Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I'm pretty sure that most people in film photography recognise this meter, by sight if not by name. It's the expensive one, Sekonic's flagship meter. But is it worth the hefty price tag? Let's find out.
Join me on Patreon here: patreon.com/c/The120ist
Find the Sekonic L858-D here: global.sekonic.com/sekonic-l-858d-speedmaster-light-meter
So, on to the L858. I always dreamed of owning one, but was that just because it's expensive? And do we think of it as the best of the best because it's so expensive?
A quick caveat here - there are more expensive light meters out there. The Gossen light meters are crazy expensive. So if you're just looking to part with cash, maybe head that way and check those out.
But if you're looking for ultimate functionality and versatility, my opinion is you really can't do too much better than this one.
You will see this light meter in the hands of quite a few professional photographers out there... in fact you don't see the competitors much at all. I'm not sure I've seen anyone on YouTube using the Gossen options, but I may not have been looking hard enough.
This Sekonic L858 is used by many photographers, and after having it for six months, I believe that there's a pretty good reason for that. It's because it's pretty damn good.
The price is difficult to justify. But I think if you photograph for long enough, you'll probably get to this eventually. It may even be unavoidable. All the other light meters that I have used, and there have been a few, have had some drawbacks, or some things that they just don't do.
I've found this L858 to be super versatile, super accurate and, after a short period of acclimatisation, easy to use.
Some complaints about it that I have read online are that the technology isn't all that new, that Sekonic haven't worked hard to keep it up to date. But measuring light has been going on for quite a while now... it's not a new concept. I do agree that the interface does feel a little behind some of the interfaces on other, non-light-meter, products.
But my view is that whenever you start edging into the pro-level products, the UI slips a little in favour of accuracy and functionality. If something is designed to mostly be used by more experienced operators, it's like there's an expectation that the user won't mind working a bit harder.
And I think I agree with that. It's almost as though I don't mind working a bit harder for the results.
Aaaaaanyway, jump into the comments, let me know your thoughts!
I'm pretty sure that most people in film photography recognise this meter, by sight if not by name. It's the expensive one, Sekonic's flagship meter. But is it worth the hefty price tag? Let's find out.
Join me on Patreon here: patreon.com/c/The120ist
Find the Sekonic L858-D here: global.sekonic.com/sekonic-l-858d-speedmaster-light-meter
So, on to the L858. I always dreamed of owning one, but was that just because it's expensive? And do we think of it as the best of the best because it's so expensive?
A quick caveat here - there are more expensive light meters out there. The Gossen light meters are crazy expensive. So if you're just looking to part with cash, maybe head that way and check those out.
But if you're looking for ultimate functionality and versatility, my opinion is you really can't do too much better than this one.
You will see this light meter in the hands of quite a few professional photographers out there... in fact you don't see the competitors much at all. I'm not sure I've seen anyone on YouTube using the Gossen options, but I may not have been looking hard enough.
This Sekonic L858 is used by many photographers, and after having it for six months, I believe that there's a pretty good reason for that. It's because it's pretty damn good.
The price is difficult to justify. But I think if you photograph for long enough, you'll probably get to this eventually. It may even be unavoidable. All the other light meters that I have used, and there have been a few, have had some drawbacks, or some things that they just don't do.
I've found this L858 to be super versatile, super accurate and, after a short period of acclimatisation, easy to use.
Some complaints about it that I have read online are that the technology isn't all that new, that Sekonic haven't worked hard to keep it up to date. But measuring light has been going on for quite a while now... it's not a new concept. I do agree that the interface does feel a little behind some of the interfaces on other, non-light-meter, products.
But my view is that whenever you start edging into the pro-level products, the UI slips a little in favour of accuracy and functionality. If something is designed to mostly be used by more experienced operators, it's like there's an expectation that the user won't mind working a bit harder.
And I think I agree with that. It's almost as though I don't mind working a bit harder for the results.
Aaaaaanyway, jump into the comments, let me know your thoughts!
