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Sekonic L-308X-U Flashmate Light Meter

BH #SEL308XU • MFR #401-305
Sekonic L-308X-U Flashmate Light Meter
Key Features
  • Incident Metering for Ambient & Flash
  • 40° Reflected Light Metering
  • Photo, Cine, and HD Cine Metering Modes
  • Customizable LCD with Auto Backlight
Exceptionally portable and versatile in its design, the L-308X-U Flashmate Light Meter from Sekonic is a versatile meter that blends both photo and video-oriented functions into a single unit. Equipped with a sliding lumisphere, the L-308X is capable of measuring incident or reflected light via a lens with a 40° reception angle. It offers a wide metering range from 0 to 19.9 EV at ISO 100, working with exposure times as low as 1/8000 all the way up to 60 seconds; it also has an equally broad flash range from f/1.0 to f/90.9 at ISO 100.
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Sekonic L308X-U Overview

Exceptionally portable and versatile in its design, the L-308X-U Flashmate Light Meter from Sekonic is a versatile meter that blends both photo and video-oriented functions into a single unit. Equipped with a sliding lumisphere, the L-308X is capable of measuring incident or reflected light via a lens with a 40° reception angle. It offers a wide metering range from 0 to 19.9 EV at ISO 100, working with exposure times as low as 1/8000 all the way up to 60 seconds; it also has an equally broad flash range from f/1.0 to f/90.9 at ISO 100.

The L-308X offers three specialized metering modes: a Photo mode for still shooting with aperture and shutter priority, a Cine mode for selecting frame rates between 8-128 fps with one-tenth of a stop accuracy, and an HD Cine mode for those shooting video with DSLR or mirrorless cameras. All these settings can be easily viewed on the backlit LCD display, which can be customized to your liking and automatically lights up when working at 5 EV or darker. Other features include a PC sync terminal and a cordless flash measuring option. The L-308X-U weighs approximately 3.5 oz and runs on a single AA battery, sold separately.

  • Portable meter for measuring incident and reflected light, features a sliding lumisphere with a 40° reception angle
  • Measuring range of 0 to 19.9 EV at ISO 100
  • Flash measuring range of f/1.0 to f/90.9 at ISO 100; flash can be measured with PC sync terminal connection or cordlessly
  • Remarkably accurate with a rated variance of ±0.1 EV on repeat exposures
  • Exposure times ranging from 1/8000 to 60 seconds
  • ISO 850 available, useful as it matches the native ISO of some video cameras
  • Backlit LCD screen can be customized to display relevant information, automatically lights up under 5 EV
  • Shutter and aperture priority modes available in Photo mode
  • Cine mode allows you to select the frame rate, from 8 to 128 fps, as well as shutter angle with one-tenth stop accuracy
  • Runs on one AA battery, not included

Sekonic L308X-U Specs

Meter TypeAmbient
Flash
Flash MeteringCorded
Cordless
Metering
Light Reading MethodIncident
Reflected
Measuring ModesAperture Priority
EV Metering
Frame Rate Priority
Shutter Priority
ISO Range3 to 8000 (1/3-Step Increments), Plus 850
Shutter Speed Range1/8000 to 60 Seconds
Max Flash Sync Speed1/500
Cine Speed / Shutter Angle8 to 128 fps at 45 to 360°
Measuring RangeAmbient: 0 to 19.9 EV at ISO 100
Flash: f/1 to 90.9 at ISO 100
Physical
DiffuserSpherical
Flat
DisplayGrayscale Segment LCD
System ConnectionPC Sync Terminal
Memory Card SlotsNone
Tripod Mounting ThreadNone
Environmental
Operating Temperature32 to 104°F / 0 to 40°C
Storage Temperature-4 to 140°F / -20 to 60°C
General
Battery1 x AA
Wireless ConnectivityNone
Dimensions2.5 x 4.3 x 0.9" / 6.4 x 10.9 x 2.3 cm
Weight3.5 oz / 99.8 g
Packaging Info
Package Weight0.45 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)6.2 x 4.4 x 1.95"

Sekonic L308X-U Reviews

What's not to love!

By James
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-05-03

I recently purchased the Sekonic L-308X-U Flashmate Light Meter. What is not to love about this meter it is small and light weight, and very easy to use. Best of all the Sekonic Flashmate is a great value, accuracy and versatility in such an affordable package, again what's not to love!

