The Negative Supply LM1 is a Compact All-Metal Digital Ambient Light, Flash and Color Meter
Negative Supply has launched a pocket-sized digital light meter that is designed to quickly measure ambient light to allow for accurate exposures, and it also measures color temperature, aiding in determining which filters or film stocks to use in a given situation.
The LM1, launched on Kickstarter, supports 1/3 stop adjustments for ISO, aperture, and shutter speed via its 4-button design. The LM1 has a dedicated sync port for flash metering, complete with flash mode and remote triggering options, and has an integrated rechargeable battery that provides several weeks of standby life and can be charged from empty to full via USB-C in under two hours.
The Kickstarter campaign states, “The electronic meters currently on the market are bulky, plastic, and don’t live up to the look and feel of the cameras we’ve all grown to love. We decided it was time to change that.”
Saxon McClamma, Co-Founder and Director of Design, adds, “The LM1 is the most complicated tool we’ve designed, and everything needed to come together perfectly to bring it to life. The experience of our incredible team of programmers, engineers, and manufacturing partners allowed us to create an elegant, timeless design without compromising functionality.”
The pocket-sized design is one of the primary selling points of the LM1. The device measures 44 x 90 x 15 millimeters, making it only a bit larger than a roll of 120 films. The color temperature sensor was implemented for both filmmakers and film photographers, which the company says allows both to better determine which filters of film stocks are best to use in a given lighting situation. The LM1 features an all-metal body that is CNC-machined from aviation-grade aluminum or solid brass. and multiple scratch-resistant anodized color options are available: Satin Metallic Green, High Gloss Slate Grey, or Satin Metallic Silver are available in addition to the standard black aluminum. The buttons and bulb are custom-molded, too. The device includes a strap attachment anchor, allowing you to carry the LM1 around with your favorite neck or wrist strap.
With its compact size and simple design, the LM1 has been designed for single-handed use. The light meter includes a backlit display with multiple viewing modes suitable for varied environments.
Negative Supply says that the 144 x 168-pixel resolution reflective active-matrix TFT-LCD backlit display is readable in bright sunlight or in pitch blackness and is still quite power-efficient. The LM1 will automatically go to sleep when not in use to conserve battery power and can be waked quickly from that state to be ready at a moment’s notice.
“We designed the Light Meter LM1 to be the best meter that fits in your pocket,” Negative Supply writes. “Getting to this point has involved over a year of design, product development, and testing, though the road to this new product started many years before. The journey began when we realized many of the cameras we and our customers were using had meters that no longer worked or no meter at all. The handheld light meters on the market were large, plastic, and didn’t live up to the look and feel of the cameras we all love. We knew we could make something better, so in 2020 we started working on our own handheld meter, one we would all truly enjoy using. The result is a pocket-sized light meter with a stunning display and a beautiful all-metal body that looks at home next to our favorite film and digital cameras.”
The Negative Supply LM1 light meter starts at $379 and can range as high as $650 for the brass-finish model. Both are $100-off what the company says the eventual retail price will be.
More info on their Kickstarter’s page.
