Light meter app kaput

sly · Jan 11, 2015

Used my light meter app (Nuwaste studios) on my iPhone yesterday, worked fine. Out for a walk today, and it closes as soon as I open it. I tried deleting and reloading, but no improvement. On my iPad i can't even find that one to download it. I really liked it because it had tiny stops good for pinhole photography (f516, I believe). Anyone know why? Can you suggest a different one?

PS, why do they need my credit card info to download a free app?

Sirius Glass · Jan 11, 2015

So they can steal your money. Buy a Gossen light meter from KEH.com and let your phone be a phone.

removedacct1 · Jan 11, 2015

If its for pinhole metering specifically - I can recommend with the greatest enthusiasm the Pinhole Assist app. It allows you to dial in specific apertures (down to the most absurdly small values) and includes reciprocity adjustments for almost all films. Its been the most valuable metering tool I have used for pinhole work.

PS: gonna hijack this thread a wee bit here - forgive me - looking for a dedicated meter for my regular camera work. I used to own a Minolta Flash Meter III back in the studio days (1984 - 1997) and I have considered getting another one, but I worry about how reliable a device that old is going to be. Have considered the Sekonic L-308s as a modern alternative. Anyone used one of those? A combination flash + ambient meter would be nice....

sly · Jan 11, 2015

I've got a lunasix, a sekonic, 2 Pentax spot meters. None of them go into pinhole f-stops. (Sometimes I don't want to do math.) All are bigger than my cell phone, and are one more thing to carry.

Paul, that sounds like what I need. Is it a light meter, or do I have to feed in meter readings to get my exposures for pinhole?

removedacct1 · Jan 11, 2015

Sly, it's a complete light meter utility, designed specifically for tiny apertures of pinhole cameras and their reciprocity adjustment needs.

Ken Nadvornick · Jan 11, 2015

paulbarden said:
PS: gonna hijack this thread a wee bit here - forgive me - looking for a dedicated meter for my regular camera work. I used to own a Minolta Flash Meter III back in the studio days (1984 - 1997) and I have considered getting another one, but I worry about how reliable a device that old is going to be. Have considered the Sekonic L-308s as a modern alternative. Anyone used one of those? A combination flash + ambient meter would be nice....

Quick hijack-response...

You might take a look at the Kenko KFM-1100. It's the modern reincarnation of the discontinued Minolta (later, Konica-Minolta) Auto Meter VF. It's the surviving modern version of that same meter, just with a new post-Minolta logo on it. I have the K-M version and recently purchased some of the matching Kenko KFM accessories for it, which fit and worked perfectly.

The B&H price for this meter was showing at $349.00 for me, but now is showing as $279.90. That's either a currency adjustment for the recently stronger dollar, or B&H is playing games with online prices again just because I've looked at that item earlier while seeking the accessories.

Ken

removedacct1 · Jan 11, 2015

Ken Nadvornick said:
Quick hijack-response...

You might take a look at the Kenko KFM-1100. It's the modern reincarnation of the discontinued Minolta (later, Konica-Minolta) Auto Meter VF. It's the surviving modern version of that same meter, just with a new post-Minolta logo on it. I have the K-M version and recently purchased some of the matching Kenko KFM accessories for it, which fit and worked perfectly.

The B&H price for this meter was showing at $349.00 for me, but now is showing as $279.90. That's either a currency adjustment for the recently stronger dollar, or B&H is playing games with online prices again just because I've looked at that item earlier while seeking the accessories.

Ken

@Ken:
you recommend this over the Sekonic L-308s meter? And if so - why? Thanks.

snapguy · Jan 11, 2015

just

Just what is an "app," an "iPhone" and a "walk"? Now, I remember, "walks" went out of fashion out West here with the 1955 Chevys.

Ken Nadvornick · Jan 11, 2015

paulbarden said:
@Ken:
you recommend this over the Sekonic L-308s meter? And if so - why? Thanks.

Because you mentioned having already owned the predecessor Minolta III ambient/flash meter and sounded satisfied with it. Satisfied enough that you had considered seeking out another one, but hesitated since they are no longer available except as older, presumably less reliable, used units.

Prior experience and comfort with a piece of hardware, even a predecessor, can be a strong incentive to continue using that product line, especially if you are aware that you still can.

The KFM is a new Minolta unit, albeit it in Kenko clothing, with improved input settings granularity over the Minolta III. For example, shutter speeds can be specified down to 1/3-stop increments, which for me personally is useful when I'm out with my Crown Graphic/Graphex shutter combination where hand-holdable shutter settings are 1/100, 1/200, 1/400. I can set these directly.

While you may not use antique shutters, I'm sure you can appreciate such added flexibility over a similar unit with which you are already familiar.

Ken

removedacct1 · Jan 11, 2015

Ken Nadvornick said:
Because you mentioned having already owned the predecessor Minolta III ambient/flash meter and sounded satisfied with it. Satisfied enough that you had considered seeking out another one, but hesitated since they are no longer available except as older, presumably less reliable, used units. Prior experience and comfort with a piece of hardware, even a predecessor, can be a strong incentive to continue using that product line, especially if you are aware that you still can.

