Flash Photography Adviser vs Lightme

The Flash Photography Adviser app automatically proposes balanced settings, and subsequently supports changing these settings to achieve a new equilibrium, for: - Flash Coverage (Zoom), - Flash Output (Power Level), - Flashgun-to-Subject Distance, - Camera ISO, - Camera Aperture, assuming a shutter speed that is at or below the camera's maximum flash sync speed, and where the flashgun-to-subject distance is measured along the path that the light travels from flash to subject. Each such an equilibrium represents a correct exposure in accordance with the guide number rule. The guide number rule is a handy rule of thumb in flash photography; the rule estimates the required flash exposure value without using a light meter. This rule evolves around three concepts: - Incident light (as opposed to reflected light); an advantage for `difficult' subjects (for example bright or dark scenes). - The different lighting conditions that occur when (a) zooming your flashgun, (b) changing the flash-to-subject distance, or (c) changing the flash power - The relatively fixed exposure value for the light from the flashgun under these conditions What the rule does NOT prescribe are the actual flashgun and related camera settings (aperture, ISO, flash power, flash zoom, flash-to-subject distance) that you can use, as long as the combination of manual flashgun and camera settings lead to an equivalent exposure value as specified by the rule. Often, there are many of such equilibria. The Flash Adviser will assist in finding these equilibria by indicating how to achieve balance (the deviation as well as the direction), and indicating when balance is achieved. For this, the app indicates the resulting overall exposure value in stops RELATIVE to the rule for a selected lighting condition. Also, in the balancing process, you can choose to balance to a flash exposure compensation value rather than balancing to the zero value. For instance, you can use this feature for compensating for specific light modifiers (e.g., a shoot-through umbrella, a softbox) or to achieve balance between flash light ambient light. In this convenient app you can define and store your own flashgun(s). The app estimates the required exposure value based on the (zoom-value dependent) guide numbers of the flashgun. These guide number values can often be found in the specifications section in the User Guide of your flashgun, and can be stored in the app when defining your flashgun. The app can also be used as a `training device', where you first guess the required combination of settings for balance, and subsequently check these with the app. Further characteristics: - No in-app purchases - No account, no login - No advertisements

Lightme - Lightmeter is a clean, simple to use yet very powerful lightmeter. It is optimised for an easy one-handed use, both for left-handed and right-handed users, with the main controls within your thumb's reach, without the fatiguing juggling of your precious smartphone. A core distinguishing feature of Lightme - Lightmeter is that - differently from most of the other apps - it can show multiple combinations of valid settings for aperture and shutterspeed at the same time by working like a - stretched out - old needle and wheel lightmeter. This allows the user to quickly pick the desired settings without having to scroll on a tiny wheel picker. The app is designed to be welcoming to people who are just starting out, with a simple one-button use. But it offers many useful and advanced features for the more experienced shooters/users: Continuous metering (by pressing and holding or double tapping the measure button) Spot metering with a variable zoom (for more precision) which also supports average metering, and a very intuitive implementation of the zone system Automatic reciprocity failure compensation (for 25+ films, if you see exposure times in red, they are being compensated) A dedicated pinhole mode with precise exposure times for user defined apertures (multiple apertures at a time), with the possibility of setting a timer (through a shortcut) Incident light metering with calibration when using the front facing camera And more ... It also includes some other features that are enjoyable by any kind of user: Black and white preview The ability to use any of the cameras on your smartphone (swipe left/right on the preview) Multiple presets for your different camera/film/lens setups Framelines for previewing your shot, before setting up your tripod etc. A searchable list of useful tips to make better use of the application's potential A searchable list of more than 70 films to choose from with the possibility of selecting a few favourites Dark mode support and a useful level of customisation You can find even more info in the tips inside the app or you can have a look at full user manual by tapping on manual (in the settings) The app is free in all its many functionalities, but it offers In-App-Purchases in order to support the project. The only minor perk you can enable only via certain IAPs is the replacement of the Ad button with a label containing the name of your current preset, check under settings -> coffee for more info. Don't panic though, even if there's an Ad button it doesn't mean I'm going to show you ads. In fact unless you decide to tap on that button I'm never going to show you any. But if you have a few minutes to spare, watching a few of them sure helps keeping this project alive :) Try it, and, if you like it, share it with your friends and consider writing a (mini) review ;) Have a nice day, and good light!