Light meter application on your iPhone?

[Blake Werts]

A friend and I were chatting recently about the possibilities of developing a "light meter" application for the iPhone and wondered if there would be enough interest to push something like this to the official iPhone App Store.

Would you use such application if it were available? What features would you require to make it useful for your photography routine?

 

[dfoo]

The iPhone has a light sensor?

 

[mattdesmond]

It has a camera, so it must be able to sense light. I would definitely use an app like that if it was as accurate as my sekonic.

 

[historicist]

if you can read light levels accurately from the camera, then yes. All you would need really would be a quick way of scrolling through the various combinations of shutter speed/aperture that the light allows - which would be easy on the iphone. Averaging multiple readings would also be handy.

 

[Bassism]

If you could figure out a way to make it work, then I would definitely jump all over it, as I'm sure others would too.

However, I looked into the idea myself a little while back, and I think it's impossible. As far as I know, the SDK doesn't allow any access to the exposure data from the camera and the EXIF data in the jpegs always gives an aperture of 2.8 with no shutter speed.

 

[freeranger]

I would buy a digital version of the Black Cat Exposure Guide. If you have the skills to program a light meter then this should not pose any problems for you. Plus you would have the potential market of itouch users (who don't have the camera found on the iPhone) Why not get in touch with BlackCat and see if they'd be interested in a deal? Good luck!

 

[sweathog]

I've spoken on a similar theme with various friends. If it were accurate, and as others have mentioned, gave the various permutations of a given reading I would jump at the chance.

 

[crawdiddy]

I don't have an i-phone.

...but I would buy one pronto if it had a decent light meter app.

 

[bean_counter]

Where would the incident dome attach?

If it can't take incident readings, not interested. I'll keep my low-end Nokia and simply use it as a phone. Don't want to pay more for all the trendy features I won't really use.

No need for an i-phone; I'm too old, fat, and grouchy to pretend I'm cool.

 

[Blake Werts]

If you could figure out a way to make it work, then I would definitely jump all over it, as I'm sure others would too.

However, I looked into the idea myself a little while back, and I think it's impossible. As far as I know, the SDK doesn't allow any access to the exposure data from the camera and the EXIF data in the jpegs always gives an aperture of 2.8 with no shutter speed.

Yeah... We have only taken a cursory glance at the SDK options and now understand this could be quite a challenge. Which is why we are wondering at the level of interest--would it be worth the effort that it may require?

Thanks for the comments. Keep them coming!
- Blake

 

[Mackinaw]

Unfortunately I have an iPod Touch, not an iPhone, but this is a great idea. Good luck with your venture.

Jim B.

 

[russianRF]

But would the CMOS sensors be consistent enough between the iPhones? I mean, I know they have pretty decent cameras, but somehow I don't think they're calibrated, which they'd need to be to be an accurate light meter.

Either that, or you will have to make your users find a consistent light source by which to calibrate on a phone-by-phone basis.

 

[MarkoKovacevic]

I would like a blackberry version of it.

 

[dof]

As with any decent meter, an iPhone-based exposure meter would need to transfer exposure values longer than one second to a timer. The timer should begin countdown via user input and include audible feedback during the last five or ten seconds of its count.

I would certainly use one if it were available and reliable. However I do have my doubts that the sensitivity of the sensor is up to the task of low-light shooting.


-J.

 

[haagen_dazs]

i think this is a really cool application if the camera is able to detect light like a light meter
i have an iphone and would get this app if it is available

 

[KoNickon]

Fascinating idea! Makes for a pretty expensive light meter, though, when you can get a Luna Pro for well under $100.

 

[snip]

I would buy the app, but I don't think the sensor is up to the task. The response from it when taking pictures is abysmal.

//Jan

 

[russianRF]

Fascinating idea! Makes for a pretty expensive light meter, though, when you can get a Luna Pro for well under $100.

I agree with you. I guess their point is that if you have the iPhone already ANYWAY. And also, who wants to carry a light meter round everywhere they go? But if the light meter is already on your cell, that's just a bucket full of awesome.

Frankly, if apple released a new version of the iPhone/iTouch that guaranteed accuracy and depth-of-response to light, could be calibrated, etc. I would LOVE it and would LUST after owning it. I especially would like the idea of being able to program up my light meter how *I* want it.

But this is all pipe dreams for right now methinks.

 

[johannielscom]

I don't have an i-phone.

...but I would buy one pronto if it had a decent light meter app.

Same here, would be great for metering when the M3's are in the bag.

Option: make it switch between metering for digital and for film, and allow for 'dialled in' shutter speed compensation in low light, so each can correct his own film in low light That would be cool

 

[briksdal]

If it's possible for I-Phone, any mobile phone would be able to use a similar aplicaion, isn't it?