14)
w ISO Display (See page 5)
Displays ISO Film setting.
e Aperture/EV display
Appears when aperture value is displayed.
Appears when using EV mode. (See page 11)
r 0.1 step display
Depending on set mode, this displays measurement value at 1/10 aperture or
1/10 EV. (See page 10)
t Shutter Priority indicator, Shutter speed display for still photography or frames per
second (f/s) for cinematography
Appears when Shutter Priority (T) mode. (See page 10)
Appears when shutter speed is in full seconds. (See page 10)
Appears when cine speed is set in frames per seconds. (See page 13)
y Battery Power Indicator (See page 4)
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3. Before Using
1. Attach the strap
1) Attach the Strap !5 by passing the small end
loop through the strap eyelet !2 and passing the
other end of strap through it.
WARNING G Please place in a location where an infant cannot reach and
accidentally get the strap wrapped around his or her neck.
There is danger of strangulation.
2. Inserting the battery
1) Requires type-AA 1.5-volt manganese dry cell
battery (R6P) or type-AA 1.5-volt alkali dry cell
battery (LR6) or type-AA 1.5-volt lithium dry cell
battery (FR6).
Do not use any battery other than the designated
types.
2) Slide down the battery compartment cover !1 in
the direction of the arrow to remove.
3) Insert the battery observing the polarity with the
+, - marks in the battery compartment.
4) Align battery compartment cover with main unit
and slide shut.
Make sure that the cover is properly in place and
closed.
NOTE: G Nickel and cadmium storage batteries (NiCd) and nickel and
hydrogen batteries (NiH) cannot be used.
G Remove battery if meter is not used for an extended period.
Batteries can leak and damage the exposure meter. Dispose of
used batteries properly.
G If the LCD does not light, check that the battery capacity is
sufficient, and check that the battery positive and negative
terminals are not reversed.
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3. Before Using
3. Checking battery capacity
When the Power button q is ON, the battery power indicator on the LCD t is
displayed.
(Displayed) Battery power level is good.
(Displayed) Battery power level is low. Have a spare battery ready.
(Blinking) Replace battery immediately.
REFERENCE: • If the liquid crystal display extinguishes immediately after the
display appears when power is first applied, that is an
indication that the battery is dead. Please promptly replace the
battery.
• In case of continuous measuring, the battery life of this unit is
as below in normal temperature.
Manganese dry cell about 10 hours
Alkali dry cell about 20 hours (according to our test condition)
• The battery accompanying with this unit when you purchased
might die with in less than the above battery life because it is
for sample-use.
4. Replacing battery during measurement
1) Always turn the power OFF before replacing batteries. If batteries are
removed with the power ON, measurements and settings can no longer be
recalled.
2) If after replacing the battery, or during measurements, strange screens
(displays that have not been set) appear in the LCD, or nothing happens, no
matter what button is pushed, remove the battery and wait at least ten
seconds and then replace the battery. This allows the software to
automatically reset.
WARNING G Never place batteries in fire, short, disassemble, heat or charge
them. The batteries might break down, and cause an accident,
injury or pollute the environment.
NOTE: G A three second pause between power ON and OFF is
recommended to avoid damage to the meter.
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3. Before Using
5. Auto Power OFF function
1) To conserve battery power, the meter will turn OFF about four minutes after
last use.
2) Whether the Auto Power OFF function turns the power OFF or the Power
button q is pressed, the settings and measured values remain stored in
memory. When the Power button is pressed again the last settings are
displayed.
REFERENCE: • The power shuts OFF automatically after one minute when the
power button is pressed and held.
6. Setting ISO film speed
1) Hold down the ISO button i and press
either the Up button y or Down
button u to select ISO film speed for
the film being used.
2) You can also change the ISO film speed
after taking measurements. The new
value is automatically displayed.
ISO
REFERENCE: • Setting value will change consecutively if the Up button or
Down button is depressed for one second or longer.
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4. Basic Operation
1. Incident or reflected light measuring
1) To set for either incident or reflected light operation, slide the Lumisphere w
mounting until it clicks.
Incident light mode Reflected light mode Setting operation
NOTE: G Always use the Lumisphere mounting for setting.
Hand operation of the Lumisphere may cause damage.
G The Lumisphere is an important light receiving unit. Please
handle with care and try not to mark or soil.
Wipe Lumisphere with a dry soft cloth if it becomes dirty.
Never use organic cleaners (like thinner or benzene) to clean
Lumisphere.
2. Setting measuring mode
1) Press the Mode button e to select a mode.
The mode switching sequence is as follows.
