Aiming to provide for the needs of both photographers and filmmakers, the Speedmaster L-858D-U Light Meter from Sekonic comes packed with a variety of upgraded features and capabilities that make it an almost essential tool for a working professional. It is able to take incident and reflected light readings of both flash and ambient light with an expanded measuring range of -5 to 22.9 EV at ISO 100, or within an illuminance range of 0.1 to 2,000,000 lux. Users will also find it intuitive and easy-to-use thanks to the use of a 2.7" color touchscreen LCD and an all-weather design.

The meter can use either a 270° rotating and collapsible lumisphere or an integrated 1° spot viewfinder to account for varying needs of the user. Also, it offers an extensive range of cinema and video settings as well as the unique ability to measure flash duration and to take readings when using high-speed sync flash. The L-858D-U is equipped with a variety of other functions as well, including memory recall, a Flash Analyzing Function, and extended ranges on nearly every setting. Additionally, through the use of optional modules, users can add radio triggering support for PocketWizard and Elinchrom/Phottix systems.

Speedmaster L-858D-U Light Meter    RT-GX Godox Transmitter

Lumisphere receptor head rotates 90° right and 180° left and retracts for conversion to a flat diffuser.

Integrated 1° spot viewfinder with full information display provides a precise method of measuring specific parts of a scene.

Ability to measure flash duration within a range of 1/40 to 1/55,500 second using t0.1 to t0.9 settings.

Improved sensitivity of the L-858D-U allows it to record a reading at just 0.1 lux illuminance as well as use expanded range of -5 to 22.9 EV for incident readings and -1 to 22.4 EV for reflected light. Also, it features an extended ISO range of ISO 3 to ISO 13,107,200 with an option available for ISO 850.

Optional radio modules are available for PocketWizard and Elinchrom/Phottix systems for advanced wireless triggering and remote flash control.

High-Speed Sync support allows photographers to accurately take readings while using HSS with their flashes and cameras.

Flash Analyzing Function measure ambient and flash simultaneously to provide a percentage of flash in the final exposure. Users can then adjust the mix as the display shows camera settings and the relationship between the flash and ambient light in your exposure.

Users can determine the dynamic range of their camera using optional targets by taking bracketed shots with their measurement data and they using the Sekonic Data Transfer Software to graph and then save the information to the meter.

Expanded shutter speed ranges now allow for readings between 1/64,000 second to 30 minutes with ambient light and 1/16,000 second to 30 minutes for flash.

A comprehensive set of cinema modes allows for settings of 1-1000 fps as well as shutter angles of 1-358°. Twenty user determined settings are also available that provide more precise options of 0.001-360° shutter angles and 0.001-99,999.999 fps.

2.7" color touchscreen LCD provides a fast and intuitive method for viewing and changing settings.

Micro-USB port can be used for firmware updates, applying custom settings, and to use exposure profiling.

The L-858D-U features an all-weather construction that is dust and splash proof (JIS Class 4).

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. Is there transmitter Module for Profoto?

A: Sekonic does not make a transmitter module that works with the Profoto System.

Q: 2. Could this unit take the place of the Godox XProC TTL Wireless Flash Trigger for Canon cameras?

A: While this has the same radio signal as an XPRO C trigger, it can only fire a Godox flash wirelessly in order to obtain the exposure information to dial into your camera. You would still need an XPRO C or X1T-C trigger on the camera to shoot an image in your camera.

Q: 3. Does this have a filtration compensation mode?

A: The meter does have a filter compensation mode for exposure only. Click on the link below and see page 127 of the manual for the details of this function. https://static.bhphotovideo.com/lit_files/474654.pdf

Q: 4. which would you get, with or without the transmitter module? i have both PocketWizards and Flashpoint strobes. what are the benefits with and without the POCKETWIZARD transmitter module? what are the benefits with and without the GODOX / FLASHPOINT transmitter module? tell me more, tell me about the benefits with & without? thank you!

A: The transmitter modules may be purchased separately and swapped. Because you have both PocketWizard and Godox products, unfortunately, you will have to find workarounds to get both to trigger.

Q: 5. Does it need calibration like the the c800?

A: The L-858D-U is already calibrated by the manufacturer.

Q: 6. What is the life-expectancy of the LCD touch screen?

A: There is no specific information about The LCD life-expectancy for the Sekonic Speedmaster L-858D-U Light Meter. I can say from personal experience that Sekonic light-meters are as robust as they come, most cinematographers and photographers only need to buy one in their lifetime.

Q: 7. will the radio module for the 758 work with with 858?

A: The L-858U requires the Sekonic RT-20PW PocketWizard Transmitter Module, B&H # SERT20PW. https://bhpho.to/2MpvqPn

Q: 8. What is the difference between L 858 d-u and L 858 d?

A: L-858D-U is the US version, the d-u is the international version and the difference would be in the frequency at which they opperate.

Q: 9. Can someone confirm if they have a battery drain issue with Rechargable batteries (Eneloop pros)?If I place new batteries on mine, even without turning the unit on, the batteries will be dead by day 2.

A: Hi Luis,I used Panasonic (formely Eneloop) batt. No problem at all. It lasts for a week end normal usage.

Q: 10. Does this have a t-stop mode? When working with cinema lenses that use t stops instead of f stops, how can I use this light meter?

A: F/stops are arithmetically calculated based on the lenses physical size. The amount of light coming through the lens is therefore theoretical. This means two different lenses at f/5.6 could be passing different amounts of light. In the days of movie making film, this caused a great deal of problems for movie printmaking where the density of the image would vary greatly between shots. This would take extra time, effort and money to get a consistent print. To eliminate this problem, the 20th Century Fox camera department in the 1930's developed the T or Transmission stop. What they did is measure the amount of light coming through the lens and then set that as the T/stop. Since glass absorbs light, there is a light loss compared to f/stops. All this to say, there are no T/stop meters; they are all f/stop. Just read the meter, set that number on the T/stop ring and enjoy a consistent, lens to lens, exposure.