Lightmeter APP

[John cox]

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]

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?

 

[John cox]

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]

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.

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.

 

[John cox]

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]

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

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

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

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]

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..)