Nice little economic meter

By Donald
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-04-14

After retirement, my trusty Luna Pro and my Sekonic Spot/Incident/Reflective were accidentally sold along with a lot of equipment that are making a comeback now. Go figure. I'm trying out video filmmaking now and although there are many fine in camera tools like false color to aid with exposure, I found nothing replaces the confidence a good light meter reading adds to the shoot. The L-308 is not as nice as my old meters but is more then enough to check exposure accurately. For the price I highly recommend adding it to your bag.

Great Product

By Lu
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-03-27

I used it a couple of times for photo and video projects and it did well. My only complaint is I think it will be better if there are a few more dedicated buttons, rather than repeatedly operating one button to switch to other functions.

Works perfect for me

By Dhido
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2023-03-26

Although I don't do that much portraiture cuz my photography is inclined more towards landscape, architectural & macros, it has been saving me a substantial amount of time. I'd definitely recommend it, it does the job!

Easy Meter

By Bernard
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-03-08

Very easy to use and accurate. Very lightweight.

Functional with the worst manual I've ever seen

By Anonymous
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2023-02-07

If you want to learn how to use this thing, you have to watch Youtube. The 'manual' they give you is for avanced users, not novices. I found it useless. If I was limited to what Sekonic provides, I would be totally lost as a novice photographer. I had a real problem using this, but then called Tech support and they helped me. Like many businesses, they depend on YouTube and do not provide any meaningful instruction.

Great meter and affordable

By Carlos
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-04-18

I am grateful to Sekonic to still be making light meters. This is a new iteration of my favorite flash meter. I only bought this because after many years of use, the LCD on my old L308s meter is starting to lose segments. The L308XU works the same but I very much prefer the display of the older meter, specifically the graduated arc displaying the fractional steps versus the numerical readout by the f stops which could refer to fractional f stops or shutter speed, depending on mode. I guess Z'ers don't use meters nor understand analog scales. However, I shoot both digital and film and don't have time to waste gimping exposures on photoshoots. Also on the esthetic side, I prefer the grey buttons versus the blue on the new meter. The main fault with both meters is that they are sold incomplete. One still needs to spend an additional ~$30 to get the Lumidisc to be able to use the meter fully as designed.

Great Product

By Carlos
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-04-16

Works as expected, would definitely recommend!

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Does this light meter help to determine which f/ stop to use when using 2 lights?
Asked by: Jeffrey
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What this meter be good for someone trying to ...

What this meter be good for someone trying to stop using auto mode and learn manual mode on their camera?
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This meter would tell you the correct settings to enter into your camera to get the right exposure.c So, yes. Instead of putting your camera on auto and let the camera choose the settings, you would, with the help of the meter, choose the correct settings. Not as fast as point and shoot. But, more accurate than point and shoot.
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Asked by: Michael
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Can you set the aperture of your camera and have it give you the shutter speed? With my old meter I can only set shutter and not f stop.
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Answered by: vilson
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Asked by: Elizabeth
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Can this unit trigger (and meter) a Godox flash ...

Can this unit trigger (and meter) a Godox flash via a PC to 3.5mm adapter cable? If so, is there any advantage to this over using the 'meter flash' mode on the meter without connecting to flash via sync cable? Thank you.
Asked by: Paolo
If your Godox flash has a 3.5mm (1/8") miniphone sync terminal, then yes, you may use a PC-to-miniphone sync cable to connect the flash to the light meter, and pressing the <TEST> button on the meter will trigger the flash and measure its output. Do note that the flash must be in Manual mode and you must set the flash output manually, as it will not measure TTL automatic flash output. If measured from the same distance, you should get the same/similar reading to using the Cordless Flash Mode.
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Change the f stop setting to 1/3 increments
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I'm trying to take simplified illuminance ...

I'm trying to take simplified illuminance reading, followed the steps in the guide, using lumidisk but nothing happens in all custom modes. Seknoic helpdesk solution is restart! any help?
Asked by: FAHAD
If you have followed the directions listed inside the instruction manual, but the light meter is not responding correctly, then there may be a defect with the light meter and/or it may require warranty inspection/repair. If the light meter was purchased within the last 30 days, you may contact our Customer Service Department to inquire about returning the light meter for an exchange or a refund. If it has been over 30 days since you purchased the light meter, you would have to contact Sekonic directly. As Sekonic has recently been having issues with their website, if you are having issues with contacting Sekonic online, you may contact them directly by calling them at 914-347-3300, or you may e-mail them at [email protected]
Answered by: Manzell
Date published: 2021-01-02
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