Phone light meter app

John Wiegerink · Aug 14, 2016

jusxusfanatic said:
How do I use it? Look at the picture I attached, it was done in my room, and after I inserted the numbers on my dslr to see what it's gonna look like, I just see a black screen as I already predicted it's gonna be like that. How does the app work? Thanks
Did it on my dslr first so that I won't mess up the whole roll

The way I look at it:

250 = shutter speed
ISO 100 (of course)
EV = exposure value = F stop

View attachment 161331

I use this app and think it's super. I calibrated it to my Gossen Luna-Star F and it is so close it's not worth worrying about in either incident or reflective mode. I never take my Gossen with me anymore if it's normal daylight conditions. If the light is fading like at dusk, I then use the Gossen. The app can't handle low light as well and the Star F meter can. I really like the zoom spot meter of the app, but seem to use the incident reading the most. Best couple of bucks I've spent in a long time.

Punker · Aug 16, 2016

I love MyLightMeterPro. Has everything I need and has never given a bad reading. Well, if I had to nitpick I'd love if it had more exposure compensation built in so I wouldn't have to use a separate app for my 10-stop filter. This is for iPhone so I'm not sure about Android.

blockend · Aug 17, 2016

The only problem with the pocket light meter is it sometimes takes a few moments to settle upon its correct reading. That apart, I've found it confirms the settings in my best cameras, and I'm surprised when people complain about meter apps being unreliable. I also like the fact that you can select your preferred variable and the other parameters catch up.

These apps have brought many an old camera with dead or economically unrepairable old meters back to life.

DREW WILEY · Aug 17, 2016

Well, plus or minus one EV is pretty awful for any alleged meter. I've got a better idea. Carry a real light meter and leave the obnoxious cell phone
behind.

Ko.Fe. · Aug 17, 2016

etn said:
A quick side note:
I compared those apps to my spot meter and was amazed that the readings were in general within +/- 1EV
of what the spot meter said. So plenty accurate enough for B&W or color negative film.
If you shoot slide you might want something a bit more accurate (such as a spot meter).

I've started in photography with DDR ORWO slide film and S16 instruction which was included with every roll of film. No problems with using S16. I'm also using same and simple phone app for exposure metering for years now. In situations if I'm not confident with S16. No problems with any film, slide is included. Same app as in the comment #16. I just point the measuring area to where (spot) it is important to me.

DREW WILEY · Aug 17, 2016

The nice thing about a real meter is that it doesn't talk back to you and tell it's time to feed that cats, or try to sell you something, or inform you that
a nuclear attack has occurred somewhere while you're trying to relax on a photo outing, or remind you that some wacko is running for public office.
But the important thing is just to get accustomed to your favorite meter, whatever it is. I've even accidentally dunked meters underwater and returned from trips where all my exposures were done from memory of analogous lighting conditions, and even all the chromes were perfectly exposed.

blockend · Aug 18, 2016

DREW WILEY said:
Well, plus or minus one EV is pretty awful for any alleged meter. I've got a better idea. Carry a real light meter and leave the obnoxious cell phone
behind.

One size doesn't fit all. I "guess" (with forty years experience) exposure on my manual cameras, and only use a meter to confirm when light levels fall. For such eventualities a phone app is fine, and it'll tell you how to get home when you get lost in the woods, and call an air ambulance when you break your leg falling down a cliff getting that shot. The only aspect of smart phones that concerns me is verbal communication, which is why the sales lady confirmed I never use the facility when my wife renewed our plan. As a digital Swiss army knife, phones are fine. I carried light meters for years, which is a weight penalty to tell you what you already know.

Helinophoto · Aug 18, 2016

DREW WILEY said:
Well, plus or minus one EV is pretty awful for any alleged meter.

It doesn't mean that you are either 1 over or 1 under, but somewhere between, most often the lightmeter-app is correct and if it's off, it has been shown to be a max at +- 1 ev.
My experience is that it struggles when shooting against the sun (camera-lens gets flare or whatever) and in low-light situations where the phone-camera (doesn't) isn't supposed to work very well anyway.

Basically, it will, for the most part, give you a true reading and most shots on a roll will come out fine.

If you are Ansel Adams, you carry a spot-meter and calculate (probably on paper, with a mathematical ruler) the theoretically correct exposure, and that's ok I guess.

DREW WILEY said:
I've got a better idea. Carry a real light meter and leave the obnoxious cell phone
behind.

Why should people start leaving their mobile (note the name) phones at home, just because they go out to take photos?
It's ok not to use this feature if one so wish, but ditching the whole phone?

The era of signal-fires on top of mountains has passed you know (very few people will understand if you need help for example).

