Color meters, does anyone use them ?

[bidimagic]

Hi,
I'm considering to get a color meter, like the Gossen Colormaster 3f ...
I'm not sure that it is a great advantage on DLSRs, so does anyone
use them in any way ?
Feedbacks are appreciated ...


Thank you!

[DocFrankenstein]

They're only useful for film industry where they shoot slide and color correct it with filters.

I don't know why you would want to use one for stills. If you want everything to be consistent, then just get a couple of decent strobes and WB= 5500.

[bidimagic]

They're only useful for film industry where they shoot slide and color correct it with filters.

I don't know why you would want to use one for stills. If you want everything to be consistent, then just get a couple of decent strobes and WB= 5500.

Well I'm wondering if I could make a more accurate WB with it ....
it could be useful to set the color temperature on the camera according
to the value read by the color meter before shooting ... it could be easier
and more accurate than using 18% gray card, doesn't it ?

[DocFrankenstein]

It's not much more accurate than a grey card.

Do you have a color managed workflow? If you don't, then you probably should sort that out first.

[bidimagic]

It's not much more accurate than a grey card.

Do you have a color managed workflow? If you don't, then you probably should sort that out first.

Well, I actually shoot raw using a 18% gray card, then I use the WB tool in
ACR to correct all the images that are in the same light condition.
I'm satisfied by the results I get this way.
But I'm wondering if a color meter could help more.
Yes I know, it comes at a cost, so that's why I'm asking here feedbacks ...

[René Damkot]

Only needed when shooting slides, and using CC filters to color correct.

[bidimagic]

So nobody is still using them in the digital world ?

[Mike V]

They are more for balancing the colour of lighting sources than for setting white balance.