Test: Pocket Light Meter App For iPhone X Pt 2 of 2
First a little back history on my RZ67, I bought this camera “as-is” last year, the electronics didn’t work, but the camera was still usable at the emergency shutter speed of 1//400th of a sec,
You live and you learn, sometimes the hard way. When I had decided to test the Pocket Light Meter App for iPhone X against my Sekonic L-358 light meter, I also decided to pair it with one of my medium format cameras had not tested; The Mamiya RZ67 Pro.
First a little back history on my RZ67, I bought this camera “as-is” last year, the electronics didn’t work, but the camera was still usable at the emergency shutter speed of 1//400th of a sec, The bad news is that since the cameras electronics were not operable, there is no warning that the dark slide was still in the film back, and unlike my other “manual” medium formats; the shutter button can not be engaged if the dark slide was still in the film back. So during the test, there were a lot of missed shots, I mean a whole lot of missed shots.
My test included the following:
Mamiya RZ67 Pro camera body
Mamiya Sekkor 50mm C lens
Mamiya RZ67 Pro II 120 film back
ilford HP5+ black and white 120 film
Pocket Light Meter for iPhone X
Sekonic L-358 light meter
For the most part of my test. the iPhone app pretty much kept up my handheld meter (Sekonic L-358) The readings for the highlights were point on, the Shadow readings were for the most part about a third off, no game killer though.
As stated above, the test would have been more in depth if I had not forgotten to remove the dark slide from the film back, resulting in many missed opportunities.
Will I trust this app for any future shoots: The short answer is Yes and No. If the shoot is for a client, I would always opt for my trusty handheld meter, personal projects on the other hand, I would switch between this app and my Sekonic.
The next time I plan to use this app will be when I shoot some 4x5 film in the next week or so. I’ll post the results from that shoot soon.
Test: Pocket Light Meter App For iPhone X Pt 1 of 2
So recently I purchased another photography app for my Apple iPhone X; The Pocket Light Meter Nuwaste studios ($10.99). Since I always have my phone with me, I thought it would be a great companion for my gear
So recently I purchased another photography app for my Apple iPhone X; The Pocket Light Meter Nuwaste studios ($10.99). Since I always have my phone with me, I thought it would be a great companion for my gear since I have been known to forget my traditional light meter at home from time to time,
Right out of the gate I noticed setting the ISO, shutter speed and aperture were a breeze on this app. it handled much like my old Minolta spot meter, the downside of the app version is it can’t take 2 separate readings for a combined exposure as in the Minolta spot meter had done. The other thing I noticed was comparing light readings between the app and my traditional light meter fell between a 3rd of a stop for the most part, not a deal breaker, but noted throughout these tests.
I am running some test paired with my Sekonic L-358 meter. Part 2 of this blog will have the final images from these test. As for the gear I will be using; Mamiya RZ67 Pro camera with a Mamiya RZ67 Pro II 6x7 film back, Mamiya Sekor C 50mm f/4.5 lens and Ilford HP5 + 120 film.
I hope to have my film ready to process in the next week or so, and part 2 of this blog written shortly there.
What’s in my bag
Here's a peek at what I currently use both in-house and on location. My whole Elinchrom system is actually the newest addition I have added since switching from the Paul C. Buff units, and it was worth the switch.
Often at times I never get asked “what’s in my bag”, well that’s not entirely true, when doing events is when that question would arise……at times.
Bags & Cases:
Timbuk2 Medium Messenger Bag (custom)
Domke F7 (black)
Domke F1-x little bit bigger bag (tan)
Elinchrom Hardshell Case
Tenba Hardshell Waterproof Case
Anvil Heavy Duty Flight Case
Cameras, Lenses:
Digital 35mm:
Nikon D800
Nikkor 85mm F1.8 D Lens
Nikkor 80-200mm F2.8 Lens
Sony Alpha A7R II
Sony FE 135mm F/1.8 GM
4x5 Film:
Toyo GII (4X5 camera)
Schneider Symmar-S 180mm f5.6 MC (Large Format Lens)
Riteway 4x5 Film Holders
Medium Format Film:
Rolleiflex MX series TLR
Mamiya RB67 Pro SD
Mamiya Sekor 50mm C f4.5
Mamiya 140mm F4.5 macro type “C” Lens
Mamiya K/L 90mm f3.5 Lens
Mamiya K/L 180 f4.5 Lens
Mamiya CDS Prism Finder
Mamiya Model 2 Prism Finder
Mamiya RB67 Waist Level Finder
Mamiya (RB) 6x8 Motorised 120 Film Back (2X's)
Mamiya (RB/RZ) 6x7 Motorised 120 Film Back
Lighting:
Elinchrom Quadra Pro Flash Head
Elinchrom Quadra Action Flash Head
Elinchrom Speed AS A Head
Elinchrom EL-1000 flash Head
Elinchrom Quadra Hybrid Battery Pack (400ws)
Elinchrom Quadra RX Battery Pack (400ws)
Elinchrom Ranger RX Speed AS Battery Pack (1100ws)
Elinchrom RQ Adapters (2X's)
Elinchrom Deflectors set
Elinchrom Maxispot Reflector
Elinchrom Rotalux 39" Deep Octabox
Elinchrom 17" Silver Beauty Dish
Elinchrom Basic 8.25 Reflector
30-degree Grid Spot (8”)
Elinchrom Skyport Plus HS Transmitter (Nikon)
Elinchrom Skyport Plus HS Transmitter (Sony)
Elinchrom EL-Skyport Transceiver
Elinchrom EL-Skyport Receiver
Honey Grid 40cm- 25-degree Grid Spot
Vagabond II Battery Pack (used w/Elinchrom EL-1000)
Mola Demi 22” Beauty Dish (White)
22” spot grid for Mola Demi (20 Degree)
Photek Softlighter II
Phottix 35cm X 155cm Strip Light
Nikon SB-26 Speedlight
Misc:
4'x 6' California Sunbounce w/ Silver/White Reflector Panel (2x’s)
42"x78" PVC frames (2X's)
42"x78" Calumet Translucent 1/2 stop Fabric
42"x78" Calumet White/Silver Fabric
Savage Seamless Paper (Thunder Gray) 86"x 36"
5x7 Canvas Backdrop Olive/Medium Texture
Rosco Color Gels
Bogen/Avenger Rolling Stand
Matthews Century C+ w/Turtle Base (Black)
Matthews Baby Runway Stand with Wheeled Base
Matthews 40” Hollywood Head/Arm (black)
Matthews 40” Hollywood Head/Arm
Matthews Half/Full Size Apple Box
X-rite ColorChecker
Workflow:
Dell XPS 17” Laptop
Dell XPS Desktop (32GB memory) Dual 27” Monitors
Wacom Intuos Pro (Medium) w/ Pro 2 Pen
WD External Drive 500GB
WD External Drive 3T
WD External Drive 6T
WD External Drive 8T
Adobe Lightroom cc
Adobe Photoshop cc
Adobe Photoshop CS3 Master Collection
Capture One
Accessories:
Mamiya G2 Lens Shade
Tokina Lens Shade
Nikon Lens Shade
Sandisk Type II & III CF Cards (10X's)
Sandisk Card Reader
Nikon Battery Charger
B+W UV Filters (8x’s)
Sekonic L-358 Light Meter
Bogen 3021 Tripod (bought this in 1991)
Bogen 3030 Head (bought this in 1991)**retired
Arca Swiss B1 Ballhead
Arca Swiss Universal Plates (4X's)
77mm Neutral Density Filter