sekonic

What sekonic does

Sekonic Corporation Japan is a precision light measurement instrument manufacturer founded in June 1951 in Japan and now distributing globally through MAC Group US and a network of country-specific international distributors. The company designs and produces exposure meters (L-858D SpeedMaster, L-478 LiteMaster Pro, L-308X FlashMate, L-398A Studio Deluxe III, L-208 TwinMate), full-spectrum color spectrometers (C-800, C-4000, C-7000 industrial), and the now-discontinued i-346 illuminometer, serving professional photographers, cinematographers, videographers, industrial color-control buyers, and students/entry-level creators.

The product line is built on proprietary sensor technology including SPD and CMOS linear image sensors, supported by in-house algorithms for flash duration, High Speed Sync, and full-spectrum color rendering analysis (CRI, SSI, TLCI, TLMF, TM-30-18). The flagship L-858D introduced in 2016 was the first multi-function meter with multi-brand wireless radio trigger compatibility (broncolor, Elinchrom, Godox/Flashpoint, Phottix, PocketWizard) and HSS flash measurement. The C-7000 industrial spectrometer conforms to JIS C 1609-1:2006 Class A and DIN 5032 Part 7 Class C, enabling regulated industrial, medical, and agricultural lighting applications. Companion Data Transfer Software and the recently introduced SEKONIC LD mobile app extend the hardware into connected workflows.

Sekonic operates a hybrid go-to-market combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce (sekonic.com with free shipping over $100), an authorized US dealer network anchored by B&H Photo Video and Adorama, US rental dealers for professional film/video production, and country-specific international distributors. Pricing is one-time perpetual license across the product line, ranging from $149 for the entry-level L-208 analog meter to $2,400 for the C-7000 industrial spectrometer, with a 20% educational discount channel through PhotoVideoEDU.com. The company was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1963; its current public/private status is not confirmed in available data, and no funding rounds or M&A activity are disclosed.

Name

sekonic

Legal name

Sekonic Corporation Japan

Website

https://sekonic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Sekonic manufactures precision light measurement instruments, including exposure meters and full-spectrum color spectrometers, for professional photographers, cinematographers, industrial color-control buyers, and students. Founded in Japan in 1951, the company distributes globally through authorized retailers and country-specific distributors, with US operations run by MAC Group US.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Light Measurement Instruments

NAICS

Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Photographic Equipment & Supplies (3861), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Optical & Light Sensors (Photodiodes/ALS/Color/UV) (HDAHALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Optoelectronic Components (LEDs, photodiodes, optocouplers, optical sensors) (IMAGAJAF), Optical Performance Monitoring & Telemetry (OSNR/CD/PMD) (HDAFADAG), Camera Lighting & Flash (Speedlights, Continuous Lights, LED Panels) (CRACAPAG)

Keywords

• Exposure light meters
• Color spectrometers
• Light measurement instruments
• Photography light meters
• Cinematography exposure meters

Headquarters

HQ city

White Plains

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling light meters, spectrometers, color meters, and industrial illuminometers. Products are sold at various price points from $149 to $2,400 depending on complexity and features. One-time purchase model with perpetual ownership.
2. Accessories and Replacement Parts: Secondary revenue from accessories including transmitter modules, cases, straps, lens caps, calibration cards, lumidiscs, lumispheres, and replacement parts. Products like sync cords ($69), viewfinders ($159), and color grips ($19.99) support the core hardware business.
3. Open Box/Refurbished Sales: Like-new returned or display gear sold at discounted prices through the Open Box Specials program. Products include open-box transmitter modules (e.g., RT-BR at $139.20 vs. $174 MSRP) with full warranty coverage.
4. Software Downloads: Data Transfer Software and Utility Software available as free downloads from the website, bundled with meters or available for existing customers. Software enables exposure profiling and data management.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sekonic designs and manufactures precision light measurement instruments, including ambient and flash exposure meters (L-858D SpeedMaster, L-478 LiteMaster Pro, L-308X FlashMate, L-398A Studio Deluxe III, L-208 TwinMate), full-spectrum color spectrometers (C-800-U, C-4000, C-7000), and multi-brand wireless radio triggering modules for photographers, cinematographers, videographers, and industrial lighting users. Complementary accessories (lumidiscs, exposure profile targets, viewfinders) and utility software (Data Transfer Software, C-800/C-7000 Utility, SEKONIC LD mobile app) support exposure profiling, color rendering analysis, and wireless flash control.