MODE
Shutter Speed Priority EV mode
mode (ambient light) (ambient light)
[see page 10] [see page 11]
Auto Reset Cordless
Cord Flash
Flash mode
[see page 14]
[see page 16]
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4. Basic Operation
2) Interchangeably switch between EV mode
and Shutter Speed Priority mode by pressing
the Mode button e while holding down the
ISO button i in Ambient mode. MODE
Measurement value also will be
automatically calculated when a switch is
made after measuring.
ISO
REFERENCE: • Ambient light refers to continuous light like natural light
(sunlight), tungsten lamps or fluorescent lamps.
• Flash light is a brief, intense burst of light made by such as
electronic flash units or flash bulbs.
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4. Basic Operation
3. When set for incident light
Incident light measuring is the measurement
method that employs either the Lumisphere or
Lumidisc functions.
Measure with the lumisphere ai med in the
camera direction at the position of the subject.
1) Using Lumisphere to Measure
Lumisphere is used to measure people and buildings and other such solid
objects. Measurements are basically made by the method of measuring with
the Lumisphere aimed in the camera direction (more precisely, in the
direction of the lens axis) at the position of the subject.
2) Using Lumidisc to Measure
This is used to measure manuscripts, paintings or other flat copy, or
otherwise for measuring light contrast (see page 18) or using as an illumino
meter. To switch to the Lumidisc function, slide the Lumisphere mounting to
the right (same as if measuring reflected light), insert at an angle section B of
the Lumidisc into slot A of the light receiver and then press down the strap
eyelet C to secure the Lumidisc.
Strap eyelet C
Slot A
Section B
Lumidisc
The Lumidisc is removed in reverse order to the mounting method.
At this time the strap eyelet of the Lumidisc should be pulled away from the
main unit.
NOTE: G Be sure to handle the Lumidisc correctly to prevent damage that
may occur if mounting or removal is incorrect.
G Do not fit the Lumidisc next to the Lumisphere when you take
incident light metering Otherwise, the Limidisc will affect the
exposure in reading.
G The Lumisphere is an important light receiving unit. Please
handle with care and try not to mark or soil.
Wipe Lumisphere with a dry soft cloth if it becomes dirty.
Never use organic cleaners (like thinner or benzene) to clean
Lumisphere.lumisphere.
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4. Basic Operation
4. When set for reflected light
Point the lens of the exposure meter toward the
part of the subject to be measured from the
camera position or from the camera direction
and then measure.
1) This method is used to measure the brightness (luminance) of light reflected
from the subject and is useful for metering subjects that cannot be
approached or light-generating subjects (neon signs, etc.), highly reflective
surfaces or translucent subjects (stained glass, etc.).
2) Point the lens of the exposure meter toward the part of the subject to be
measured from the camera position or from the camera direction and then
measure.
NOTE: G If you measure from the camera position, the entire object is
measured in average.
G If you want to measure only part of the object, do it at as close
a position as possible to the part to be measured. Take care not
to cast a shadow with the meter, etc. into the part to be
measured.
G The lens is an important light receiving unit. Please handle with
care and try not to mark or soil.
Wipe Lumisphere with a dry soft cloth if it becomes dirty.
Never use organic cleaners (like thinner or benzene) to clean
Lumisphere.
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5. Measurement
1. Measuring Ambient Light
In this measurement mode, we have the choice
of shutter priority mode and EV mode. Press the MODE
Mode button e to select the Ambient mode.
1-1 Shutter Speed Priority mode
1) Press the Mode button to select
the Shutter Speed Priority mode.
2) Press the Up button y or Down
button u to set the desired shutter
speed.
3) Press the measuring button r to make 1/10 step measurement
a measurement. Release the measuring value (f stop)
button to complete measurement. The
measured value (aperture value) at that
time will be displayed.
While pressing the Measuring button,
the meter measures continuously until
it is released. Set shutter Measurement value
speed (aperture value)
REFERENCE: • It is possible to switch between full, 1/2 or 1/3 shutter speeds
with custom setting (see page 19).
• You can set shutter speeds from 60 sec, 50 sec, 45 sec, 1 sec,
0.8 sec through to 0.3sec, 1/4 through to 1/6400 sec and
1/8000 sec. After 1/8000 sec, the cine speed of 8f/s through to
128 f/s can be set.
• After measurement, the F stop value corresponding to the
shutter speed is displayed when the shutter speed changed.
• If ISO film speed is altered after measuring, a corresponding
aperture value will be displayed.
