The Advantages of Handheld Camera Light Meters
Most modern cameras have a built-in light meter that calculates the light needed to capture an image. In fully automatic cameras, this information tells the camera what shutter speed and aperture opening to set to get the correct exposure. Professional photographers still use handheld light meters because they give more specific information to get a better-than-average photo.
Types
The main difference between handheld and in-camera light meters is how they measure light. Handheld meters measure the light incident to where they are. In-camera or reflected-light meters measure the light reflecting off a subject or a scene. This type of meter takes an average of the light coming into its sensors and makes adjustments to shutter and aperture settings automatically, or tells the photographer what will work, who then sets them manually.
Incidental Light
The photographer or an assistant holds the meter next to the subject and measures light there. This may need several readings at different places in the scene---say on a face, a dress or the shoes---to get an accurate reading. These three or more measurements are added together and averaged for the exposure.
Accuracy
If your subject is posing in a brightly lit outdoor scene, the light on her face probably will be much different than the surrounding shadow and highlight areas. Taking a reading near her face with a handheld meter gives a a more accurate exposure than an in-camera meter. It will make her face show up better in the final image.
Flash
A handheld meter also can give you a better idea of when to use fill flash or to use a reflector. If, for example, your subject is in deep shadow with bright sunshine behind her, the in-camera meter may be overwhelmed by the brightness, and underexpose the person. The handheld meter will more accurately show the difference between the person and the background so you can decide whether to add the fill flash or the reflector.
Better Photos
Handheld meters ignore light reflected in various ways by facial features and coloring. Hold the meter right in front of the face to show you the light falling there, not what the in-camera will "see" from the face. This also will lead to better photos.
Tags: handheld meter, measure light, Advantages Handheld, Advantages Handheld Camera, Camera Light