Product overview

Sekonic manufactures precision light measurement instruments for photographers, videographers, cinematographers, and industrial applications. The product portfolio consists of three main categories: Exposure Meters (L-858D SpeedMaster, L-478 LiteMaster Pro, L-308X FlashMate, L-398A Studio Deluxe III analog, L-208 TwinMate analog), Color Meters/Spectrometers (C-800-U, C-4000, C-7000 industrial), and Industrial Illuminometers (i-346 discontinued). These products work as standalone measurement tools that help professionals measure and control light for accurate exposure. Accessories include radio transmitter modules for wireless flash triggering (PocketWizard, Elinchrom, broncolor, Godox/Flashpoint, Phottix), calibration targets, cases, and software utilities for data transfer and analysis. The company offers companion software including Data Transfer Software (DTS) for meter profiling and C-800/C-7000 Utility software for spectrometer data management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• L-858D-U SpeedMaster Series Light Meter Multi-function wireless triggering light meter capable of measuring flash duration and HSS (High Speed Sync) with incident and 1-degree spot metering, EV-5 to EV22.9 range, 2.7-inch touchscreen LCD, all-weather design, and optional radio modules for broncolor, Elinchrom, Godox/Flashpoint, Phottix, and PocketWizard. Priced at $689.00 and targeted at professional photographers.
• L-478D-U LiteMaster Pro Series Light Meter Touchscreen light meter with 2.7-inch color LCD for ambient and flash metering, HD Cine and Cine modes for videography, flash analyzing function, filtration compensation mode, contrast function, memory mode for 8 readings, and optional 5-degree viewfinder for exposure profiling. Priced at $419.00 and aimed at professional photographers and cinematographers.
• L-308X-U FlashMate Light Meter Compact pocket-sized light meter for ambient and flash lighting with Photo, HD Cine, and Cine metering modes, sliding lumisphere for incident/reflected readings, 40-degree reflected light reception, EV0 to 19.9 metering range, and runs on a single AA battery. Priced at $269.00 for entry/mid-range photographers and students.
• L-398A Studio Deluxe III Analog Light Meter Analog light meter with amorphous photosensor (no battery required), swivel head for incident readings, and removable Lumigrid for reflected readings. EV4 to EV17 measuring range, displays still and cine exposure combinations. Targets traditional studio photographers and educational users.
• L-208 TwinMate Analog Light Meter Palm-sized analog light meter for hand-held incident and reflected ambient light readings, with hot-shoe adapter for camera mounting, instant aperture/shutter readings, and sliding lumisphere for incident or reflected measurement selection. Priced at $149.00 for entry-level and hobbyist users.
• C-800-U Spectrometer Full-spectrum color spectrometer measuring LED, HMI, Fluorescent, Tungsten, Natural Light, and Flash from 380-780nm, with expanded color rendering properties (CRI, SSI, TLCI, TLMF, TM-30-18), 4.3-inch color touch panel LCD, up to 99 memory measurements, and filter compatibility with Rosco, LEE, and Kodak Wratten. Priced at $1,899.00 and targets cinematographers, videographers, and professional photographers needing color consistency.
• C-7000 Industrial Spectrometer Industrial-grade handheld spectrometer for quality control in lamp manufacturing, medical facilities, and agricultural lighting. Conforms to JIS C 1609-1:2006 Class A and DIN 5032 Part 7 Class C. Features 1nm/5nm spectral data output, up to 999 memory measurements, PPFD measurement, and SDK for remote control. Priced at $2,300.00.
• C-4000 Spectrometer Compact spectrometer measuring color temperature from 1,600K to 40,000K with light quality information including Ra, Δuv, Lux/fc, TM-30-18 (Rf, Rg), and chromaticity coordinates. Features dual platform versatility with standalone use and wireless remote measurements via the SEKONIC LD App, plus USB-C connectivity. Priced at $1,199.00 for professional and industrial users.
• RT-GX Godox/Flashpoint Transmitter Module 2.4GHz radio transmitter module enabling wireless triggering and measuring of Godox/Flashpoint flash equipment when paired with the L-858D-U SpeedMaster light meter. Sold as a standalone module and as part of bundle kits.
• RT-BR broncolor Transmitter Module Radio transmitter module enabling wireless triggering and measuring of broncolor RFS 2/2.1/2.2 flash equipment when paired with the L-858D-U SpeedMaster light meter. Sold as standalone module and bundle kit.
• RT-EL/PX Elinchrom and Phottix Transmitter Module 2.4GHz radio transmitter module enabling wireless triggering and measuring of Elinchrom EL-Skyport and Phottix Strato II flash equipment when paired with the L-858D-U SpeedMaster light meter. Also available in L-478DR-U-EL and L-478DR-U-PX LiteMaster Pro variants.
• Sekonic Exposure Profile Target II Calibration target for creating custom camera exposure profiles with Sekonic L-758, L-478, and L-858D series light meters, used with Data Transfer Software for digital exposure control.
• Sekonic Lumidisc Removable accessory disc for adjusting illumination contrast and measuring illumination intensity on L-308 and L-398 series light meters.
• C-800 Series Utility Software Desktop utility software for the C-800 spectrometer offering easy meter settings, analysis of memorized data, memory title editing, and data transfer between computer and meter. Available for Mac (OSX 10.11+) and Windows (10/11).
• C-7000 Utility Software Desktop utility software for the C-7000 spectrometer providing easy settings, firmware updates, graphic displays, and spectral data output in 1nm/5nm increments in CSV format. Available for Mac (OSX 10.15-13) and Windows (10/11).
• Data Transfer Software (DTS) Software for L-858D, L-758, and L-478 series meters enabling exposure profile creation, data transfer, and firmware updates. Available for Mac (OSX 10.13+) and Windows (8.1/10).
• SEKONIC LD App Mobile application enabling wireless remote measurements with the C-4000 spectrometer for convenient on-set and field use.

