Sekonic Prodigi Color C-500 Color Meter

Comments about Sekonic Prodigi Color C-500 Color Meter:

This color meter can do so much that I recommend to keep the manual at reach. This is a compliment that carries his own criticism.
Shooting in 35mm as well as HD, I value that the meter can be set for each
of these medias.
The only down side to it, at this stage is how fearful I am to drop this amazing
instrument. It is a lot of money if I ever have to replace it....

Comments about Sekonic Prodigi Color C-500 Color Meter:

performs like it should and more

Comments about Sekonic Prodigi Color C-500 Color Meter:

Seems well made. I like the seperate red sensors for different shooting mediums. I wish the kelvin range was wider.

Comments about Sekonic Prodigi Color C-500 Color Meter:

A little weird to find lux but very simply to use.

Comments about Sekonic Prodigi Color C-500 Color Meter:

Used during an award show and was extremely helpful.

Comments about Sekonic Prodigi Color C-500 Color Meter:

The Prodigi Color C-500 is used to match the color temperature of lights used in HD Video shoots. The unit works great and is very accurate. We need to match lighting conditions from one location to another as well as the amount of light. This unit has kept us out of color correction expenses. I would recommend this unit to anyone who needs to know the color value as well as the amount of light in any fast moving situation. Great buy but not cheap!

Comments about Sekonic Prodigi Color C-500 Color Meter:

I have been waiting for an instrument like this - I do think it is a bit expensive priced at $1K but it may be worth it for some.

Regarding one of the previous reviews - I think it is important to realize if you are in digital photography the 2,300K-10,000 K range is not really that restrictive as most pro cameras (Mark III, D3X and Sony's A900) do not go outside that range - they only support 2,500 ~ 10,000K.

Still I do agree with the poster it would be nice if the display was more informative if the readout was more friendly when outside the range.

Comments about Sekonic Prodigi Color C-500 Color Meter:

I bought this color meter after I had some color variation between 2 Profoto lights. I was on a job and I could just see on my computer screen one light was a little yellower than the other. I have some lights by Profoto, some by Bowens, some by AlienBees, so I thought I would accurately balance them with colored gels for jobs.

This is my first color meter so it is hard to compare. It is pretty easy to use and after about 15-30 minutes, I was balancing the lights.

The only negative is that I am not sure if the meter is sensitive enough for some types of light. I tried to get a reading off my household 3 bulb lamp and I think the color temperature was not in the range. The energy saver bulbs were pretty bright, so I think it was just out of the range. But it does seem to pick up modeling lights well. Studio flash seems to work great.

Comments about Sekonic Prodigi Color C-500 Color Meter:

I failed to read the Specs completely when I purchased this meter to replace my 14 year-old Minolta Color Meter II. I was very dismayed to find out that it will not measure color temperatures below 2,300K or higher than 20,000K. When measuring dimmed tungsten sources, ambient daylight (not the sun), or malfunctioning HMI's, the Kelvin values can easily go beyond that narrow range. It would be nice to know exactly what those color temps are rather than just getting a blinking "u" or "o" instead. As a result, my trusty Minolta still has not lost it's place on my meter belt for as long as it hangs in there. If you don't care about taking readings outside those ranges, then I suppose that doesn't matter.

I also find that it keeps suggesting a 1-4Magenta filter (green content) when taking readings of isolated tungsten light, sun, and ambient daylight when in "Film" mode, but is 0 in "Digital" mode. Those sources should all read 0 regardless since they are full spectrum sources that film is theoretically balanced for. It also gives different Kelvin values when in Digital vs. Film modes. I'm not sure why this is? The Kelvin temperature of light sources should be completely independent of the type of equipment being used (even if that equipment has differing spectral sensitivity). The only thing that should change is the appropriate filter. Perhaps I've got a funky meter?

Aside from those failings, it's a very well constructed meter right in line with my L-608cine light meter. It has lots of little bells and whistles that I'll probably never use for motion pictures (once my Minolta finally dies), but I suppose might be more handy for still photography.

Comments about Sekonic Prodigi Color C-500 Color Meter:

I am a lighting designer for Live music/television and runway fashion events so i am mainly using this meter to balance my key/backlight tempatures to where i like them. Previously using a minolta 3F was the standard UNTIL my first shoot with this bad boy. Having the extra RED sensor really makes this meter a MUST HAVE for anyone shooting with digital video/HD or digital still camera. It can accurately take a reading more so than any other color meter i have owned. My images are more true to the camera's needs. Less filtering = more natural light. I would recommend this product to any DP or LD involved in the new digital world of shooting.