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Sekonic SPECTROMETER C-800

BH #SEC800SM • MFR #401-800
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Sekonic SPECTROMETER C-800
Key Features
  • Employs SSI (Spectral Similarity Index)
  • Measures Virtually any Kind of Light
  • Range: 0.09-18,600 fc (1-200,000 lux)
  • Color Temperature Range of 1600-40,000K
Intended for photographers, videographers, cinematographers, and gaffers, the SPECTROMETER C-800 from Sekonic is an advanced field meter capable of reading virtually all light sources whether they're LED, flash, incandescent, HMI, fluorescent, or in the natural light spectrum. Most importantly, it's a practical lighting tool that analyzes the light source using 11 different display modes on its 4.3" color touchscreen, indicating specifically what you need to do to achieve your desired effect. The meter's CMOS sensor enables measurement in increments as fine as 1nm and allows capture of color spikes in the light output - an especially valuable function when working with LED, HMI, fluorescent lighting, and mixed sources.
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Sekonic C-800 Overview

Intended for photographers, videographers, cinematographers, and gaffers, the SPECTROMETER C-800 from Sekonic is an advanced field meter capable of reading virtually all light sources whether they're LED, flash, incandescent, HMI, fluorescent, or in the natural light spectrum. Most importantly, it's a practical lighting tool that analyzes the light source using 11 different display modes on its 4.3" color touchscreen, indicating specifically what you need to do to achieve your desired effect. The meter's CMOS sensor enables measurement in increments as fine as 1nm and allows capture of color spikes in the light output - an especially valuable function when working with LED, HMI, fluorescent lighting, and mixed sources.

Perhaps the meter's most exciting addition is Spectral Similarity Index. Developed by the Sci-Tech Council of the Academy, SSI gives the user the ability to set any light as a standard, or use predefined standards (such as CIE D55), and then gives other lights an SSI score based upon how well they will match. The C-800 also includes TLCI (Television Lighting Consistency Index), TLMF (Television Lighting Matching Factor), and TM-30-15 (Technical Memorandum) in addition to CRI (Color Rendering Index), which can be measured singularly or in two light comparison mode.

The SPECTROMETER has very impressive accuracy, repeatability, and response specs and a wide range of values in all modes. Flash for example, can be color analyzed with selectable shutter speeds from 1-1/500 sec. Ambient light has a 1.0 to 200,000 lux range (0.09 to 18,600 fc). The intuitive color touchscreen offers access to the meter's many functions including a Spectrum graph, CRI, Camera Filter, Lighting Filter, White Balance Compensation, and comparison of multiple lights.

The Text mode screen displays color temperature, lux or fc as well as color compensation and light balancing filters. After selecting your preferred color balance, the Camera Filter and Lighting Filter Screens will display the actual Rosco, Lee, Kodak Wratten, or Fuji filter designations necessary to achieve your targeted color temperature. CRI also has a dedicated screen that displays standard color reference values (including R1 thru 15) as a percentage of the light source's ability to reproduce a color accurately, as compared to the Ra standard temperature. The Multi Light Screen reads multiple light sources' color temperatures as well as light balance and color compensation recommendations, memorizes them, and allows them to be compared.

With its plethora of light-analytic tools, ability to read and compare all types of light and real-world filter solutions, the SPECTROMETER is destined to be a staple on set.

CRI, TLCI, TLMF, TM-30-15, and SSI
Developed by the Sci-Tech Council of the Academy, SSI (Spectral Similarity Index) gives the user the ability to set any light as a standard, or use predefined standards (such as CIE D55), and then gives other lights an SSI score based upon how well they will match. The C-800 also includes TLCI (Television Lighting Consistency Index), TLMF (Television Lighting Matching Factor), and TM-30-15 (Technical Memorandum), in addition to CRI (Color Rendering Index) which can be measured singularly or in two light comparison mode.
Match Light Sources by Measuring x, y and Hue Saturation
The C-800 has more color control parameters specifically designed to help match lights to one another. CIE1931 (x, y) has been added, giving users the ability to measure and dial-in specific chromaticity coordinates into lights of some major brands. Hue and Saturation units of measure have also been added to better match RGB LEDs to any light source. In addition, new display screens provide easy interpretation and understanding of the new data fields, making this a superior meter for all applications.
Designed to be Used on Set
  • Fast button layout for single-handed operation
  • 270° Swivel head to measure from any angle
  • Built-in dark slide for effortless on-set use
  • Measure Virtually any Kind of Light
    The C-800 series incorporates a CMOS linear sensor, that measures and evaluates the true color temperature of a light source from 380 to 780nm in 1nm output wavelength increments, capturing spikes in output of conventional light sources as well as fluorescent, flash, HMI, and LED sources.
    Measurements
    Measurements include Kelvin (K), Illuminance (lux/fc), LB/CC filters (for camera lens or lighting filters), LB/CC Index, CRI (Ra, R1 thru. R15), ⊿uv, SSI, TLCI, TM-30-15 (Rf, Rg), CIE1931 (x, y) chromaticity coordinates, Hue, Saturation.
    Expanded Color Rendering Properties
    Standards include CRI, SSI, TLCI, TLMF, and TM-30-15.
    Extensive Memory
    Up to 99 data measurements can be stored in the memory.
    Wide Measurement Range of Color Temperature
  • Color Temperature: 1600 to 40,000K
  • Illumination: 1 to 200,000 lux in ambient light, 20 to 20,500 lux in flash light
  • User-Friendly Design
    270-degree swivel head, dark calibration without a cap, large 4.3" color touch panel LCD display, and Customize Function.
    Various Displays
    Text, Spectrum Graph, Spectrum Comparison, CRI, CRI Comparison, SSI, TLCI/TLMF, TM-30-15, lighting filter for Rosco and LEE, camera filter for Kodak Wratten, LEE and Fuji, Multiple Lights Comparison, White Balance Correction.
    C-800 Series Utility
    The utility which can be downloaded from www.sekonic.com, offers easy settings in the meter and analysis of memorized data in a computer.

