For professional photographers, electronic flash is the most preferred lightning medium but when everything is ready and set up, the only thing that will give a perfect exposure is the flash meter. Flash meter is a device that is used for measuring the light that comes from electronic flash and it specifies the correct aperture for exact exposure. Some of the flash meters can are used to measure ambient light.

If you are using a camera that dose not have it’s built in flash system then a handheld flash meter is very important to get a steady and reliable result with the flash. Usually when the flash is fired, to get the meter to give an aperture reading for the lightning in use, flash meter is held at the camera location.

Following is the procedure of how to use the flash meter and take flash meter readings:

• Select an object that contains shadows and different tones
  
• Place the meter so as it faces the camera from the object’s positions. Place it on a stand so that it is fixed.
  
• Set the camera on its highest speed so that any ambient light should not affect the readings.
  
• Test fire and then adjust the meter in such a way that the meter displays an even numbered aperture.
  
• Place the camera to be of the same position with what the meter shows and take your test image.
  
• If you have a digital camera, you can immediately evaluate the exposures. The perfect exposure is the one which will match the meter.
  
• If you have a file camera make sure that when the roll is taken out and processed it is not cut or mounted.
  

While taking flash meter measurements, it is better to check the average flash intensity at the object location before the start of the first session of the day. An regular check during a day will ensure that the exposures are perfect for every session. Perfect exposures are important to produce good skin tones in the picture.

Polaris digital flash meter is a professional meter with extraordinary features and performance with some additional specifications. Polaris flash meter is easy to use and Polaris flash meter instructions are as follows:

• Firstly turn the meter on, it will do a battery check, a little graph at the bottom will show the voltage of the battery.
  
• After a while the meter will start operating in the last metering mode.
  
• There is a white dome control. If the dome is moved to the left, the meter will be in incident mode and on to the right side; it will be in the reflective mode.
  
• In the incident mode, the meter is held in front of the object with the dome facing towards the camera. In the reflective mode, the meter is held at the camera and is pointed at the object which is being photographed. This is the most sensible mode but it is less precise
  
• There are four basic operating modes which are indicated by a unique symbol on the LCD. When the meter is switched on, it will be in the mode which was last used.
  
• In basic flash mode, push and release the grey button. The display will start blinking. Fire the flash and then the meter will start showing the appropriate f/stop for the speed of the shutter that has been selected and the amount of light that has been delivered by the flash.
  

Flash meter is a weak link therefore it should be selected very carefully before it is purchased. There is no other item that is more important and contributes more than the flash meter. The market is full of good looking meters and among them a flash meter that has a good standing in the market is Minolta flash meter. Another company which has a good standing is Samigon. Samigon electronic flash meters are used for metering of incident light and reflected light with flash.