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Sekonic L-398A Studio Deluxe III Light Meter

BH #SEL398A • MFR #401-399
 84 reviews
Sekonic L-398A Studio Deluxe III Light Meter
Key Features
  • An Industry Classic Meter
  • Analog Metering
  • No Battery Required
Sekonic has redesigned their popular analog light meter to more current industry standards. The Studio Deluxe III L-398A retains all of the legendary features and benefits of its predecessor. Using an environmentally-friendly amorphous silicon photocell, Sekonic can continue to offer the popular L-398 battery-free.
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Sekonic L-398A Overview

Sekonic has redesigned their popular analog light meter to more current industry standards. The Studio Deluxe III L-398A retains all of the legendary features and benefits of its predecessor. Using an environmentally-friendly amorphous silicon photocell, Sekonic can continue to offer the popular L-398 battery-free.

The L-398A offers both "Still" and "Cine" shooters the familiar features and repeatable accuracy expected from Sekonic. Educators and students won't be left without their favorite meter this year.

Amorphous silicon photocell
Needle lock for quick and easy measurement readings
Memory pointer for quick and easy reference to your last measured value
Swivel head and needle lock facilitate easy and accurate readings
Amorphous silicon photocell eliminates need for batteries
Lumidisc for adjusting illumination contrast and measuring illumination intensity
Lumigrid for measuring reflected light

Sekonic L-398A Specs

Meter Type
Ambient
Metering
Light Reading Method
Incident
Reflected
Aperture Range
f/0.7 to 128
EV Range
Ambient, Incident: 4 to 17 EV
Ambient, Reflected: 9 to 17 EV
ISO Range
6 to 12,000
Shutter Speed Range
1/8000 to 60 Seconds
Exposure Memory
No
Physical
Receptor Element
Silicon Photodiode
Diffuser
Spherical
Flat
Display
Indicator Needle
Memory Card Slots
None
Tripod Mounting Thread
None
General
Battery
None
Dimensions
4.4 x 2.3 x 1.3" / 112 x 58 x 34 mm
Weight
6.7 oz / 190.0 g
Packaging Info
Package Weight
0.68 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
5.95 x 4.8 x 1.95"

Sekonic L-398A Reviews

Not just a flashback to the 70's, a USEFUL tool.

By Larry
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-01-04

With digital cameras, light meters seemed to have become redundant. We can preview the studio photos on the back of our cameras. Why use a light meter? Pros still find light meters useful because it speeds up our workflow. We set up the studio lights and measure the various lights for light ratios before we even turn on the camera. We don't have to fuss with the lights except to fine tune them when we start shooting. It is far faster to do this than to dink around with the lights and camera without a light meter. These are not flash meters by the way and they're great with the various LED lighting systems. Using only the preview screen on the camera is slow and boring. Anything slow is boring. We need to do our work briskly and spend more time with the creative process than with tech-head stuff. Another aspect of these Studio Deluxe meters is that they're excellent for shooting with film cameras. Many film cameras are over 30 years old and the meters are either dead, dim or not accurate anymore. I never use the light meter on the vast majority of my film cameras anymore. I'm always shooting in tricky lighting too, like say dim light in a city scene where there is a highlight on the subject and I want to meter the light so that the subject is emphasized and not the background. That is what this Studio Deluxe incident meter will do for you. Film is getting more expensive these days and with this meter you will not waste a single frame of film due to an inaccurate exposure anymore. You will have an entire roll of perfectly exposed film. This light meter is not living on a shelf as a collector's item. It lives in my camera bag where it is used often.

Sekonic light meter

By Brittney
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-04-25

Price on point, easy to follow instructions and easy to use. Arrived in near perfect condition. Fast shipping.

Fantastic Meter my 0ld Workhorse for many Years !

By Rene Gaston
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2022-03-02

Nice Edition Bautiful Ros tone , originally B&H offered in two tones . I don t know why it stopped. Anyway a Great Meter. p.s. B&W & Sekonic : THE H SLIDE CAME A LITTLE BENT. A minor thing that is a BIG Detriment to teh Investment Dear Friends at B&H Im still wainting for a replacement of THE SLIDE. Best Regards Rene Gaston AMC.