    Sekonic C-800 Specs

    Key Specs
    Spot Metering
    No
    Battery
    No
    Radio System
    No
    Physical
    Media Card Reader
    No
    Tripod Mounting Thread
    No
    General
    Battery
    No
    Wireless
    Yes
    Radio System
    No
    Packaging Info
    Package Weight
    1.255 lb
    Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
    10.4 x 6.55 x 3.65"

    Sekonic C-800 Reviews

    Neat device

    By Nate
    Rated 4 out of 5
    Date: 2025-03-22

    It's a pretty neat device. It does what it says, but it takes ~13 seconds to take a reading. The screen is frustrating, it's very reflective and often presses don't register. That makes it hard to press some of the small icons and overall it's uncomfortable to use the screen for even the simplest task. I wasn't able to connect to it via USB, despite installing the drivers and utility software. It shows it's connected via USB with an icon in the corner, but the computer never sees it. Even if I could connect, it doesn't seem to do what I want: to trigger taking a reading via USB. It doesn't come with a USB cable or batteries.

    A MUST Have For Serious Cinematographers

    By Glen
    Rated 5 out of 5
    Date: 2022-11-03

    I prefer not to fix things in post if its something that I can get right in camera. This tool helps me know EXACTLY what my color temp and tint is, which also helps me craft good color contrast in my image. This also helps me know a fixtures accuracy when choosing lights. A lot of money but with every penny!

    See any errors on this page?

    In what increments will it display measured lux? ...

    In what increments will it display measured lux? Eg: 0-1999lx rounded to 1s place. 2000-19,990 to the 10s place etc. (Not range)
    Asked by: Henry
    The Sekonic SPECTROMETER C-800 displays lux to the single digits. For example 2161 is a lux reading that it may show.
    Answered by: Daniel C
    Date published: 2023-10-23

    Is this meter also a light meter measuring ...

    Is this meter also a light meter measuring incident and spot?
    Asked by: Dominic
    The main function of this meter is to measure color, but it can also provide readings in foot candles.
    Answered by: Kirk R
    Date published: 2021-12-03

    Does this meter have a function to allow the user ...

    Does this meter have a function to allow the user to walk away from the device and record the highest light level?
    Asked by: B
    In order that we may further assist you, please write telling us more about what you wish to to. [email protected].
    Answered by: Dennis L
    Date published: 2019-03-15

    Is there an "R" version like the C-700R that can ...

    Is there an "R" version like the C-700R that can trigger flash via radio slave or does it ONLY have a PC cord terminal?
    Asked by: John Leslie
    The Sekonic SPECTROMETER C-800 can only be connected to a flash using the PC synch terminal. This unit is not designed to work with wireless modules to trigger flashes.
    Answered by: Llinelva D
    Date published: 2024-05-14

    What is its Lux Resolution?

    What is its Lux Resolution?
    Asked by: Zane
    Not the range but the resolution. For example: "0 to 1999 (1 lux resolution), 2000 to 19,990 (10 lux resolution), and 20,000 to 50,000 (100 lux resolution)". Meaning the number will round to the nearest 100 at values between 20k and 50k lux. This is a lux resolution of 100.
    Answered by: Zane
    Date published: 2023-10-15

    As an event video shooter our most challeging ...

    As an event video shooter our most challeging task is to record in uncontrolled light situations with multiple cameras and make them cut nicely in edit... with this meter will it allow us to know the most precise overall Kelvin temp of several ambient lights in a room and any magenta/green necessary adjustments? We have used grey cards but the cameras have crazy readings when we use the white balance setting based on those? specially yellow/green painted rooms and vivid green nature backgrounds...
    Asked by: Alejandro
    This color meter can give you exact information based on the color of the light. Depending on where and how you meter relative to other lights you can get a combined reading or a reading per light. Color meters are more accurate than gray cards for setting white balance.
    Answered by: Reuben K
    Date published: 2025-01-25

    To calibrate digital cinema projectors I need a ...

    To calibrate digital cinema projectors I need a color meter that reads reflected light: is there a spot attachment for the C-800?
    Asked by: Chris
    Most projectionists I've seen on live events over the years put the color meter in the path of the beam to measure color output of the projectors with a calibration image.
    Answered by: Ron
    Date published: 2023-03-14

    Since this is a Color Meter only, do you know of ...

    Since this is a Color Meter only, do you know of a model that has both an exposure and color meter functionality in one small device? I think both the C-800 and C-700 series are color meter alone. I need both in one unit and in a rugged body unlike Lumu and other attachments.
    Asked by: ALLEN ALI
    I'm sorry, no, there isn't a color meter & exposure meter in one.
    Answered by: Rob
    Date published: 2021-02-05
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