This section provides an overview for light meters as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 18 light meter manufacturers and their company rankings.
Table of Contents
A light meter is a device used in photography to measure the intensity of light on a subject or in the environment and to calculate the optimum exposure value. The measurement made with this machine is called light metering.
Light meters are installed in most cameras today to determine the optimal exposure when taking pictures, but stand-alone products continue to be produced and sold. The advantage of using an exposure meter is that it can measure light accurately, independent of the subject's color and reflected light.
Light meters are used either built into the camera or as stand-alone meters to calculate the exposure value when taking pictures and ensure that the picture's lighting level is appropriate.
The built-in type and the stand-alone type have slightly different measurement applications. The built-in type calculates the optimal exposure for the entire composition in the picture. In contrast, the stand-alone type calculates the exposure based on the light shining on the subject with pinpoint accuracy. The former is easy to use and is used for general photography. The latter is used for photography in environments where the background is primarily black and white, or light is used to create a dramatic effect.
Light-meter principles are classified into two types according to the light-metering method.
One is the reflected-light type, which detects light reflected from the subject, determines the optimum exposure, and is built into many cameras. Light meters of the reflected-light type apply the light reflected from the subject to the APEX equation to determine the exposure and shutter release time according to the intensity of the reflected light from the subject. While this has the advantage of metering from the shooting position, it has the disadvantage of not being able to properly determine the exposure for extremely reflective or low reflective subjects such as white or black, which are far from the standard 18% gray reflectance.
The most commonly used stand-alone type is the incident light type, which determines the exposure based on the light itself incident on the Light meter. Since the exposure is determined based on the absolute intensity of the light, not the reflected light, it is not affected by the subject's color and can take a picture as the eye sees it.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Micro Quality Calibration Inc MQC) was founded in 1978 as a technology-oriented calibration, repair, testing, and first article inspection facility for precision measurement test equipment. MCQ follows in strict compliance of ISO-9000 (series 1, 2, 3, and 4) specifications. MCQ offers services in calibration, inspection testing, repair, database management, and analytics. Calibration services are often provided for automotive, electrical components, aerospace, and secure communications, for which MCQ is ISO 17025 accredited.
Klein Tools is a fifth-generation family-run producer of hand tools founded in 187 and headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Klein Tools sells worldwide directly and through distributors. Klein Tools has a family of companies under its brand including Alco, Civitella, Mumme Tools, Tulmex, and Wattmaster. Klein Tools serves several industries including construction, HVAC/R, plumbing, telecom, municipal, and industrial. Some of the tools Klein Tools produces include non-contact voltage tester bens, multi-bit screwdrivers, digital circuit breaker finders, advanced circuit tracer kits, and multi-bit electronics screwdrivers.
Colonial TelTek was founded in 1972 and operates in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Colonial TelTek is a division of Colonial Electric Supplies. Colonial TelTek primarily serves the telecommunications and utility industries as a parts distributor and emergency service provider. Colonial TelTek is offers 8 major product lines including aerial hardware components, bridge conduit systems and conduit accessories, fiber optic cable and splice accessories, handholes and racking products, pulling products, PVC, HDPE, and fiberglass conduit, as well as tools and accessories.
AppMet, Inc was founded in 1993 in North Charleston, South Carolina. AppMet is a calibration and testing company offering dimensional, physical & mechanical, and electronic & electrical calibration services in climate-controlled laboratories as well as on-site calibrations when possible. AppMet is ISO/IEC 17025 as well as Full Service ISO-99001 certified. Electronic calibrations are made with all types of electrical and electronic test equipment from analog multimeters to RF spectrum analyzers. Physical and mechanical calibrations and tests are performed with equipment ranging from analytical balances to vacuum gages. Dimensional calibrations are performed with equipment ranging from 1-2-3 blocks to angle plates to thickness gages.
Tri-State Instrument Laboratory was established in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 159. Tri-State is a distributor and provider of calibration and related services. Tri-State also manufacturers voltage dividers, motor rotation indicators, and phase sequence indicators. Calibration services include calibration of various types off multimeters, clamp meters, electrical and resistance testers, power recorders, loop, process, and temperature calibrators, infrared and contact thermometers, and analog and digital panel meters. In addition to calibration services, Tri-State specializes in meggers, process calibrators, clamp meters, thermometers, multimeters, and other products such as digital counters, ,hour meters, and hard cases.
Broner Glove and Safety has served customers since 1933 and is based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Broner is a safety service provider as well as distributor of safety equipment. Broner’s safety equipment offerings include first aid emergency response equipment, ergonomic assisting tools, eye protection, fall protection, hearing protection, instrumentation, plant and site safety equipment, welding-use protection, respiratory protection, protective apparel and more. Safety services include glove testing, plant surveys, safety glass programs, respiratory fit testing, and transaction analysis among others.
Ranking as of March 2023 Globally
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Traceable(R) Products | 12.5% |
2 | G & R Labs | 6.3% |
3 | International Light Technologies | 6.3% |
4 | Gigahertz Optik GmbH | 6.3% |
5 | Konica Minolta Sensing Americas Inc. | 6.3% |
6 | Panomex Inc. | 6.3% |
7 | Teledyne FLIR LLC | 6.3% |
8 | Inspection Technologies Inc | 6.3% |
9 | TRICOR Systems, Inc. | 6.3% |
10 | Micro Quality Calibration, Inc. | 6.3% |
11 | Klein Tools, Inc. | 6.3% |
12 | Broner Glove & Safety Company | 6.3% |
13 | Reagents | 6.3% |
14 | AppMet | 6.3% |
15 | Testo | 6.3% |
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the light meter page as of March 2023. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
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