• Even if within the measurement range of the
L-308S, the exposure over symbol E.o may appear for the set
shutter speed at maximum aperture value (F90) and likewise
the exposure under symbol E.u may appear at the minimum
value (F0.5). If either of these symbols appears, please take the
next page action.
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5. Measurement
✩When the display range is exceeded, and E.o appears, press the Up button y
to change the shutter speed to the high-speed side and thus enable an
appropriate corresponding aperture value to be displayed.
✩When the display range is exceeded, and E.u appears, press the Down
button u to alter the shutter speed to the slow-speed side and thus enable
an appropriate corresponding aperture value to be displayed.
NOTE: • When brightness (or darkness) exceeds the measuring range
of the L-308S, E.o (or E.u) will blink to indicate that measuring
is not possible. In such cases please adjust brightness.
1-2 EV mode
1) Press Mode button e to
select mode.
MODE
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5. Measurement
2) Press measuring button r to make a
measurement. Release the measuring button to
complete the measurement. The measured value
(EV value) at that time will be displayed.
While pressing the measuring button, the meter
measures continuously until it is released. Measurement value (EV)
REFERENCE: • EV (exposure value) is the reading that logarithmically
expresses the constant quantity of light combined from the
shutter speed and aperture value.
With 1 EV change the quantity of light doubles (or halves).
• The relationship between aperture value (AV), shutter speed
value (TV = Time Value) and EV is EV = AV + TV. From this
relationship formula, the number of ways that the aperture and
shutter speed can be combined against a certain constant EV
can be calculated.
• With the ambient light Shutter Speed Priority mode, if the Up
and Down buttons are pressed after measuring, the shutter
speed value will change and in accompaniment of that an
appropriate aperture value (measuring value) will be displayed.
✩ Aperture Value & Shutter Speed Value, EV Contrast Table
✳Horizontal axis is for aperture values and the vertical axis is for
shutter speed values. The numbers on gray is EV.
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5. Measurement
1-3 Cinematography
1) Press Mode button e to select
Shutter Speed Priority mode.
2) Press the Up button y or Down
button u to select the cine speed for
the camera that will be used.
MODE
The following cine speeds will be displayed after 1/6000 and 1/8000: 8, 12,
16, 18, 24, 25, 30, 32, 60 and 128 fs. The shutter angle that these speeds are
based on is 180 degrees.
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5. Measurement
2. Measuring Flash Light
This measuring method comprises the cord and cordless flash modes. Measure
the flash light to display shutter speed and aperture value (total amount of light
combining ambient light and flash light) on the LCD.
2-1 Cord Flash mode
This measuring methad is used to make sure
synchronization with flash units, or to measure
flash bulb by connecting Synchro cord.
1) Connect the flash synchro cord to the flash
synchro terminal o on the exposure meter.
2) Press Mode button e to select cord
flash mode.
MODE
3) Press the Up button y or the Down
button u to set the shutter speed. When
setting shutter speed, first check the
settings to confirm that they correspond to
the settings on the camera.
1/10 f stop
4) Press the measuring button r to trigger
the flash. The measurement value (f stop
value) will be displayed.
Set shutter speed
Measurement value
(aperture value)
WARNING G Please place in a location where an infant cannot reach and
accidentally swallow the synchro terminal cap. There is danger
of strangulation.
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5. Measurement
NOTE: G There is a danger of electric shock if the meter is handled with
wet hands, during rain, in areas splashed by water or where
there is a lot of moisture, if you use cord flash mode.
G The electronic flash unit may trigger when you connect the
synchro cord or operate the Power button.
G For flash unit with an extremely low trigger voltage, the flash
may not fire. In this case, make measurements in auto reset
cordless flash mode. (See page 16)
G When triggering a flash bulb to take measurement, please
check the cameras synchronizing range and set the proper
shutter speed.
REFERENCE: • It is possible to switch the shutter speed between full, 1/2 or
1/3 stops by custom setting (see page 19).
• Shutter speed can be set from 1sec, 0.8sec through to 0.3 sec,
1/4 through to 1/500 sec and followed by 1/75, 1/80, 1/90 and
1/100.
• After measuring, if the shutter speed is changed, the
measurement value (aperture value) will revert to zero. In such
cases please measure again.
• If ISO film speed is altered after measuring, a calculated value
(aperture value) will be displayed.
• Even if settings are within the measurement range of the
L-308S, the E.o or E.u symbol may appear for the aperture
value corresponding to the set shutter speed.
Change the shutter speed or measure again using the following
methods.
✩When the display range is exceeded (E.o), press the Up button y to change
the shutter speed to the high-speed side within the synchronizing range of
the camera, or lessen the quantity of flash light and measure again to display
a measurement value (aperture value).
