Looking for cheap phone so I can use Viewfinder Preview App

[sruddy]

I switched to an android phone and my favorite Viewfinder Preview app, which I also used to meter, is not available. I can use it on my iPad but that's too bulky to use in the field. I was contemplating buying a cheap or used cell phone that will work with the app. Looking for phone choices or feedback.

 

[romosoho]

I don't think you'd need cell service for this purpose, right?

 

[sruddy]

I don't think you'd need cell service for this purpose, right?

oh maybe, I don't know?

 

[romosoho]

Just a working device, with a working camera, upon which you can install the app is probably all you need. So an older phone, connected to WiFi just so you can install it should suffice.

 

[MattKing]

Your now de-commissioned iPhone should serve this photographic purpose well - unless you "traded it in", of course.

 

[Nitroplait]

The wider the lens on the phone, the more available focal lengths. Going from iPhone 8 to 14 max pro was a great improvement.

 

[Chan Tran]

Good luck if you use an Iphone. I don't seem to be able to get the Iphone to do anything without a line activation.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I was contemplating buying a cheap or used cell phone that will work with the app. Looking for phone choices or feedback.

You'll need to buy a used iPhone to use that app, since it isn't available for Android (I've tried to find it too, after seeing Steve O'Nions using it on his YouTube channel). Since you don't need cell service on this phone you can get an older one (a 6 or 7 or later should be able to run a reasonably current iOS), which can be had on eBay fairly inexpensively (GameStop used to sell used iPhones, too, though I don't know if they still do). The best part of this is that since you won't be using the phone as a phone it doesn't matter whether it's a Verizon model or non-Verizon (they're incompatible at the voice call level, but otherwise identical). You can use wifi connectivity to access the Apple Store to get the app, as well as for other things you might want to do with a spare phone.

There are apps that require a connection to run, but almost all of those are ad-supported, so if you've paid for the app, it should work when disconnected (and Steve O. uses his in place where I'm pretty sure he has no signal).

 

[Sirius Glass]

Using an iPhone, commissioned or decommissioned, sounds like over-kill when there are so many operating light meters available and often they have features beyond being simply a light meter. Is it the desire to use Viewfinder Preview app?

 

[sruddy]

You'll need to buy a used iPhone to use that app, since it isn't available for Android (I've tried to find it too, after seeing Steve O'Nions using it on his YouTube channel). Since you don't need cell service on this phone you can get an older one (a 6 or 7 or later should be able to run a reasonably current iOS), which can be had on eBay fairly inexpensively (GameStop used to sell used iPhones, too, though I don't know if they still do). The best part of this is that since you won't be using the phone as a phone it doesn't matter whether it's a Verizon model or non-Verizon (they're incompatible at the voice call level, but otherwise identical). You can use wifi connectivity to access the Apple Store to get the app, as well as for other things you might want to do with a spare phone.

There are apps that require a connection to run, but almost all of those are ad-supported, so if you've paid for the app, it should work when disconnected (and Steve O. uses his in place where I'm pretty sure he has no signal).

Thank you! I assume the metering function of the app will work equally well regardless of the phones age?

 

[MFstooges]

Good luck if you use an Iphone. I don't seem to be able to get the Iphone to do anything without a line activation.

how is it not possible? if the app doesn't require connection then you should be able to use it.
in fact if you love an app I would suggest to install it on the separate phone and never connect the phone or at least disable the automatic update (not sure about apple, I've never been an apple guy). I had few occasions that the manufacturer updated the app and rendered it useless.

 

[Sharktooth]

The problem with iPhone apps is that they may not work on the older iPhone operating systems on older iPhones. The iPhone is a closed system and they only allow you to download the latest versions of an app. The latest app version may not be compatible with an older iPhone operating system on an older iPhone, so it likely won't work, or won't even install.

You'd think it would be possible to download an older version of the app to work on your old phone, but that isn't possible unless you already downloaded that older version in the past. It's Apple's way of ensuring you have to keep buying new phones, in order to use the latest apps. I call it built in ewaste obsolescence, but that's just me.

Check the system requirements for the Viewfinder Preview app, and note the operating system required. If you're looking at an older iPhone, check the highest operating system that can be run on it. It likely won't be high enough if the phone is more than a few years old.

 

[Chan Tran]

how is it not possible? if the app doesn't require connection then you should be able to use it.
in fact if you love an app I would suggest to install it on the separate phone and never connect the phone or at least disable the automatic update (not sure about apple, I've never been an apple guy). I had few occasions that the manufacturer updated the app and rendered it useless.

