Cinematographer
Aus DoP-Perspektive ist dieses Element essentiell für die visuelle Gestaltung. Es ermöglicht mir die gewünschte Farbstimmung und das ästhetische Bild konsistent umzusetzen.
Japanese manufacturer of light meters and color measurement devices used on set to measure exposure and color temperature.
Overview
Sekonic is a Japanese manufacturer of handheld light meters for photography, film, and video. The company traces its origins back to its founding in Tokyo and released its first exposure meter under the Sekonic brand in 1951 with the L-1 model. On film sets, the name primarily stands for two categories of devices: exposure meters (English: light meter) for determining aperture, shutter speed, and light quantity, as well as spectrometers/color meters for assessing the color temperature and color rendering of light sources.
Important: Sekonic is not a manufacturer of light sources, lamps, or grip equipment. The devices measure light; they do not produce it. In practice, the brand name is often used synonymously for the exposure meter itself ("get the Sekonic").
Key Device Classes
Two devices are particularly common in film lighting:
- Exposure Meters (Speedmaster series, e.g., L-858D): measures incident light (Incident) via a swiveling head with a dome, as well as reflected light via a 1° spot. Provides aperture, shutter speed, or exposure values for photo, flash, and film.
- Spectrometers / Color Meters (e.g., C-800): measures the spectral composition of a light source and outputs color temperature and color rendering indices. Relevant for mixing different light sources (LED, HMI, Tungsten, Daylight) and for color consistency in the image.
Technical Specifications (Selected Models)
| Feature | L-858D (Exposure Meter) | C-800 (Spectrometer) |
|---|---|---|
| Measurement Types | Incident (dome) + 1° spot, ambient light and flash | Spectral measurement of ambient light and flash |
| ISO Range | ISO 3 to 13,107,200 (plus ISO 850) | — |
| Cine Functions | Frame rates 1 to 1,000 fps, Shutter angles 1° to 358°, HD-Cine/Cine mode | — |
| Color Temperature Range | — | 1,600 to 40,000 K |
| Spectral Range / Sensor | — | 380 to 780 nm, CMOS linear sensor |
| Color Metrics | — | CRI, TLCI, TM-30-18, TLMF, SSI; CIE-1931-x/y |
| Construction | All-weather design, touchscreen display | 4.3" color touchscreen, up to 99 memory slots |
On-Set Usage
The exposure meter is used by the gaffer and the Director of Photography (DoP) to objectively determine light values independently of the camera monitor—for example, to set key, fill, and highlight lights to the desired contrast ratio. Incident measurement is taken at the subject with the dome facing the camera; spot measurement specifically captures individual image areas.
The spectrometer (e.g., C-800) is used to match light sources: it displays not only the color temperature but also color rendering indices such as CRI, TLCI, or SSI, developed by the Academy. This is particularly important when mixing different LED, HMI, and Tungsten sources, whose spectra can vary significantly despite having the same Kelvin rating.
From the crafts
Perspectives
Producer
Diese professionelle Lösung erhöht die Produktionseffizienz und reduziert Post-Production-Anforderungen. Sie ermöglicht flexible, schnelle Anpassungen während des Drehs.
Gaffer
Als Gaffer ist dies ein unverzichtbares Werkzeug meines täglichen Handwerkszeugs. Es ermöglicht mir professionelle Lichtkontrolle und schnelle Anpassungen auf Set, was Zeit spart und Qualität sichert.
More in the lexikon
Related terms
Test your knowledge
Quiz
1. Zu welchem Department gehört „Sekonic"?
2. Wie viele verschiedene Fachperspektiven bietet dieser Eintrag?