Bought a cheap light meter app and it saved my last roll

I was shooting some expired film in my old camera and the built-in meter was acting up. I spent about $8 on a light meter app for my phone as a quick fix. It gave me way more control over my settings than just guessing. Has anyone else used a phone app instead of a real meter?

2 comments

2 Comments

ryanprice1mo ago

Honestly, I used to be a total snob about needing a real meter. That app proved me wrong when my main one died on a trip, and it got me close enough that my shots were all usable. It's just a tool, and sometimes the cheap one in your pocket does the job.

matthewp521mo ago

Totally get using an app as a backup, but watch out for screen glare. I was trying to use one in bright sun and could barely see the phone to get a reading, which kind of defeats the purpose. The sensor in your phone is also way different from a real meter's, so it can get thrown off by tricky light. Still, for eight bucks it's a solid emergency tool that beats wasting a whole roll.