The KFM is a new Minolta unit, albeit it in Kenko clothing, with improved input settings granularity over the Minolta III. For example, shutter speeds can be specified down to 1/3-stop increments, which for me personally is useful when I'm out with my Crown Graphic/Graphex shutter combination where hand-holdable shutter settings are 1/100, 1/200, 1/400. I can set these directly.

While you may not use antique shutters, I'm sure you can appreciate such added flexibility over a similar unit with which you are already familiar.

Ken

All very good points, thank you

Paul

Nodda Duma · Jan 11, 2015

The app works fine on my iPhone 5S. I have the latest version of the app but have not upgraded to the very latest version of iOS (8.1.2)

DWThomas · Jan 11, 2015

Funny you should mention it, assuming it's Pocket Light Meter, I just plugged my phone (5C) into the computer and iTunes popped up and showed me there's an update for that app (to 9.3). I only loaded the previous rev within the past week, so I've not much operating time on it -- it seemed to be working last I tried it.

I also have Fotometer Pro which I've had for a few months. It seems to work and goes to very small apertures also, but in their zeal to make it "look" like a light meter, I find it a bit tedious to work with. At one level, the graphics are awesome, numbered dials that rotate and all, but I tend toward the philosophy that simpler is better. It even has the silly graphics that when the app starts up you are looking at a textured leather case which then slides down exposing the meter. As a former programmer type in the days when memory was habitually tight, my reaction to that sort of stuff is 'how many megabytes did that unnecessary silliness cost me?!'

This is my first "smart" phone, only in my possession since mid-May, so I don't feel I have a whole lot of troubleshooting experience to draw on.

sly · Jan 11, 2015

I usually keep up with the updates. Nothing showing for the light meter. Hmmm....Except ios8. Put that on my iPad and it took over 6 hours of tech help to get the iPad working again, so have avoided updating the phone. Maybe that's the problem and the silly thing won't work now without 8. Put you'd think I could find it in the App Store in ios8 on the iPad.
It's all very confusing.

removedacct1 · Jan 11, 2015

sly said:
I usually keep up with the updates. Nothing showing for the light meter. Hmmm....Except ios8. Put that on my iPad and it took over 6 hours of tech help to get the iPad working again, so have avoided updating the phone. Maybe that's the problem and the silly thing won't work now without 8. Put you'd think I could find it in the App Store in ios8 on the iPad.
It's all very confusing.

It is available for use on an iPad as well - you just have to realize that when you browse the app store for it, it appears ONLY in the list of "iPhone only" apps, since its not designed for the iPad (though it does run on iPad). I've installed it myself, just to verify that its possible: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pocket-light-meter/id381698089?mt=8

The creator states that it works on any device running iOS 6 and up, so I suspect if you are finding it stops working after the latest update, you need to 1) do a hard reset of your device (I assume you know how?) and failing that, 2) remove it from your device and then reinstall it. I would be surprised if one of those fixes don't remedy the problem. Let me know how it goes.

Alan Klein · Jan 11, 2015

Paul: My Minolta Flash Meter IIIF (F for flash) went kaput and I bought another one off off ebay for the price quoted - no bidding. I think I paid around $85. Works fine. However, if I was to do it again I'd get the IVf since it has an on - off switch unlike the IIIf that's suppose to turn off but sometimes doesn't leaving you with a dead battery. I've gotten into the habit of pulling the battery when not using. Another advantage for me staying with the IIIf is I had a 10° attachment for reflective readings that still works on the replacement unit. Not sure if it would work on the IVf had I bought that one.

Alan Klein · Jan 11, 2015

If using Ebay, pick a seller that has at least 100's of sales and a 99+% rating.

benjiboy · Jan 11, 2015

I have the Kenko KFM 2100 flash meter what was the Minolta Auto Meter V1 and it's the best meter for film photography I have ever owned.

http://www.shutterbug.com/content/k...ing-you-always-wanted-handheld-meter-and-more

gone · Jan 11, 2015

I would not give them your credit card info. There is no reason on earth they need that for a supposedly free app.

Learned something reading this....who knew there was something like f516? And I thought f22 was really stopping down.

Xmas · Jan 11, 2015

sly said:
Used my light meter app (Nuwaste studios) on my iPhone yesterday, worked fine. Out for a walk today, and it closes as soon as I open it. I tried deleting and reloading, but no improvement. On my iPad i can't even find that one to download it. I really liked it because it had tiny stops good for pinhole photography (f516, I believe). Anyone know why? Can you suggest a different one?

PS, why do they need my credit card info to download a free app?

Push the complete button without supplying credit card details the window should close normally, otherwise buy an e gift card. But the page should be ok without $ unless there is a scam if it don't close ok complain to apple support.

