Can anyone recomend a dirt cheap lightmeter

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gpc1

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Greg
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Im doing a little film side project (again...).

Sold my Lekonic ages ago.
I don't need anything fancy just something that can meter shadows.

No need for flash or strobe metering etc.

Doesn't have to be digital,

As long as its accurate, cheap and usable..

Thanks

Rgds
 
Smartphone app?

Cheap? Check!
Usable? Check!
Lightweight? Check! if you carry your phone everywhere
Accurate? Check-ish. I've never had a problem with accuracy
 
This is the app I use on Android. I think it's also available on Apple under the name myLightMeter Free. It's good enough for C41 but I can't say if it's suitable for transparencies if that's what you're shooting.
 
The apps are all basically the same - they're getting the exposure information from the OS.

In reflective mode, the reading should be the same as the reading the phone's camera uses, so the accuracy will be as good as the camera's. If you have an iPhone or an expensive Android, the phone should be an excellent meter.

In incidence mode, the reading will be as good as, I believe, the meter the phone uses to choose screen brightness - I imagine it's crap.
 
happygolucky said:
Weston master v.
Click to expand...

Very good if you get an accurate one....but not good in very low light conditions...comparing with a camera for exposure for a low light shot the Weston IV gave 1/15 @f3.5 and the camera (T90) gave 3secs and f3.5
Ok maybe my Weston has a fault in low light but easy to confirm my results if other owners compare theirs.
 
abdoujaparov said:
The apps are all basically the same - they're getting the exposure information from the OS.

In reflective mode, the reading should be the same as the reading the phone's camera uses, so the accuracy will be as good as the camera's. If you have an iPhone or an expensive Android, the phone should be an excellent meter.

In incidence mode, the reading will be as good as, I believe, the meter the phone uses to choose screen brightness - I imagine it's crap.
Click to expand...

Incidence mode depends on the phone. My galaxy S2 made an excellent meter even for slide though subsequently none have been quite so good.
 
The jessops ones are fine if you want a cheap one. Still have mine that I bought 20+ years ago.
 
excalibur2 said:
Very good if you get an accurate one....but not good in very low light conditions...comparing with a camera for exposure for a low light shot the Weston IV gave 1/15 @f3.5 and the camera (T90) gave 3secs and f3.5
Ok maybe my Weston has a fault in low light but easy to confirm my results if other owners compare theirs.
Click to expand...
Just checked mine against my app and it's spot on.
 
As @steveo_mcg implies, the Android light meter app versions are very variable, not so much the app, but the capabilities of the phone. The apps don't work at all on my Galaxy S3 mini, presumably the phone doesn't give the app information about light levels...
 
hi all

many thanks

So I use an apple iphone 5. Any particular;ar app?

I will be shooting medium format portra / Fuji 400h. and sending them off to a lab for developing. Nothing fancy. looking to get myself a mamiya 645 and shoot some film.

So its just a basic meter I need as the method im using requires me to meter shadows and expose for the shadows.

Rgds
 
gpc1 said:
hi all

many thanks

So I use an apple iphone 5. Any particular;ar app?

I will be shooting medium format portra / Fuji 400h. and sending them off to a lab for developing. Nothing fancy. looking to get myself a mamiya 645 and shoot some film.

So its just a basic meter I need as the method im using requires me to meter shadows and expose for the shadows.

Rgds
Click to expand...

I've got Pocket Light Meter on my iPhone 5. Works well enough.
 
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