I tossed the Iphone 5 that I had. Without an activation it keeps asking for activation and I can't do anything with it.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I tossed the Iphone 5 that I had. Without an activation it keeps asking for activation and I can't do anything with it.

That is what I would expect giving the way Apple will not allow "freeing" its captive phones.

 

[sruddy]

The problem with iPhone apps is that they may not work on the older iPhone operating systems on older iPhones. The iPhone is a closed system and they only allow you to download the latest versions of an app. The latest app version may not be compatible with an older iPhone operating system on an older iPhone, so it likely won't work, or won't even install.

You'd think it would be possible to download an older version of the app to work on your old phone, but that isn't possible unless you already downloaded that older version in the past. It's Apple's way of ensuring you have to keep buying new phones, in order to use the latest apps. I call it built in ewaste obsolescence, but that's just me.

Check the system requirements for the Viewfinder Preview app, and note the operating system required. If you're looking at an older iPhone, check the highest operating system that can be run on it. It likely won't be high enough if the phone is more than a few years old.

good info, thank you.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

I switched to an android phone and my favorite Viewfinder Preview app, which I also used to meter, is not available. I can use it on my iPad but that's too bulky to use in the field. I was contemplating buying a cheap or used cell phone that will work with the app. Looking for phone choices or feedback.

If you have a separate device to measure light, I suggest you buy a real photographic light meter. It is specially designed to measure illumination, and you can often get both incident and reflected readings. Why waste time fooling around with apps and operating systems?

 

[romosoho]

I tossed the Iphone 5 that I had. Without an activation it keeps asking for activation and I can't do anything with it.

Did you try turning off the cellular connection entirely? My wife just upgraded her 13, and we had it sitting around for a month+, with cellular turned off, and it never made a peep. My son was using it daily. And I mean turning the functionality off, not just airplane mode or something.

I'm using Film Photographer Viewfinder on Android, by the way. It works great, and includes bellows factor and a few other features that are useful.

 

[MFstooges]

I tossed the Iphone 5 that I had. Without an activation it keeps asking for activation and I can't do anything with it.

that sounds like apple account issue rather than connectivity with cellular operator.

 

[MattKing]

I tossed the Iphone 5 that I had. Without an activation it keeps asking for activation and I can't do anything with it.

.
That sounds like a phone that is locked to a particular carrier.
In Canada, at least, once the phone has been paid for, the carrier cannot refuse to unlock it.
It isn't the phone, it is how it was originally acquired - essentially a financing arrangement (a "free" phone if you subscribe to the carrier for a period of time).
That being said, and in full acknowledgement of the fact that I'm currently using an iPhone 6, an iPhone 5 might not be compatible with an app that is newer.

 

[Besk]

Thank you! I assume the metering function of the app will work equally well regardless of the phones age?

The Viewfinder Preview app gives you an approximation of the field of view of the scene. At least that is what interests me.

 

[pbromaghin]

I have used my old iPhone 6 over w-fi for listening to radio stations all around the US since disconnecting it in 2019. It has full Weather, Maps and website capabilities. The IOS even updates every now and then.

 

[sruddy]

If you have a separate device to measure light, I suggest you buy a real photographic light meter. It is specially designed to measure illumination, and you can often get both incident and reflected readings. Why waste time fooling around with apps and operating systems?

Metering is only one of many functions of the Viewfinder Preview app. I have a digital pentax spot meter and Sekonic incident/spot meter. I don’t mess around, I know what I’m doing.

 

[Sharktooth]

good info, thank you.

The minimum operating system requirements for the Viewfinder Preview app are IOS 12.0. The iPhone 6 will work with IOS 12, but anything older won't. That's right on the borderline for IOS support. You'd be much better off looking for an iPhone 8, since they support up to IOS 16. You should be able to find an iPhone 8 very cheaply now, and it should still be useful for a few more updates to the Viewfinder Preview app.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I'm using Film Photographer Viewfinder on Android, by the way.

This may genuinely solve the problem. I need to try to remember this for when I'm in a location where I have signal (which doesn't include my workplace and I don't use the free wifi here because it blocks most of the things I'd want to use it for).

 

[sruddy]

The minimum operating system requirements for the Viewfinder Preview app are IOS 12.0. The iPhone 6 will work with IOS 12, but anything older won't. That's right on the borderline for IOS support. You'd be much better off looking for an iPhone 8, since they support up to IOS 16. You should be able to find an iPhone 8 very cheaply now, and it should still be useful for a few more updates to the Viewfinder Preview app.

Thanks for the info, that will save me the work. Can you tell me what you consider cheaply so I don’t over pay. Based on your info I would definitely shop for an 8 or X. Thx