Lightmeter APP

John cox

Member

Joined

Mar 11, 2012

Messages

52

Location

Ontario Cana

Format

Multi Format

• Dec 15, 2012

• #1

I'm considering ditching my l-398 to help reduce the amount of camera stuff I have, but I still need a meter. Does anyone know of a good light meter app for the android OS? Currently I have "Bee Cam light meter" and it's like rolling the dice. I would be willing to pay for a meter app if I knew I was getting something worth the money, but would prefer free to at least try it out and see what the meter is telling me in each scene.

 

Chan Tran

Subscriber

Joined

May 10, 2006

Messages

6,632

Location

Sachse, TX

Format

35mm

• Dec 15, 2012

• #2

I have heard a lot about meter apps for the iphone and others. I wonder how does it work? It use the imaging sensor in the camera to measure light?

 

OP

OP

John cox

Member

Joined

Mar 11, 2012

Messages

52

Location

Ontario Cana

Format

Multi Format

• Dec 15, 2012

• #3

Yes exactly. The iPhone apps are a lot better since each version of the phone has the same camera (all iPhone 5's have the same camera for example). There's like 20 different Android phones out there each with a different camera so making a good App is harder.

 

ME Super

Member

Joined

Apr 17, 2011

Messages

1,479

Location

Central Illinois, USA

Format

Multi Format

• Dec 15, 2012

• #4

John cox said:

Yes exactly. The iPhone apps are a lot better since each version of the phone has the same camera (all iPhone 5's have the same camera for example). There's like 20 different Android phones out there each with a different camera so making a good App is harder.

Click to expand...

Though I am not an Android developer, I can think of a way around this... Provide a special "calibration" mode. The user could enter the calibration mode, point the camera at a gray card under sunny-16 (or sunny-11) conditions and hit a button. This could then be stored as a setting for the app on the phone. Presto... Calibration complete - at least in the linear response range for the camera.

 

OP

OP

John cox

Member

Joined

Mar 11, 2012

Messages

52

Location

Ontario Cana

Format

Multi Format

• Dec 16, 2012

• #5

There should be a lot of ways to improve phone meters. I've been told they actually don't use the camera but the display brightness sensor, if this is the case using the camera and your calibration idea would be huge improvements. I'm considering writing a script if I can't find a good cheap meter.

 

Ipno Tizer

Member

Joined

Jul 19, 2012

Messages

51

Location

Derby, Unite

Format

Multi Format

• Dec 18, 2012

• #6

After trying a few android lightmeter apps, I'll be sticking with my Weston Master VI.

 

Ken Nadvornick

Member

Joined

Mar 18, 2005

Messages

4,942

Location

Monroe, WA, USA

Format

Multi Format

• Dec 19, 2012

• #7

John cox said:

I'm considering ditching my l-398...

Click to expand...

You would ditch a magnificent purpose-built Sekonic L-398 Studio Deluxe incident light meter for a free toy phone app?

Really??

Ken

 

Andrew K

Member

Joined

Mar 17, 2010

Messages

624

Location

Melbourne, A

Format

Multi Format

• Dec 19, 2012

• #8

I've downloaded 3 different apps for my Android (Motorola) phone - they all work to a degree, but all are a pain to use..

I gather there are a couple of good ones for iphones though...

And to be honest I would be more inclined to trust a lightmeter app than a 50 year old Weston meter....once I had used it a few times (and compared the readings to my Minolta Flash V meter..)