DREW WILEY · Aug 18, 2016

Guess not many of you have traveled in the American West. The next two weeks I'll be backpacking up in the high Sierra - yeah, the primary mountain range in the most populous, wealthy state in the US, and the most technologically advanced place in the world. But guess what? There is no cell phone reception in most of that range, or in many wilderness areas in the American West. Rescue crews don't even carry the damn things
themselves, and rely for navigation mainly on landmarks. There is some official Forest Service use of heavy radios. You can also buy satellite transponders to signal for help, which have their own distinct shortcomings. If you've broken your leg, good luck climbing atop some prominent ridge
or peak where you might or might not get a signal. You phone won't help much even if you hold a patent on it! Besides, why not enjoy the outdoors
and forget the stock market for a few days. You might actually relax and see something.

faberryman · Aug 18, 2016

My issue with the iPhone light meter app (which works fine by the way) is that it runs down the battery on my admittedly older 4S phone, such that if I am out and about for more than a couple of hours I lose not only my phone but the light meter as well.

DREW WILEY · Aug 18, 2016

Hmmm. It once took ten years for my true spotmeter battery to wear out. Putting all your eggs in one basket is always risky anyway.

Helinophoto · Aug 18, 2016

faberryman said:
My issue with the iPhone light meter app (which works fine by the way) is that it runs down the battery on my admittedly older 4S phone, such that if I am out and about for more than a couple of hours I lose not only my phone but the light meter as well.

Sounds like you need a new phone
Apple made sure that you cannot change your battery, that's for damn sure, I just bought a new one, taking over for my Iphone 4 (not even 's'), two phone-calls and it was ready to be charged

DREW WILEY · Aug 18, 2016

I've already seen a few people with solar panels atop their backpacks to keep their gadgets going. Gotta keep feeding their electronics addiction, I guess. But no more silly than packing lawn chairs to backpacking locations, or wearing wrist monitors to tell you if your're exercising or not. I don't
have much doubt, huffing, puffing, and sweating up some hill. But I don't have much patience for ectoparasites either, whether its a tick or a cell
phone attached to your ear lobe.

Terry Breedlove · Aug 18, 2016

Helinophoto said:
I would recommend that you use the "Pocket light meter" app on the iPhone.

It shows you -live, how the shot will look like, and the corresponding values.

Easy as pie.

I read your post and then downloaded this app. Testing it against my Sekonic L-308 and I will be damned if this little app wasn't right on the numbers with the Sekonic. I tested in the shade and outside under the noon sun and it was perfect every time. Cool

faberryman · Aug 18, 2016

Helinophoto said:
Sounds like you need a new phone
Apple made sure that you cannot change your battery, that's for damn sure, I just bought a new one, taking over for my Iphone 4 (not even 's'), two phone-calls and it was ready to be charged

Yep, but I'll have to wait until my daughter upgrades, so my wife will then get my daughter's old iPhone, and then I will get my wife's old iPhone. That will get me a 5.

Huss · Aug 24, 2016

Helinophoto said:
I would recommend that you use the "Pocket light meter" app on the iPhone.

It shows you -live, how the shot will look like, and the corresponding values.

Easy as pie.View attachment 161332

That meter reading seems off by about at least two stops if you are going by the captured live image. There is no way the buildings are going to look like that at 1/1000 f 2.5 ISO 64 in that lighting.

DWThomas · Aug 24, 2016

Helinophoto said:
Sounds like you need a new phone
Apple made sure that you cannot change your battery, that's for damn sure, I just bought a new one, taking over for my Iphone 4 (not even 's'), two phone-calls and it was ready to be charged

Actually, they tried hard, but apparently you can change the batteries out. I've not yet needed to, but this outfit has replacement battery kits with tools and how to do it videos!

Helinophoto · Aug 25, 2016

Huss said:
That meter reading seems off by about at least two stops if you are going by the captured live image. There is no way the buildings are going to look like that at 1/1000 f 2.5 ISO 64 in that lighting.

It's a screenshot from the iPhone, but may be a bad example, as you can see from the shutter-speed, it hasn't settled yet, i may have shifted the metering from the sky to the houses while I was taking the screendump (it involves pressing two buttons at once).

But, instead of complaining about rather mundane things, why don't you download the app (it's free) and take it for a spin, comparing it to your own meters/cameras?

Huss · Aug 25, 2016

Helinophoto said:
It's a screenshot from the iPhone, but may be a bad example, as you can see from the shutter-speed, it hasn't settled yet, i may have shifted the metering from the sky to the houses while I was taking the screendump (it involves pressing two buttons at once).

But, instead of complaining about rather mundane things, why don't you download the app (it's free) and take it for a spin, comparing it to your own meters/cameras?

Akshully I posted the example of unreliable exposure metering using this app with screen shot on the previous page, and you just verified the same. The metering did not shift when you took the screen shot, it updates continuously. I know, I use(d) it. It works most of the time, but most of the time is not good enough for me.
Thank you for confirming my findings.

p.s. I just checked out your website- very cool!

Terry Breedlove · Aug 25, 2016

I have tested it and most of the time it is very accurate. I have had it go wonkey on me once though. So I know it can happen.

Phone light meter app

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