Quantifiable outcome

• Precise exposure in complex lighting scenarios reduces post-processing time and ensures consistent results across shoots

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• MAC Group UScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMAC Group US is the exclusive distributor of Sekonic products in the United States. The company handles US sales, marketing, support, and customer service for Sekonic products from its headquarters in North White Plains, NY. They manage the sekonic.com e-commerce website, authorized dealer network, and all US customer support including technical support, repairs, and warranty claims.
• broncolormajorTechnology or IntegrationSekonic partnered with broncolor to develop the RT-BR radio transmitter module for the L-858D-U SpeedMaster meter, enabling wireless triggering and measurement of broncolor RFS 2/2.1/2.2 flash equipment. Sold as both standalone module and bundle kit (L-858D-U + RT-BR at $799).
• Godox/FlashpointmajorTechnology or IntegrationSekonic partnered with Godox/Flashpoint to develop the RT-GX radio transmitter module for the L-858D-U SpeedMaster meter, enabling wireless triggering and measurement of Godox/Flashpoint 2.4GHz flash equipment. Sold as standalone module and bundle kit.
• ElinchrommajorTechnology or IntegrationSekonic partnered with Elinchrom to develop the RT-EL/PX transmitter module for L-858D-U, enabling wireless triggering of Elinchrom EL-Skyport and Phottix flash equipment. Also available in L-478DR-U-EL variant for LiteMaster Pro series.
• PocketWizardmajorTechnology or IntegrationLong-standing partnership enabling PocketWizard wireless triggering compatibility. L-858D-U supports RT-3PW (433MHz) and RT-20PW (344MHz) PocketWizard modules. L-478DR-U includes built-in PocketWizard compatibility.
• PhotoVideoEDU.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational discount program partner providing 20% discount for students, educators, schools, and museums. Sekonic products are available through this platform with eligibility verification for educational institutions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Light Technologies: US manufacturer of light measurement instruments, detectors, and radiometers for UV, visible, and IR applications. Overlaps with Sekonic's industrial illuminance/spectral offerings.
• Avantes: Dutch modular spectrometer maker for OEM, industrial, and life-science applications. Competes with Sekonic's industrial line, particularly where customers prefer modular fiber-optic configurations.
• StellarNet: US-based manufacturer of portable and bench-top spectrometers for industrial, scientific, and LED characterization. Competes with Sekonic's C-7000 in lab and industrial QA applications.
• Asensetek (Lighting Passport): Smartphone-paired and handheld spectrometers (Lighting Passport) targeting filmmakers, gaffers, and lighting designers. Directly competes with Sekonic C-800/C-4000 in cinematography and on-set color workflows.
• GOSSEN Foto- und Lichtmesstechnik: German manufacturer of handheld exposure and light meters for professional photographers and cinematographers. The closest direct competitor to Sekonic's L-series exposure meters, particularly in the European pro-photo channel.
• UPRtek: Taiwan-based handheld spectrometer and PAR/PPFD meter maker focused on LED lighting and horticultural measurement. Direct overlap with Sekonic's C-7000 industrial and C-4000 newer-platform spectrometers.

Broad incumbents

• Konica Minolta Sensing: Industrial light, color, and display measurement instruments with global reach. Directly overlaps with Sekonic's C-7000 and C-4000 industrial spectrometer offerings and competes in plant/PPFD, medical, and lighting-QC applications.
• X-Rite (Danaher): Color science leader offering colorimeters, spectrophotometers, and software for photography, cinema, and industrial color control. Competes with Sekonic's C-800/C-7000 line on color-rendering indices and Pantone-grade workflow integration.
• Photo Research (Novanta): Specialty light-measurement division within Novanta producing spectroradiometers and colorimeters for display, cinema, and medical imaging. Competes with Sekonic's high-end spectrometers in display calibration and cinema light-source characterization.

Regional players

• Gigahertz-Optik: German light-measurement specialist focused on photometric, radiometric, and spectral instruments for industrial and scientific customers in Europe. Comparable to Sekonic's C-7000 industrial segment, though predominantly European.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCDXQhdsm2tchgyhCTXyIsaQ
• Xx.com/sekonic
• Facebookfacebook.com/sekonic

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about sekonic