Roger Cole · Jan 11, 2015

They had an update out very recently, yesterday or today. I don't have automatic updates turned on and just updated it today. I just tried it and it's doing exactly the same thing to me now.

This is bound to be widespread, so I'd bet if you just sit tight in a day or two they'll have an update out that resolves it. Otherwise, there IS a way to roll back to an earlier version on an iPhone, maybe. I had to use it recently to get back to a usable version of Tapatalk after I did the update and found they'd poured ugly all over the UI and made it much harder to use. IF you haven't updated the ap in iTunes yet, you can delete the ap from your phone. Then connect to your computer and iTunes and you can restore the aps "purchased but not on this phone" from iTunes. Takes a while but it did work for me with Tapatalk.

I probably won't bother with LightMeter, because I'm sure they'll fix it soon enough. I also have multiple other meters. Sometimes - often - the curmudgeon chorus just doesn't get it. I have a spotmeter, a Luna Pro SBC (plus 5 degree attachment) and multiple cameras with internal meters. But one more option is nice, especially because I ALWAYS have my phone with me everywhere. I don't always have my spotmeter (I only pack that with my 4x5) and the variable angle takes a minute to attach to the Luna Pro. This has some added features, functions almost as a spot meter, is accurate and easy to use, is ALWAYS with me, and besides it's free. Why wouldn't any photographer with an iPhone have this or a similar ap?

Roger Cole · Jan 11, 2015

paulbarden said:
It is available for use on an iPad as well - you just have to realize that when you browse the app store for it, it appears ONLY in the list of "iPhone only" apps, since its not designed for the iPad (though it does run on iPad). I've installed it myself, just to verify that its possible: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pocket-light-meter/id381698089?mt=8

The creator states that it works on any device running iOS 6 and up, so I suspect if you are finding it stops working after the latest update, you need to 1) do a hard reset of your device (I assume you know how?) and failing that, 2) remove it from your device and then reinstall it. I would be surprised if one of those fixes don't remedy the problem. Let me know how it goes.

Same on mine. If by "hard reset" you mean a complete power off and on, that's not going to help. If you mean resetting everything on the phone - yes, I know how to do it, and no way in hell am I going to. Way too much trouble.

You can remove from your phone and re-install from iTunes as get the old version back, but be sure you have automatic updates turned off or you'll be right back where you started. Deleting it from the phone and re-installing the same version from the ap store is very unlikely to help. This seems clearly a problem with the newest update.

EDIT: Oh yes, they shouldn't need your credit card if by "they" you mean this ap. The iTunes store needs it because not every ap is free. I have some aps I purchased as well. I have no issues letting Apple have my credit card information. That is not dangerous, or at least no more dangerous (and probably a lot less) than using it at Home Depot, Target etc.

removedacct1 · Jan 11, 2015

Alan Klein said:
If using Ebay, pick a seller that has at least 100's of sales and a 99+% rating.

Thanks Alan,
I've browsed whats on eBay and I've asked several of the sellers "does your meter include BOTH the incident dome and the spot meter attachment?" to which all but one replied "no, sorry". There are so few of these still around, and it seems most have parted company with one of their two attachments, and I'm extremely hesitant to buy a 30 year old piece of electronics off eBay under the best of circumstances, so I'm leaning hard towards buying the newer device - the Kenko KFM-1100. Even more appealing is the fact that the Kenko takes a single AA battery, as opposed to that stack of 6 tiny cells the old Minolta Flash Meter III used! I cant say I mind THAT change!

removedacct1 · Jan 11, 2015

Roger Cole said:
Same on mine. If by "hard reset" you mean a complete power off and on, that's not going to help. If you mean resetting everything on the phone - yes, I know how to do it, and no way in hell am I going to. .

Roger, a "hard reset" is performed by holding down both the "home" button and the Power button until the screen goes black and then restarts with the Apple logo: WAIT until the Apple startup logo appears on the screen before releasing the buttons! A hard reset has nothing to do with resetting the phone to factory default conditions - that is an extreme measure and not at all necessary in this context - two very different operations with very different intent. The "hard reset" is a lot like a power off and back on action but with the added benefit that it completely dumps the cached data (which a power off and back on does not do) which can be especially helpful when you discover an updated app misbehaving. (the update may be using cached app data that is inconsistent with how the newer version works and so problems occur)

@Sly: Good luck. I hope the hard reset resolves the problem.

Roger Cole · Jan 11, 2015

Yeah, I tried that already. Didn't help - LightMeter ap loads then crashes.

Possibly relevant - I'm using an old pre-S iPhone 4 with the last version of iOS 7.x. (7.1.2)

removedacct1 · Jan 11, 2015

Roger Cole said:
Yeah, I tried that already. Didn't help - LightMeter ap loads then crashes.

Possibly relevant - I'm using an old pre-S iPhone 4 with the last version of iOS 7.x. (7.1.2)

Possibly. Have you contacted the developer? (And I don't mean D76) Most app developers are happy to reach out when their customers have a problem with something they created.

Light meter app kaput

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency