Anyone used this budget shutter tester?

[markbau]

Would like to hear opinions about this from anyone that has actually used this before I plunk down $$$. (I don't need anymore stuff that doesn't work)

https://www.filmomat.eu/photoplug?lang=en

 

[Alan9940]

I tried one, but it didn't work out for me. It certainly could have been me, though...

 

[gijsbert]

It works pretty well. Best used in the dark, flash light in front of lens, the probe in the film chamber. Then you move some markers in the display on the mobile app and it gives you the measured time. So it takes a little bit of work to use it.

My main complaint is that the data lives on the phone, so measurements on old phones are not visible on my latest phone. My work around has been to take a screenshot of the measurements (1 screen per camera usually, depends on how many shutter speeds you measure) and keep those around in my photo app. I never contacten them, perhaps there is a better solution.

Never had a chance to compare to a real shutter speed tester. However, faster speeds (over 1/60) on mechanical shutters measure indeed slower as is expected, and electronic shutters are more accurate (also newer usually) which is also expected so I use the times to under expose on some of my cameras because the shutters are slowish.

Their film processor looks really cool, but way over my budget!

 

[Samuel Dilworth]

I’ve used their app, which works without extra hardware (using the phone’s built-in microphone), and that works exceptionally well, avoiding the usual UI mistakes that plague apps of this sort. That would give me confidence that the company, whoever they are, know what they’re doing. Try it out yourself; it’s free.

Hard to imagine how the hardware plug, which has an exceedingly simple job, could not work.

 

[138S]

I use a similar one, also photoresistor based, for the PC sound card audio input.

Audio inputs usually have a capacitor in series, so it displays a weird curve that anyway is useful to calculate speed.

Personally, I ended capturing the signal with an usb oscilloscope, displaying a nicer curve that is also useful for diagnostics as both the openning and the closing flanges are well displayed.

Circuit is usually quite simple.

 

[Dahod]

I bought mine several years ago off ebay so not sure if it's the same company but it uses the same app and plug. I wanted to test my large format shutters and it worked ok - bit cumbersome setting up (focused light source, isolated sensor, tripping the camera, holding the phone etc) and the instructions were minimal but I was happy with it. Recognizing where the shutter opened and closed wasn't immediately obvious but once I'd used it for a bit and sorted that out it was fine.

 

[Doremus Scudder]

I've used this app without the photoplug. It is reliable and fairly accurate for shutter speeds slower than about 1/125 sec., good enough for my purposes with large format. If you need more accuracy, the photoplug and a good set up with a hooded light source behind the shutter and in an otherwise darkened room should be good. The principle is sound.

Doremus

 

[AgX]

I bought mine several years ago off ebay so not sure if it's the same company ...

It is a one man business, having started with building a Filmomat for himself. He is a member here, but I forgot his name.

 

[AndyH]

I have used the app, but haven’t sprung for the plug. I’ve tested it against a recently adjusted shutter and found it accurate if you take reasonable care in listening to the sequence of how your shutter actuates.

I have a little experience in reading audio graphs, but if you watch the shutter fire, you can “read” the opening sound and closing sound with a pretty good degree of accuracy. It took me awhile, but I think I’ve gotten the knack. It took quite a while and multiple checks, but in my opinion, it’s quite accurate up to about 1/250.

I’ve tested virtually all of my usable clockwork shutters and now have them stored in the app on my phone for instant reference.

for me, it’s been worth the time and effort to learn how to use it.
Andy

 

[AgX]

I have used the app, but haven’t sprung for the plug. I’ve tested it against a recently adjusted shutter and found it accurate if you take reasonable care in listening to the sequence of how your shutter actuates.

But the device in question here is a optical device.

 

[markbau]

I’ve used their app, which works without extra hardware (using the phone’s built-in microphone), and that works exceptionally well, avoiding the usual UI mistakes that plague apps of this sort. That would give me confidence that the company, whoever they are, know what they’re doing. Try it out yourself; it’s free.

Hard to imagine how the hardware plug, which has an exceedingly simple job, could not work.

I don't understand how the microphone would come into it when it is measuring the duration that light shines onto your phone. I'm confused.

 

[138S]

I don't understand how the microphone would come into it when it is measuring the duration that light shines onto your phone. I'm confused.

The audio input does not take sound but an electric signal, the audio input does not know if that electric signal comes from a microphone or from a photocell, so electric signal from the photocell is interpreted as if it came from a microphone.

 

[AgX]

Yes, but Andy has it explicetely on "listening to the sequence of how your shutter actuates".
That still is confusing.

 

[Fraunhofer]

I am using this app and built my own photo-plug (it's essentially a photo transistor, see post #5). I am happy with it and down to about 1/200s it seems to work well. I use this whenever I get a new lens and base my exposure on the corrections derived that way.

You can use the app w/o the plug and that it just records the sound your shutter makes. The problem with that mode is, that I found nearly impossible to correlate the actual time the shutter is open with the acoustic wave form.

 

[AgX]

You can use the app w/o the plug and that it just records the sound your shutter makes. The problem with that mode is, that I found nearly impossible to correlate the actual time the shutter is open with the acoustic wave form.

Thank you for clarifying. Now I understand what Andy meant.

 

[BobD]

Would like to hear opinions about this from anyone that has actually used this before I plunk down $$$. (I don't need anymore stuff that doesn't work)

https://www.filmomat.eu/photoplug?lang=en

If they made the text on that page just a little bit lighter it would be completely invisible.

 

[AndyH]

Yes, but Andy has it explicetely on "listening to the sequence of how your shutter actuates".
That still is confusing.

There are several peaks in the shutter opening and closing sequence. Watching the shutter open and close at slower speeds will give you the significant “full open” and “full closed” points. If you’re using a reflex, you’ll need to lock the mirror up while recording.
Andy

PS: Thanks to Fraunhofer for helping to clarify.

 

[BerthaDeCool]

I've used the app-only for LF shutters and a a Rollei TLR with some success, tho' the results are a little ambiguous when getting up in higher speeds. With 35mm, it helps to lock the mirror up.
I'm actually awaiting the plug-in now.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I used recording on my Samsung phone plus Audacity sound program to display the waves and measure. That was fairly accurate to measure up, to about 1/125 second on 35mm (Nikon N6006, Mamiya RB67 lenses and 150mm Schneider for a 4x5.