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5. Measurement
✩When the display range is exceeded (E.u), press the Down button u to
change the shutter speed to the low-speed side, or raise the quantity of flash
light and measure again to display a measurement value (aperture value).
✩When brightness (or darkness) exceeds the measuring range of the L-308S,
E.o (or E.u) will blink to indicate that measuring is not possible. In such cases
please adjust the quantity of flash light and measure again.
2-2 Auto Reset Cordless Flash mode
Generally this measuring mode is used when the synchro cord will not reach
because of the distance between the flash and meter or when use of the synchro
cord is inconvenient.
1) Press the Mode button e to select to the
auto reset cordless flash mode. MODE
2) Press the Up button y or the Down
button u to set the shutter speed. When
setting shutter speed, first check the
settings to confirm that they correspond to
the settings available on the camera.
3) When the Measuring button r is pressed,
the mode mark will blink and the meter
is ready to measure. The ready to measure
mode will continue for approximately 90
seconds. During this time, trigger the flash
to make a measurement.
Set shutter speed
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5. Measurement
4) If the 90 second period is exceeded and the
blinking mark stops, press the Measuring
button again to return to ready to measure. 1/10 f stop
5) When the light from the flash is received, the
measured value (f stop) is displayed. Even
after measurement, the mode mark
continues to blink and the meter is in ready Set shutter speed
state and a new measurement can be made. Measurement value
(Auto-reset function) (aperture value)
NOTE: G When firing a flash, if the flash brightness is low compared to
the ambient light, the meter may fail to detect the light. In this
case, make measurements using cord flash mode.
G Rapid start fluorescent lamps and special lighting are
sometimes mistaken for flash, and accidentally measured. In
this case, make measurements using the cord flash mode.
G If the light receiving section experiences a sudden change in
light, even when the flash has not been triggered during
measurement standby, a measurement will be made in some
cases. In such situations please use the cord flash mode.
G The luminous waveform of a flash bulb is gentle, so light will
not be sensed in auto reset cordless flash mode. Always use
the cord flash mode for measuring flash bulb light.
REFERENCE: • Setting the shutter speed is similar to the previous instruction
of item 2-1 Cord Flash mode (see page 14).
• A converted value is displayed when the ISO film speed is
changed after taking the measurement.
• Readings outside the display range or beyond the measuring
range are similar to the previous instruction 2-1 Cord Flash
mode (see page 14).
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6. Advanced Functions
1. Measuring Light Contrast
This method is used to check studio lighting or lighting unevenness.
1) Mount the Lumidisc accessory (see page 8).
2) Turn ON just the main light source.
Difference of Point the Lumidisc at the main light source EV Contrast Ratio Measuring Value from the subject position and then
measure. １ ２：１
１.５ ３：１
２ ４：１
3) Next turn ON just the secondary light
３ ８：１ source.
４ １６：１
In this state now point the Lumidisc at the
５ ３２：１
secondary light source and measure.
4) Determine the luminance ratio (contrast
ratio) using the differrence of measuring
values of the main light source and the
secondary light source.
REFERENCE: • To determine exposure in incident light, turne ON botn main
light source and secondary light source, point the Lumisphere
at the camera lens axis and then measure.
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6. Advanced Functions
2. How to use an incident illuminance (LUX or FC) meter
1) Mount the Lumidisc accessory (see page 8).
2) Set EV mode and ISO 100.
3) Measure with the area to be measured parallel to the Lumidisc.
4) Determine the illuminance (lux) from the calculation table using the measured
EV.
✩ EV value ➝ Lux conversion table
✩ EV value ➝ Foot candle (FC) conversion table
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6. Advanced Functions
3. Custom setting function
POWER
To match your camera, you can set the setting value
and display value to full, 1/2 or 1/3 stop.
MODE
1) To enter custom setting mode, hold down the
Mode button e and turn ON the power
button q.
2) Once custom setting mode is entered, the
‘CS’ for custom setting will be displayed in
the ISO display area, and the setting number
will be displayed in the aperture value display
area.
3) The setting number will change every time
the Mode button e is pressed.
Setting number
1 stop 1/2 stop 1/3 stop
(1/10 stop display)
4) After completing the custom setting, turn OFF the power button to close the
custom setting mode. The power will be automatically turned OFF with this
operation.
NOTE: G The 1/10 stop measurement value displayed when 1 stop is set
will not be displayed when 1/2 stop or 1/3 stop is set.
G When using EV mode the 1/10 stop measurement value will be
displayed whatever the stop is set.
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Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.