Used continuously since 1977

By Jeffrey
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-01-19

I bought this in 1977 for $45 (I don't know why I always remember the cost of gear but I do). I have used it without a single problem since then. I still use it today. The only issue that I have is that I wore out the leather case about 20 years ago. Recently, I thought it might be a good idea to recalibrate the meter. Guess what? It still gives me perfect exposure even after 45 years!!!

simple and True

By Luis
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-01-06

great simple and convenient

Photographic Jewelry

By Peter
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-01-03

About as accurate as my standard L-398A...which means, it's serviceable once you get used to it. A classic piece that 75 years from now, photographers will admire. Reminds me of the quality and class of older Leica film cameras/lenses.

Better than me guessing

By Roger
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-12-28

This is just what my meter-less film cameras needed.

Simple and well made

By Patrick
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-07-27

Works well especially for monitoring lighting in various areas of a scene. No reliance on batteries, which is nice. Case and all included accessories are well made and should last a long time.

See any errors on this page? Let us know

YOUR RECENTLY VIEWED ITEMS

Is the case for the regular L398A real leather?

Is the case for the regular L398A real leather?
Asked by: William
The case included with Sekonic L-398A Studio Deluxe III Light Meter is made of synthetic leather.
Answered by: llinelva
Date published: 2023-02-02

How is the display for reading for someone for ...

How is the display for reading for someone for someone who needs strong reading glasses?
Asked by: CONSTANTINE
"YES".
Answered by: John
Date published: 2021-07-19

does this meter work to measure light from ...

does this meter work to measure light from flashes?
Asked by: cristhyan
No, the Sekonic L-398A Studio Deluxe III Light Meter is not designed for flash metering.
Answered by: Yaakov
Date published: 2022-10-20

Is the 70th anniversary edition functionally ...

Is the 70th anniversary edition functionally different than the standard (less expensive) model?
Asked by: William
The Sekonic L-398A Studio Deluxe 70th Anniversary Edition Light Meter comes in burgundy color with rose gold accents, a special display box, "70th Anniversary" on the meter's front panel, a special leather case and strap. Functionality is exactly the same.
Answered by: Yaakov
Date published: 2023-01-22

Hello; does this meter comes with color matching ...

Hello; does this meter comes with color matching leather strap, color matching leather pouch and meter with meter display box plus all accessories? Do all supplied in special larger black box? Is this the way this meter supplied? Or just the display box only? Thanks.
Asked by: Hasan
Yes Sekonic L-398A Studio Deluxe 70th Anniversary Edition Light Meter does include matching strap and pouch. Please take a look at this photo as it shows the strap and pouch it comes with. https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-ehtp7ad03x/images/stencil/1000x1000/products/112/404/MeterLeathercasestrap__91203.1624367233.jpg?c=1
Answered by: Daniel
Date published: 2022-12-21

question

As mentioned, this unit uses a magnet. Is it dangerous for someone that has a pacemaker or a shunt. Both use magnets.Also, what effect does this unit have on SD cards? If it can have an effect, what is a safe distance? Is twelve ( 12) inches too close?SEKONIC rep- THIS question is for you. I need a specific response please. I will not purchase without direct answersThanks.
Asked by: Harvey
Magnets will not damage SD cards, USB sticks, SSD drives, or other forms of solid state memory. Solid state memory is a completely different technology from spinning drives, which could be damaged by magnets. Don't take my word for it. Use Google. Do the research.
Answered by: Jeremy
Date published: 2020-12-12

question

I have read the manual and Sekonic says that this meter must be kept away from floppy disks and similar materials. Does this include SD cards? If so, how would one do so.?
Asked by: Harvey
Floppy disks and SD cards use totally different technologies to record data. SD cards, USB sticks, and SSD's are NOT affected by magnets like floppy disks. You can safely store SD cards around the meter.
Answered by: Jeremy
Date published: 2023-01-22

question

The L-208 comes with a flash shoe mount. Does this come with one and/or have an easy method of mounting it to a flash shoe?
Asked by: Anonymous
The 398 was never designed to be used mounted on a camera. It has a metal body and a large magnet in it that is actually not a great thing to have around any digital recording devices. If small and simple is what you are looking for, the 208 is a very nice meter. The 398 is a very traditional meter that is modeled after one of the very first light meters and first incident measuring meter.
Answered by: Phil B. Sekonic Expert
Date published: 2021-10-14
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