Light meter

I just guess and then adjust after having a look. But then again I never use more than two flashguns and I don't do much studio stuff. I'd like to do more though. The only light meter I have is an ancient selenium one I bought in antiques shop; it seems to be incredibly accurate, but I only use it in ambient light, and mostly when using film. I don't suppose it would be any good with flash though?

yh u better know what you doing otherwise is not even worth to buy it

Need to get one of them, are those pricey sekonic / polaris meters the only one option or they are cheaper altrnatives around?

What about if you want to mix flash and ambient? A Histogram won't help much in that area if you want to know the percentages.

Digital has made photography a lot easier to learn and begin to master, but a light meter is a really effective bit of kit that can be used in so many ways rather than guessing what you think is right.

Unless you have a really good understanding of the zone system in relation to digital, just reading a histogram will only tell you if you blown the highlights or the shadows, and remember that the meter in your camera measure reflected light which won't help in certain situations where the cameras light meter will get fooled.