Normally I calculate my exposure times for pinhole photography by guesstimation, especially when I use my converted Gevabox or Agfa Clack. But sometimes I want to measure the light more securely. When I didn't bring my real light meter, I use the Pocket Light Meter app on my iPhone (also available for android). This app has a minimal ISO setting as low as 0.8 and maximum aperture as high as f/512. This makes this app very usefull for pinhole photography and for using photo paper as a negative. And it is very accurate too. I compared it with my digital camera.

The app is free (with a small add in the top of screen) or only $1.00 for the add free version. See for more info: http://www.pocketlightmeter.com.


The app has some nice features. It shows also the EV values, if desired. And you can "HOLD" the screen - holding your last reading. You can also take a small snapshot to log the used settings - and add some notes. This is an example of the snapshot (jpg, 150 KB):



The app can also sync with Dropbox to save the snapshots for later. Coming back home you can check the snapshots to see what settings you used when & where: the file name contains a date & time stamp.

Here you'll find a small test of this app: http://thephotobrigade.com/2012/06/p...-by-c-s-muncy/

A nice app for pinhole photography!

"Have fun and catch that light beam!"
Bert from Holland
http://thetoadmen.blogspot.nl .
http://tinyurl.com/pinholegroup

That's very impressive that it covers such a wide range of ISO and aperture. I usually print out a pocket sized chart derived from Pinhole Designer -- or make something similar -- that includes reciprocity compensation and a multiplier to use meter readings taken at f/22. I use either my Gossen Digisix or my Sekonic L-508 to meter, but being able to read directly for pinhole apertures would be handy.

I would be tempted to obtain the app --- if I had a smart phone!

DaveT